Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


<p>Feeling peckish? With the timing perfection of an expertly cooked fillet steak, along comes <a href="https://www.top50gastropubs.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Estrella Damm</a> list of the country’s finest gastropubs, compiled by 350 of the UK’s top foodies and pub pros.  The top spot was nabbed by The Devonshire in the heart of London&#8217;s Soho but two local places made it into the Top 50, with a host of other West Country pubs also getting gongs. Not only that but one of our local chefs was crowned Estrella Damm&#8217;s Chef of the Year!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-14-the-three-horseshoes-batcombe-somerset">No 14: <a href="https://thethreehorseshoesbatcombe.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Three Horseshoes</a>, Batcombe, Somerset</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1280" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/three-horseshoes-PHOTO-2023-06-26-21-43-2517.jpg" alt="three horseshoes Batcombe" class="wp-image-86145" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/three-horseshoes-PHOTO-2023-06-26-21-43-2517.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/three-horseshoes-PHOTO-2023-06-26-21-43-2517-800x683.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/three-horseshoes-PHOTO-2023-06-26-21-43-2517-1000x853.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/three-horseshoes-PHOTO-2023-06-26-21-43-2517-400x341.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/three-horseshoes-PHOTO-2023-06-26-21-43-2517-768x655.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/07/three-horseshoes-PHOTO-2023-06-26-21-43-2517-615x525.jpg 615w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Chef hats off to <a href="https://thethreehorseshoesbatcombe.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Three Horseshoes</a>, a 17th century pub with bar, two dining rooms, outside space and rooms to stay, in the pretty village of Batcombe, just north of Bruton. Acclaimed New Zealand chef <a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/whats-cooking-margot-henderson-of-the-three-horseshoes-in-batcombe/">Margot Henderson</a> (The French House in Soho, Rochelle Canteen) is at the helm, producing no-nonsense, unpretentious earthy food, expertly done.</p>



<p><strong>You could be eating: </strong></p>



<ul>
<li>Beetroot, red onion and goat’s curd</li>



<li>Beef short rib braised in stout with mash</li>



<li>Treacle tart and clotted cream</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-42-queen-of-cups-glastonbury">No 42: <a href="https://queenofcups.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen of Cups</a>, Glastonbury</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-queen-of-cups-474037511_18034587098581872_5759852059025260944_n.jpg" alt="queen of cups glastonbury somerset top 100 gastropubs" class="wp-image-105030" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-queen-of-cups-474037511_18034587098581872_5759852059025260944_n.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-queen-of-cups-474037511_18034587098581872_5759852059025260944_n-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-queen-of-cups-474037511_18034587098581872_5759852059025260944_n-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-queen-of-cups-474037511_18034587098581872_5759852059025260944_n-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-queen-of-cups-474037511_18034587098581872_5759852059025260944_n-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-queen-of-cups-474037511_18034587098581872_5759852059025260944_n-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/01/00-queen-of-cups-474037511_18034587098581872_5759852059025260944_n-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Ayesha Kalaji serves up modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food, often cooked over fire and inspired by her Jordanian heritage and Welsh upbringing (hence laverbread, barberry falafel with sumac, lime fennel and tahini), and showcasing local and sustainable produce.  Come to the 17th century coaching inn in the centre of Glasto with friends and choose the sharing plates or The Queen&#8217;s Feast, a selection of daily dishes.  </p>



<p><strong>You could be eating:</strong></p>



<ul>
<li>grilled Nabulsi cheese, Persian black lime honey, wild za’atar</li>



<li>Gazan spiced Fowey mussels with dill, pomegranate molasses and red shatta</li>



<li>pork butt steak, Pitney greens, pickled walnut and black garlic emulsion, pumpkin cream, pickled chanterelles</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chef-of-the-year">CHEF OF THE YEAR</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2560" height="1924" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/00-ayesha-queen-of-cups-photo-vicki-steward-PXL_20231124_111606690.PORTRAIT3-scaled.jpg" alt="ayesha queen of cups" class="wp-image-93810" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/00-ayesha-queen-of-cups-photo-vicki-steward-PXL_20231124_111606690.PORTRAIT3-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/00-ayesha-queen-of-cups-photo-vicki-steward-PXL_20231124_111606690.PORTRAIT3-800x601.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/00-ayesha-queen-of-cups-photo-vicki-steward-PXL_20231124_111606690.PORTRAIT3-1000x752.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/00-ayesha-queen-of-cups-photo-vicki-steward-PXL_20231124_111606690.PORTRAIT3-400x301.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/00-ayesha-queen-of-cups-photo-vicki-steward-PXL_20231124_111606690.PORTRAIT3-768x577.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/00-ayesha-queen-of-cups-photo-vicki-steward-PXL_20231124_111606690.PORTRAIT3-1536x1154.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/03/00-ayesha-queen-of-cups-photo-vicki-steward-PXL_20231124_111606690.PORTRAIT3-2048x1539.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo Vicki Steward</figcaption></figure>



<p>The coveted Chef of the Year award went to Ayesha Kadiji of Queen of Cups. The classically French-trained chef started at Leith&#8217;s, learned butchery, worked at The Palomar and Michelin-starred Sosbar, The Good Egg and Babala before setting up her own place in the middle of Glasto in 2021.  You might have seen her on <em>MasterChef: the Professionals</em> a while back.  As well as being an ace chef, she&#8217;s also interested in mental wellbeing in the hospitality industry. This is just the latest in a line of other awards – what next, we ask?  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-over-the-border">OVER THE BORDER</h2>



<p>No 10: <a href="https://www.thecornisharmstavistock.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cornish Arms</a>, Tavistock, Devon</p>



<p>No 27: <a href="https://www.paul-ainsworth.co.uk/the-mariners/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Mariners</a>, Rock, Cornwall </p>



<p>No 38: <a href="http://gurnardshead.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Gurnard&#8217;s Head</a>, St Ives, Cornwall</p>



<p>No 41: <a href="https://www.tartanfoxpub.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Tartan Fox</a>, Newquay, Cornwall</p>



<p>No 53: <a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/the-castle-inn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Castle Inn,</a> Castle Combe, Wilts</p>



<p>No 63: <a href="https://www.thelongsarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Longs Arms</a>, South Wraxall, Wilts </p>



<p>No 69: <a href="https://www.stkewinn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Kew Inn</a>, Bodmin, Devon</p>



<p>No 71: <a href="https://www.bullinntotnes.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bull Inn,</a> Rotherfold, Totnes, Devon</p>



<p>No 76: <a href="https://www.thechagfordinn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Chagford Inn</a>, Chagford, Devon</p>



<p>No: 98 <a href="https://www.pynearms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pyne Arms</a>, Barnstaple, Devon</p>



<p>No 99: <a href="https://www.standardinn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Standard Inn</a>, Portscatho, Cornwall</p>



<p>No 100: <a href="https://theswanbampton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Swan</a>, Bampton, Devon</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/whats-cooking-ayesha-kalaji-the-queen-of-cups-glastonbury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What’s cooking? Ayesha Kalaji, Queen of Cups, Glastonbury spills the tea</a></li>



<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The best places to eat in Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol</a></li>



<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/latest-news/michelin-key-hotels-somerset-bristol-dorset-south-west/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nine of the best hotels – in the world – are in Somerset &amp; Bristol – according to the Michelin Guide</a></li>
</ul>



<p></p>



<p></p>


Lovely local pubs named in the Top 50 Gastropubs 2026 – but which ones?

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