Orwells chefs Ryan and Liam Simpson-Trotman to open pub, The Plough at Shiplake

Liam Simpson-Trotman

Liam Simpson-Trotman

Executive Chef 1st July 2021
Liam Simpson-Trotman

Liam Simpson-Trotman

Executive Chef

Orwells chefs Ryan and Liam Simpson-Trotman to open pub, The Plough at Shiplake

Chefs Ryan and Liam Simpson-Trotman from award-winning Orwells Restaurant in Henley-on-Thames have delighted their local community by saving the disused village pub, The Plowden Arms, from the clutches of property developers and certain demolition. 


Ryan and Liam, partners in work and life who cook side-by-side in their existing kitchen, will launch their first pub venture, bringing to it their trademark commitment to ingredients and strong focus on sustainability. 

The pair, also well known for their appearances on TV shows James Martin’s Saturday Morning, Saturday Kitchen and Great British Menu, have established a very loyal following since launching Orwells in 2010. 

They have won multiple accolades including no. 28 in The Good Food Guide UK Top 50 Restaurants, 4 AA Rosettes, Thames Valley Restaurant of the Year, Good Food Guide Editors Choice Restaurant of the Year as well as Good Food Guide Readers Choice.

The Plough at Shiplake, which dates back to 1774, will retain many of the much loved qualities of a British pub. However when it comes to provenance, the overall philosophy will mirror that of Orwells which has been celebrated for its sustainable and entirely seasonal menu with up to 75% of fruit and vegetables grown by Ryan and Liam themselves in their own small holding.
 
Both family and dog-friendly, The Plough at Shiplake will be an informal all day dining affair open seven days a week for everything from a quick drink and snack to a three course meal and is expected to be warmly welcomed by locals and destination diners alike.

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall and restrict access – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 12 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 500,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.