‘I went to the charming country pub less than an hour from Manchester named the best in Britain and was blown away'

Set in the picturesque Cheshire countryside, neighbouring Cholmondeley Castle and Gardens, lies a beautiful pub.

Drive just an hour south west of Manchester, and head through villages like Tarporley and Little Budworth - where you’ll pass everything from farm shops and reclamation yards to fisheries and shire horse centres - and you’ll find The Cholmondeley Arms, or The ‘Chum’ as it’s referred to by regulars.

Sitting inside a former Victorian village schoolhouse, it was converted into a pub - the first public house on the estate for over a century - in 1988 and was later restored by Cheshire pub entrepreneurs Tim Bird and Mary Mclaughli in 2011. The pair also operate six other award-winning pubs in the county, including The Church Inn and The Bull’s Head in Mobberley.

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Just a few weeks ago, the country watering hole, which at one time was described as a ‘lost cause’, was named the best in Britain at the Great British Pub Awards. Beating off stiff competition from across the British Isles it took home not only Pub of the Year but also the Country Pub crown too.

And while we have an impressive selection of public houses here in Greater Manchester, a pilgrimage felt necessary given its double victory. Similarly, at this time of year, as the nights draw in and we start to look for autumnal days out, a trip down the road - with the added enticement of a Sunday roast - seemed like a good idea.

It may sit on a busy intersection, but once you step inside you’re quickly transported back to a Victorian school house - a feeling that must be