Here at the Bulls Head we have always felt exceptionally humbled by the great response we have had from our many loyal customers since we opened in May 2010. We have always worked hard to ensure our customers enjoy everything the Bulls Head has to offer whether it be fresh home-cooked food from our chef Lloyd and his team or a pint of local Cheshire ale from our bar served by Shane, Jen and the front of house crew. We simply wanted to create a proper pub that you can walk the dog to, go for a country walk from, sit by a fire and read the paper in and of course chat with friends you haven’t seen for ages.

It gives me great pleasure to tell everyone that we have been recognised by the ‘Publican’s MA’ Industry Magazine as the  ‘Best Turnaround Pub’ in the Northwest for 2011. We are delighted for the team and thank each and every one of them as they made it happen.

One word of thanks must go to all our customers old and new. Your support and enthusiasm for what we are trying to build at the Bulls Head is so appreciated. Thank you all so much and please don’t worry our feet are firmly on the ground still.

Steve and Stru’ from the Cholmondeley Arms and Shane and James from the Bulls Head all got together to enjoy a wine tasting to sample proposed wines for the new Cholmondeley wine list and forthcoming Autumn wines for the Bulls Head list too.

In all 30 wines were sampled from three suppliers and the team made some great choices guided by Mary to ensure that vital feminine touch was observed!!

The good news is that some of the great wines already enjoyed at the Bulls head will be travelling across to Cholmondeley…no point trying to ‘re-invent the wheel’!!

Some wonderful new additions feature as well.

We look forward to getting open soon to share our choices with you!!

Each month our Tom will be revealing his ‘Tipple’ of the month here at the Bulls Head and for the month of September 2011 Tom is recommending his version of the classic Brockman’s G&T.

Take a 25ml shot of Brockman’s Gin in a tall 10oz glass add ice and the tonic and a slice of fresh juicy orange!!!!

Brockman’s themselves recommend fresh blackberries because of the botanicals and fruits of the forest infusions but NO Tom has declared the fresh orange is far better.

So G&T lovers what are you waiting for!!!??? Tom’s ‘tipple’ awaits!!

Next time you are in just ask for Tom!!

Thank you to all our customers old and new for supporting our ‘Seafood and Wine’ week which was launched, not only for you all to enjoy great Seafood on lazy summer days, but also to highlight Hugh Fearnley Whittingstalls ‘Fish Fight’ campaign (please see below).

Whether it was scallops or a fine Seabass, the week was enjoyed by all, especially the inclusion of a glass of wine matched to each meal with our compliments!!! We are now looking at including one or two of our Seafood Specials on the next menu due to ‘go live’ at the start of October.

We have been working within the Pub business at all levels for the last 28 years and have been supporting the Great British Pub tirelessly throughout our careers. We are therefore acutely aware of the difficulties village pubs (all pubs) face today and feel that by reducing VAT to 5% for the whole of the hospitality industry the Government has a great opportunity to create jobs, improve its VAT revenue in the long term and “kick-start” the economy.

An extensive study by French Lobbyist and entrepreneur Jacques Borel, strongly suggests that 5% VAT could generate up to 320,000 new jobs in the Hospitality sector and additional revenues from higher sector turnover, income tax, national insurance payments, higher corporation tax receipts, less avoidance of VAT and savings in unemployment benefits. It would also have the added benefit of dealing with the gap between alcohol prices in pubs and supermarkets and encourage responsible drinking in a supervised environment as opposed to elsewhere.

It’s clear the Treasury must listen to reason. After all they are dependent on our taxes for revenue – taxes that are continuing to decline as more and more pubs and bars fail and contribute to the steady rise in unemployment.

The campaign for 5% VAT for our industry is a long term goal which we can and must win.

In support of this campaign an inspiring video by singer songwriter Will Francis has been put together by Venners our national stocktaking firm and we would encourage you to watch it and share it with fellow pub lovers via your own social media in support of your local village pub.

The further we spread the word the more support we can rally for the cause. After all we need our village pubs to survive, they are part of our heritage and a great place to meet friends as well as eat and drink.

Yep for all Porsche, pub and pint club members our logo has arrived!! For all those Porsche owners who are yet to join the club please park your Porsche outside the Bulls Head (the pub sign needs to be in the background) and take a photo and email it to info@thebullsheadpub.co.uk with the cars name and you will be part of an exclusive club!! No fees just a great pub, a great pint with a great Porsche parked outside. Special events await so join now!!!

Thanks to Reverend Ian Blay our ‘man of the froth’ for ‘blessing’ our new sixth ale pump which was installed recently to help us cope with demand for our Cheshire ales. Ian kindly broke from his busy schedule to pop in to ‘pull’ the red ribbon to launch the new sixth pump which appropriately had our new Mobberley ale Hedge Hopper on show.

When we came out of the winter we believed our famous ‘1812 Overture Ale’,  a competition winning winter ale, would be ‘rested’ for the summer allowing our sunshine ale ‘Blonde Bull’ to take over. But our locals didn’t want to see the ‘Overture’ go so this led to us retaining it hence the need for a sixth pump!!!

Ian also accepted a donation  from us for £270.00 which was raised by our two car club treasure hunts and of course the sale of our house beer Mobberley Wobbly this summer.

…..yes following Tim’s trip to Mallorca the first wine has officially been shipped in and it is an Autumn red Macia Batle Anada with a taste of fruity oak, toffee and butterscotch.

Then following a great meal in Palma Tim discovered a really good sauvignon from the Rueda region of Spain, Mocen Sauvignon Blanc 2008 has the essence of lemons and limes with a really refreshing aftertaste both bottles are retailing at £18.50 a bottle or £4.50 a glass.

Both wines are available this weekend and are worth every penny.

Please look out for our alternative Novello day on 5th November where we will bring in some new tastes from Italy.

We are really proud to announce new micro-brewery ‘Mobberley Fine Ales’ has brewed its first beer.

‘Hedge Hopper’ is a golden 3.8% hoppy beer with a rich malty taste which defies its ABV.

We want to say a big well done to Phil and Ray (the brewers) for working so hard to bring Mobberley its first micro-brewery.

The bitter is now a regular on our bar.

So come on down and enjoy the second beer to carry our village name.

Well whatever next!!?? I have reported on some weird and wonderful happenings at the Bulls Head but on a very rainy wet Sunday we were visited by around 8 cows!!

Yes cows and we now believe they too had heard about the popularity of the Bulls Head and thought they would break free and give us a try…..after all every cow loves a Bull occasionally!!!

Shane and our locals managed to ensure the cows were welcomed and then given directions home rather swiftly.

We think they may have come to listen to our resident dynamic duo Stewart and Lawrie otherwise known as S’MOOO’TH!!! Hohoho!!!