Welcome to the Priory Inn, April

It is a soul-lifting time of year as we witness a new season emerging in this beautiful part of the English countryside – and a real treat to see the verges still bursting with daffodils.  Already hefty Spring lambs career around the lush green fields and our neighbouring farms have prepared their swathes of rich brown soil for sowing.  Early morning birdsong heralds the arrival of Spring and blossom is beginning its annual decoration of the trees.  Although the schizophrenic temperatures demand some cleverly layered clothing, it is a great time of year to visit Westonbirt Arboretum to admire the early displays of magnolia, camellia and rhododendron.

Whilst all these signs in April set certain optimistic expectations and promise of great things to come, it doesn’t help the natural larder that we rely on here at The Priory Inn.  Being bound by our own house-rule of buying locally and focussing on seasonal produce becomes tough at this time of year, as April falls smack-bang in the middle of the “hungry-gap”.  The significance of this for our forebears was that they were forced to carry on depleting winter stocks until the arrival of the staple crops in June.

Ironically, our forebears’ approach to seasonal eating is now becoming more accepted as the way forward: cook from scratch; enjoy real food; strip away the complicated layers of nutritional advice that constantly befuddle us; and, get back to the basics.  Michael Pollan, author of “In Defence of Food” recently gave some simple guidance on how to eat a healthy diet and enjoy it - which we all endorse at The Priory Inn:

1.don’t eat anything your great grandmother would not recognise as food
2.don’t buy anything with more than five ingredients
3.only eat at a table; eat slowly and communally
4.distrust any food claiming health benefits.

We are constantly developing our list of local suppliers, and the most recent addition is Brian Pickford who farms just 4 miles away in Long Newnton.  In difficult times for livestock farmers, Brian successfully breeds pedigree Berkshire Pigs which are a traditional pork breed, noted for the texture of their meat and distinctive flavour.  They are now considered “vulnerable” by The Rare Breeds Survival Trust which is a great improvement on the 1950s when they were close to being extinct.  The Pickfords have 5 breeding sows who each produce 2 litters per year with about 10 piglets in each litter.  The gentle, black pigs have 6 white points - nose, tail and 4 socks and they live naturally outdoors in little huts - reared and fed organically and Soil Association certified.  We think you’ll agree that the sausages, breakfast bacon and other cuts that we will be using this month and going forward are a truly superior taste.  If you want to buy direct from Brian, you can call him on 07843 011238.

 

Our walls in The Priory Inn have recently become home to some fabulous new local art.  All the exceptionally talented artists are delighted to have their work viewed (and possibly bought…) by The Priory Inn’s customers.  Tetbury’s Jacqueline Govier is displaying her poppies and tulips on the vast “stable” wall – as well as an early morning scene inspired by a garden in Minchinhampton. Our coffee bar has been transformed by Marie Smith from Stonehouse who has 5 spectacular harbourside scenes from Malta in acrylic inks and mixed media.  We also are lucky enough to have some fabulous pieces by Carole Condé from Stroud whose immensely versatile work ranges from travel sketches drawn in Krakow to milking cows in Gloucestershire.  The water theme continues, with nature-inspired woodblock prints and the dramatic 5ft/4ft canvas of the Neon Tetras by talented Tetbury artist Nat Morley.  Norma Crownshaw from Beverstone sketches and paints beautiful botanical illustrations which are on display in a corner by our fire-place.  We also have discovered that Caprice Kesby (our front-of-house manager) has great artistic skills and she is responsible for the two “Bubbles” canvases.  All art displayed is for sale (except Dougal…) and we will gladly put you in touch with the artists.

Don’t miss Sunday live music evenings here at The Priory Inn which provide great entertainment and a laid-back start to the week.  This month we are delighted to have James Gales (6th), Ellie Chadd (13th), Pigs Might Fly (20th), and Dik Cadbury (27th).  Any staff member will be able to give you a full list of forthcoming singer/songwriters.  Click here for a full list.

Tanya Kelly 01/04/2008

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