Matt and Ruth Woodley first met each other when they were 17 when they both worked in a Cotswold country pub. Ruth went on to pursue a career in marketing while Matt continued to grow in his career as a chef and worked for some of London’s best known restaurants and chefs, including Gordon Ramsey.
They had talked for some time about how they could use their skills working together and that would allow them to spend more time together. After two years of research and looking at many options they took over at The Plowden Arms in October 2012, returning to their roots to run a country pub together.
One of the wonderful aspects of the Plowden Arms that makes them stand out from the crowd is how unashamedly old fashioned they are. Before taking over at the pub, Matt had spent his last few years in London specialising in British cuisine and he has taken this skill to transform forgotten dishes and sauces from bygone eras. He has been influenced by famous original food writers such as Eliza Acton and Mrs Beeton and by utilising their ideas Matt is producing wonderfully innovate food to his own high exacting standards.
Vivid Magazine recently visited the Plowden Arms and could immediately see Matt’s influences appearing throughout his varied and delightful Menu. For instance the Pork croquette starter is served with a sauce gribiche, pea shoots and radish. Thankfully the menu contains lots of explanation to the different dishes and provided us with a useful explanation of the gribiche sauce which is “a mayonnaise based sauce apparently named after one of Napoleon’s favourite Generals”.
It’s very obvious that a lot of research and thought has gone into each of the dishes on Matt’s menu and the explanations of them provide a great history lesson to the diners at the Plowden Arms. The Chicken hindlewakes are in fact a “Lancashire poultry dish stuffed with prunes and almonds introduced by Flemish weavers in the C14th”, while the sauce Robert served with the deliciously aged Côte de boeuf is “a brown mustard sauce dating back to 1691”. Matt also has a delicious Apple and plum Charoltte on his menu, a very traditional dessert, but we had no idea that is “thought to be named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Wife of George the III (1744-1818)”
The Plowden Arms offers a unique dining experience offering a look at dishes long forgotten but presented and cooked to high modern standards. The dining room and bar offer an inviting and relaxed atmosphere satisfying those looking for a meal or just a quick drink or snack. On Wednesdays the pub offers a Pie and Pint evening, featuring home made pies along with a pint of your choice of many of the local beers on offer. Dogs are very welcome in the bar and there is always the possibility of bumping into Barnabus the pub’s resident Basset Hound
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and can fully understand why Matt and Ruth have been nominated for several awards and for the high ratings they receive from local diners. We can’t wait to go back and experience their ever changing menu again.
For more information or to book a table Email – info@doffandbow.co.uk
Fbook – /PlowdenArms
Twitter – our resident ghost George! @PlowdenGeorge
Instagram – @Plowden_Arms
