Port-inspired pub opens in collaboration with Symington Family Estates

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 22 April, 2016

The quintessential Portuguese drink has inspired a collaboration between Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars and Symington Family Estates to open the Fitzherbert Arms, a traditional English pub stocking over 30 different Ports.

Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars has five other pubs in their portfolio taking inspiration from different spirits, including the Cholmondeley Arms which serves over 300 types of Gin.

But this time, they are inviting customers to expand their knowledge of Port at the Fitzherbert Arms in Swynerton in Staffordshire.

The Port list at the pub has been curated in partnership with Symington Family Estates.

Together they have selected 30 different Ports all of which are served by the bottle with a selection served by the tot, glass or half bottle decanter.

The pub features the full range of different styles of Ports - barrel-aged to bottle-matured - from the Symington family portfolio, including household names such as Graham's and Cockburn's.

Thirteen different Vintage Ports dating from 2004 back to 1977 are also available along with a range of Aged Tawny Ports and Single Harvest Tawny Ports.

Fitzherbert Arms Fitzherbert Arms

The 'Fitz' is a traditional village pub complete with a genuine blacksmith's forge and anvil tables.

Charlotte Symington, of Symington Family Estates, said the Port element adds a novel twist to a quintessentially English pub.

"We were delighted when Mary and Tim approached us to work with them on opening a beautiful rural village pub committed to Port," she said.

"The Fitz has a wonderful, traditional English pub feel to it, whilst the Port element adds a novel twist. This gives its customers a unique opportunity to gain or expand their knowledge of Port. This is a very exciting initiative for us and the beginning of an exciting partnership."

Mary Mclaughlin, along with Tim Bird, is the owner of Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars, which recently won the Best Drinks Act in the UK Award at the annual Publican Awards.

She added: "Restoring the Fitz has been an exciting project and we're thrilled it has been so well received. We are extremely proud to open our first pub in Staffordshire and to restore the Fitz back to its former glory whilst also introducing a wide range of Ports for our guests to savour."

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