This beautiful old pub/restaurant enjoyed its heyday in the late 90s, early 2000s, under the direction of Julia & John Hoskins. The couple took back the lease in 2016 and despite winning Cambridgeshire Dining Pub of the Year 2018 (Good Pub Guide) have now decided to pass the reins to Oliver Thain and Max Freeman at Cambscuisine. John Hoskins said, ‘We’ve enjoyed getting The Three Horseshoes “back on its feet” over the last 18 months but I am very confident that Oliver and his team will make a huge success of it. Their expertise in running pub-restaurants is enormous and I am really delighted that a business I’ve been involved with for so long is going to be in such good hands.’
As a local restauranteur Oliver Thain has fond recollections of the pub, ‘I’ve been going there for many years and have some wonderful memories of the place, not least having several pints too many in the pub with my late father.’
Cambscuisine is making the place more approachable and with broader appeal, whilst retaining a high quality food and drink offer. The new menu will include some more traditional, humble dishes such as sausages and mash and suet pudding, alongside steaks, a fresh fish board and a good selection of vegetarian and vegan options.
Meanwhile, the group aims to fire up the local pub and make it a more relaxed place to come for just a drink, as Oliver explains: ‘We will be making it more approachable; you’ll feel relaxed in just dropping in for a pint – we’re knocking 70p off the price of a pint. If you can’t be bothered to cook there will be plenty on offer. But it will still be somewhere where you can celebrate a special occasion and indeed will reflect our other country places.’
Inside, the white tablecloths are coming off, to be replaced by solid oak tables. A few small touches are being added to the interior such as an antique saddle and horseshoes mounted to the wall, recalling the building’s history. Overall, however, Oliver explained, ‘it is a new experience for Cambscuisine to take on a venture that isn’t in need of a full re-deck and to be inheriting an excellent team.’ The group look to grow the restaurant and pub trade and are already looking forward to producing some of their own produce: ‘We can’t wait to get started, in fact, I’ve just had a delivery of 16 fruit trees to plant and so plenty of produce coming from the garden in future years.’
Looking forward, the Cambscuisine team aim to continue the legacy of this beautiful pub/restaurant as a popular eating and drinking destination just three miles from the centre of Cambridge. Oliver Thain said, ‘We hope we will have the support of Cambridge on this one – it’s been a great place for many years and we intend, and will be working very hard, for it to remain so.’
The Three Horseshoes reopened on the evening of Wednesday 31st January.
http://www.cambscuisine.com/three-horseshoes
The Three Horseshoes, High Street, Madingley, Cambridge, CB23 8AB
Tel: 01954 210221 Email: [email protected]