Arms and the man head and shoulders above the rest

And now Tim Bilton has another award to add to his growing collection. He has been named Pub Restaurant Chef of the Year in the awards sponsored by leading UK manufacturer Premier Foods at the 2011 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards.

The awards, presented last week in London, recognised top British talent across 14 categories. Tim was commended by judges for turning the run-down pub in Hepworth into one of the area’s most successful gastro pub restaurants. The judges were impressed not only by his culinary talents but also the entrepreneurial skills that have driven his success.

“Tim puts a modern twist on classic British dishes,” says Paul Carr, Head of Business Development – Foodservice & B2B at Premier Foods, who sponsored the award.

“His use of local produce sourced within a 75-mile radius of Hepworth is truly outstanding and, as a proud British company, we salute the work done by Tim and his team.”

Says Tim : “This award is particularly special to me, as the emphasis is on my skills as a chef, and it was a fantastic moment to receive this accolade, which recognises the skills I have spent many years honing.

“To be recognised by fellow chefs is extremely humbling. We have been lucky to win many awards over the last couple of years, and I feel I must also pay tribute to my brilliant team at The Butchers Arms, who work their socks off.”

And Tim is set to celebrate his success in a pretty traditional English manner.

On, Sunday, June 12, the pub had already organised a special performance by the local brass band.

Hepworth Brass Band will be striking up outside the pub’s front door for a sizzling afternoon of scones and trombones, with two half-hour sets between 2pm and 4pm.

And while the music plays, guests can tuck into Tim’s afternoon teas, which will include roast Yorkshire rib of beef wraps, Hepworth hen egg mayonnaise sandwiches, home-made scones with Yorkshire clotted cream and home-made strawberry jam, Pimms jelly, Yorkshire tea loaf and, of course, Yorkshire tea.

“We are delighted that the band have agreed to come back and play at the pub,” said Tim. “Their last concert here was a resounding success and everyone was keen to see them repeat their performance. We hope it will be an afternoon of food, fun and fantastic music.”

There has long been a strong tradition of brass bands and music-making in the Holme Valley, and Hepworth Band has been a big part of this since its formation in 1882. It plays an active part in village life, leading the Feast celebrations, playing at the Service of Remembrance at Christ Church, New Mill, and holding a Christmas carol service outside the Butcher’s Arms on Christmas Eve.

The band’s long history puts it among the oldest in the country, and, over that time, it’s had numerous appearances (and wins) in national competitions.

“We’re very much looking forward to playing at the pub in June,” said band manager Steve Hopwood.

“And we’d like to thank Tim for his support in helping stage the event.”

The concert is part of a series to help raise funds for the band to represent Yorkshire at the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, at the Royal Albert Hall in October, the third time that the band has qualified in the last five years.

The June 12 event is a forerunner to annual Hepworth Feast celebrations, taking place on June 27.

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