The Six Bells: Michelin rewards village restaurant with prestigious Bib Gourmand

A village pub run by a Peterborough family, steeped in the food and drink business, has been awarded a prestigious Bib Gourmand by Michelin.

The Six Bells, at Witham-on-the-Hill near Bourne, becomes the only Bib Gourmand for miles around – and Lincolnshire’s sole entry – in the 2023 Guide unveiled this week.

The ultimate recognition by the world’s best known food guide isn’t anything new to the Trevor family – Jim and Sharon, mum and dad – who were awarded a similar accolade almost 20 years at their first business venture, The Jackson Stops Inn, at Stretton, Rutland, which they opened in 2000.

The couple kept the Bib Gourmand for 12 years, while relocating to Jim’s Yard in Stamford in 2006, and built on their growing reputation in Peterborough with first Jim’s Bistro in Broadway.

Latterly The Beehive, which, for a decade, was the city centre’s go-to gastropub, with its “more than a pub, not just a restaurant” slogan under the stewardship of daughter, Lauren.

The Trevors swapped the Yard for The Six Bells, spending a year refurbishing and restoring this grade two listed Edwardian building, before opening for business in 2014 with Head Chef Ben Poulton at the pass.

They also put their stamp on the Queens Head at Bulwick with their son James joining Lauren at the helm before Lauren and James returned to the fold at The Six Bells to continue working alongside mum and dad.

"We knew Michelin had visited but it was still out of the blue when we heard the announcement this week,” said James today.

"It is not something you can aim for, we just concentrate on serving great food at affordable prices and keeping customers happy, but in the industry it is the type of recognition that everyone wants.”

After a tough time for hospitality through the pandemic, James described the award as “amazing” and great news for everyone at The Six Bells.

"For everyone here there are different reasons to be delighted,” he added. “For mum and dad, who have taken a step back in the past year or two, it is reassurance for them that the business is still thriving.

"For me and Lauren, who grew up and were around when mum and dad were winning awards, it is a nice thing to match it.

"And, for Ben and sous chef Phil Evans in the kitchen it is great for them to have this recognition. It really is a special award – the antithesis of the Michelin star, this is for good, accessible food with no airs and graces.”

At the heart of that is pizza from a wood-fired oven, a fixture at the Six Bells from day one to make the food offer a little more casual than the more refined a-la-carte menu, and the rotisserie cooked chicken – described by James as “chicken and chips cooked in the best oven money can buy using the best ingredients.”

What Michelin Guide inspectors said

“You’ll receive a warm welcome from the charming team at this bright, characterful village pub. It’s decorated in a personal style with framed maps and menus, and its shelves groan under the weight of cookery books. Dishes are skilfully crafted and chock-full of flavour; choose from sophisticated dishes on the main menu, tempting free-range rotisserie chicken or pizzas cooked in the wood-burning oven. Stylishly appointed bedrooms complete the package; Hayloft is the best.”

What is a Bib Gourmand?

There’s no set formula for a “Bib” restaurant – they are all unique and can vary greatly from one place to the next.

What Bib restaurants do have in common is their simpler style of cooking, which is recognisable and easy-to-eat.

A Bib Gourmand restaurant will also leave you with a sense of satisfaction, at having eaten so well at such a reasonable price.

It might not be as well-known as the Michelin Star but the guide’s inspectors spend an equal amount of time seeking them out.

This value-for-money award proves that great food doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag.