The South West’s answer to the Michelin Guide, the Trencherman’s Guide only features establishments that meet the very highest quality criteria – from rustic dining pubs to innovative urban restaurants.
Celebrating the glamour and theatre of extraordinary food in sublime locations, the Trencherman’s Guide is the portal to some very memorable experiences.
Since Salt Media were asked by acclaimed chef Michael Caines MBE to take over the guide in 2009, we’ve turned it from a small pamphlet which featured just 25 quality restaurants to a 200-page annual guidebook with around 120 member restaurants and a strict entry criteria.
The guide is backed by some big names in the industry. Rick Stein calls it ‘A guide with teeth’; TV food critic and broadcaster William Sitwell says: ‘Very few areas have a guide like Trencherman’s, which rivals Hardens or Michelin in terms of how it’s put together. The Trencherman’s Guide has really experienced food writers bringing their know-how and knowledge to it’; and leading British chef Nathan Outlaw said: ‘I’ve been in the South West for well over 25 years and the Trencherman’s Guide has always been at the forefront of the scene. It’s one of the guides you want to get into as a chef.’
Each edition of the guide is launched at a prestigious lunch event attended by chefs and restaurateurs who feature in the guide, as well as partners of the guide and event suppliers. We also host an annual awards which see the movers and shakers of the industry come together for the best bash in hospitality. Take a peek at what went down at the last awards night.
To complement the guide we have created a beautiful Trencherman’s Guide website (which we’re currently in the process of revamping), which incorporates mapping and search functionality, as well as a profile page with images for all of the entries from the printed book. The site also features curated collections of restaurant experiences and geographical roundups, a calendar of member restaurant events, chef interviews, plus other features and blogs that feed the Guide’s weekly email newsletter and regular social posts.
