TOP chef Michael Bedford and his wife Sarah are celebrating a year at The Butchers Arms in Oakridge Lynch.

Michael and Sarah previously ran the Chef's Table in Tetbury and but with young children they wanted a more family-friendly working environment and have now created the look and feel they wanted at the pub, run by Wadworth.

Sarah has created a warm, welcoming atmosphere while Michael has created a range of rustic and homely dishes, prepared with the culinary flair he used to win a Michelin star in 2004 when he was based at The Trouble House at Tetbury.

The interior has been given a new cottagey look with stripped floorboards, scrubbed pine tables and open fires and there is a sunny garden with picnic tables and benches and plenty of room for children to run around.

'The pub is beginning to look and feel like we wanted it to,' said Sarah. 'It is decidedly unpretentious, and uncheffy. We wanted to be at the heart of the local community, and we have lots of regulars, welcome children and families and host meetings for local groups such as the village and pub cricket teams, Oakridge Amateur Dramatic Society and the local wine club.

'At the same time, with Michael's cooking skills, we wanted to provide excellent, home-cooked fare that local people and those who want to travel from further afield will enjoy."