Maddie’s Musings | October ‘26

I’ve been thinking about how often we say, “We must get everyone together,” and how long it can take before we actually do. Everyone has a diary to consult, someone can’t make a Friday, and before you know it another month has gone by.

But when you finally sit down together, you wonder why you left it so long. There’s time to get beyond the usual “How are you?” and hear the full answer. Lunch runs into the afternoon, or dinner carries on over another glass. Those are some of the occasions I enjoy most, and they’re a pleasure to host in our pubs.

That’s been on my mind as we look ahead to our supper club at the Cotley with Somerset Cider Brandy. We’re excited about the food and drink, of course, but also about bringing people together for an evening with a bit of curiosity at its heart. Hearing Julian talk about Burrow Hill and the work behind each bottle gives us something to discover together. I’m looking forward to the questions, the stories and seeing what everyone makes of the different flavours alongside our autumn menu. It becomes less about the food and drink and more about the experience.

It’s also where our thinking began for the Christmas feasting menu at the Candlelight. Christmas is one of the few times of year when many of us make a determined effort to get everyone round the same table. It might be the friends you’ve barely seen since summer, the whole family, or the people you work alongside every day but rarely sit down with.

When we’re putting that menu together, I want us to think about the whole occasion. The food should be something people look forward to and thoroughly enjoy, served in a way that allows them to relax into the evening. As hosts, we can take care of the details so our guests can give their attention to the people they’ve come with.

For all the thought that goes into a menu, the best part of an evening is often the conversation it makes room for.

That’s what I hope people go home remembering.

Maddie x