Unruly Nights: Guest Chef Dinners with the UK's Top Gastropubs

NEW Unruly Nights for 2026

29th April: George Birtie and Samira Effa, The Epicurean Duo. George: A finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 and former Sous Chef at Michelin‑starred The Black Swan. Now Head Chef of the events division at TB Hospitality (under Tommy Banks), he is known for precise, creative dishes that celebrate seasonal produce. Samira: A standout on Great British Menu 2024, is renowned for bold, globally inspired flavours shaped by her Nigerian and Iranian heritage. She’s cooked in Michelin‑acclaimed kitchens including 21212 in Edinburgh, Bohemia in Jersey and as Head Chef at Grantley Hall’s Bar & Restaurant EightyEight, which she left last year to join forces with George.

£89pp. Discover the menu HERE.

 

Upcoming Dates for your Diary in 2026

16th June – The Kerfield Arms – Jay Styler and Rob Tecwyn

22nd September – The Silver Cup – Matt Reeder

24th November – The White Horse Churton – Gary Usher

 

UNRULY GUEST CHEF NIGHTS – THE SERIES to date

The very first in Unruly Night, with guest chef Chef Steve Smith, from the Freemasons Arms, Wiswell was a huge success, great fun and set the bar so high.

The second in the series was when we welcomed Tom De Keyser, Head Chef of  The Hand & Flowers in Marlow (owned by celebrity chef Tom Kerridge) which has been awarded two Michelin stars. The evening was a brilliant, sell out success.

The next in the series was when we then welcomed Head Chef, Liam Dillon and his team ofThe Boat Inn, Lichfield at The Unruly Pig. It was another evening of contrasting cooking styles and, again, another cracking evening.

Next came, the famous Adam Handling MBE and Head Chef Steven Kerr from The Loch & The Tyne, Old Windsor. The event sold out in seconds. A frequent TV personality, Michelin-starred Adam Handling was deservedly awarded an MBE See the reel below which says it all – it was a glorious collaboration dinner.

Next in the series was Head Chef Will Webster and his lovely team from the Shibden Mill Inn in Halifax It was another hugely successful event: great fun with exceptional food.

Then followed Dom Chapman from The Crown in Burchetts Green. Dom has a legendary reputation nationally and is hugely respected by the very best chefs in the UK. A fantastic collaboration with Dom’s classical, seasonal and heartwarming dishes.

Adam Symonds & Rob Tecwyn from The Baring in Islington followed. Rob has worked at several prestigious London restaurants most recently as Oliver Dabbous’ Head Chef (at his eponymous Dabbous restaurant). The night was a rip-roaring success!

Then in September 2024 we collaborated with The Kentish Hare in Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells. Chef Owners Chris & James Tanner plus their own Head Chef David Boswell really did work their magic that evening. It was a fabulous event, showcasing excellent ingredients, including Aylesbury duck and Cornish cod.

After a break, Unruly nights returned in 2025. We we thrilled to welcome Chef Tom Booton on 17th October. Fresh from leaving his role at The Dorchester to work on opening his own restaurant in 2026. Tom and Dave go a long way back, first working together at Le Talbooth in 2011, before Tom went on to L’Autre Pied, Dabbous and off to other countries to hone his skills. He was here to help Dave with the stoves on our first Unruly opening weekend, and it was fabulous to welcome him back, showcasing incredible food, including Roasted lobster and Sweetbread pie!

The last in the series of 2025 was Ben Allen from The Parakeet in November 2025. The evening was a very special collaboration dinner celebrating creativity, seasonality, and the very best of British gastropub cooking. Our guests experienced bold flavours, playful plates, and a few surprises from two of the country’s finest kitchens.

2026 series

Dan Smith, Michelin starred chef from The Fordwich Arms, Kent, kicked the series off off on Wednesday 25th March. Dan opened The Fordwich Arms with his wife Natasha in 2017 to critical acclaim and it quickly won a Michelin star a year later, as well as gaining several glowing reviews from the likes of The Guardian’s restaurant critic Grace Dent who gave it 10/10. It has also previously won AA Restaurant of the Year and 3 AA rosettes and is regularly featured in the Top 50 Gastropubs list. We were absolutely delighted to welcome his team. Such an inspirational chef.