~ PRESS RELEASE ~

 6 MAY 2016

Five years on and 'bartering at the back door' is still strong at The Priory Inn, Tetbury

TO CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS OF "BARTER-AT-THE-BACK-DOOR", THE PRIORY INN IS OFFERING A 15% DISCOUNT ON SUMMER HOTEL ROOMS SO PEOPLE CAN SAMPLE THE LOCAL COTSWOLDS FAYRE

The Priory Inn - the family-friendly restaurant and hotel in the heart of The Cotswolds market town of Tetbury, is celebrating five years of food bartering with local gardeners this summer. Vegetable plot and allotment owners bring their surplus fruit, vegetables, herbs and sometimes flowers to the popular market town restaurant. In return, the contents of their baskets and trugs are weighed and the gardeners receive the equivalent of market value in vouchers which can be spent in The Priory Inn's restaurant, bar or hotel.

The Priory Inn is throwing open its doors in celebration of great, locally grown food this summer by offering a 15% discount on all room rates until the end of September. To join in the celebration, each person will receive a baby bottle of prosecco on arrival in their room.*

This additional means of sourcing local food complements the restaurant's long-standing commitment through its "30 Mile Food Zone"** to local food and drink. Since 2008, around 90% of its food and much of The Priory Inn's drink has been bought from suppliers or artisan producers within a 30 mile radius of Tetbury.

Dave Kelly, The Priory Inn's owner and director said: "Five years of barter-at-the-back-door has produced many exciting baskets of food for our kitchen to work into their daily menus and specials. This is just one of the benefits, as the system also creates a great community and neighbourly spirit within our circle of contributors. Over the years we have received some fabulous home-grown produce such as medlars, artichokes, quince, peppers, chillies and even baskets of kiwi fruit grown against a sunny Cotswold garden wall.

"In the five years of running barter-at-the-back-door, we have given away almost £10,000 of vouchers. Often, people save them up for family get-togethers which means they can share the results of their back-breaking, gardening graft with loved ones. It is a true win-win - rolling back the years with some old-fashioned, traditional charm!"

The Priory Inn is the ever-popular heart of the charming market town of Tetbury in The Cotswolds. As well as through its food and drink, it demonstrates an unwavering commitment to local, family-run businesses. The big brand names behind the bar have been thrown out in favour of a relationship with The Cotswold Brew Co. Their whole range of lagers, ciders, IPA, wheat beer and stout are sold at the bar and it is possible to try them all in one go on a tasting paddle! The house wine (bought through a Cirencester wine merchant who only buys from small scale family-run wineries) is served in hand-thrown pichets from a Malmesbury pottery. The herb garden to the front of The Priory Inn was designed and planted by Jekka McVicar. The restaurant has gained a strong following for local acoustic musicians who perform every Sunday night and neighbouring artists display their work for sale through the restaurant.

Particularly renowned are The Priory Inn's gourmet pizzas, fresh from the wood-fired oven which lead with locally made tomato sauce and Gloucestershire hand-stretched mozzarella. The restaurant is welcoming to all members of the family, with a special children's menu (including "make your own pizza"), high-chairs and colouring to keep any fidgets busy!

The owners of The Priory have years of hospitality experience between them, working in and launching high profile hotel and restaurant establishments in London, New York, London and France.

The Priory Inn is situated in Tetbury, a beautiful market town in the heart of the Cotswolds. It is one of the most important antiques centres in the UK and is home to HRH Prince Charles' Highgrove Shop being 2 miles from Highgrove house and gardens. The hotel has 14 en suite bedrooms.

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Press contact details:

Tanya Kelly:  The Priory Inn director and press contact

Telephone number: 01666 502 251

Mobile number:  07732 493 537

Website address:www.theprioryinn.co.uk

Email address:tanya@theprioryinn.co.uk

Twitter:@ThePrioryInn

Instagram: theprioryinn

Pinterest:theprioryinn

The Priory Inn's "Summer Barter" package runs from the start of May 2016 throughout the Summer until the last day of September - subject to availability:

The Priory Inn "Summer Barter" package (Terms and Conditions apply*):
Offers 15% off normal room rates - whether single, double, twin, family, B&B or including dinner.

A baby bottle of Prosecco will be in-room to help celebrate 5 years of "barter-at-the-back-door (0ver 18s only).

Anyone looking to take up this deal needs to book direct through The Priory Inn website and enter the voucher code 'Barter16' www.theprioryinn.co.uk

All rates include:

• An overnight stay at The Priory Inn, Tetbury

• Hearty farm-fresh breakfast

Notes to Editors

*The 15% discount is available when someone books via The Priory Inn website and enters the voucher code "Barter16". The Summer Barter package is subject to availability and only applies to bookings made and taken between the beginning of May 2016 and before the end of September 2016. The Priory Inn's normal terms and conditions and cancellation policies apply and are available on the website. Blackout dates and minimum stays may apply to certain dates. There is no alternative offered against the prosecco and it cannot be exchanged for cash. The Summer barter package is not available in conjunction with any other offers. The package is only available to customers over the age of 18. .

** The 30 Mile Food Zone was launched by The Priory Inn in November 2008 and derives from their commitment to local food and drink. They buy almost 90% of their food and much of their drink from within a 30 mile radius of Tetbury. 
 

About The Priory Inn  

• Family-friendly hotel with 14 bedrooms and popular local restaurant serving food and drink from within a "30 Mile Food Zone" and wood oven pizzas within 16 Century stable block of the original Priory - minutes walk from the centre of the market town of Tetbury
   
  

  Run by: Dave Kelly - 31 years in hotel business - began career as chef in New York and latterly part of launch team for the hotel The Grove before taking over The Priory Inn in 2004

  and: Tanya Kelly - 23 years in the hospitality industry - managed hotels in Mediterranean and Alps and oversaw the winter operation for Mark Warner - one of Britain's most family friendly holiday operators

• Winner of one of ten regional 2006 Restaurant Rémy awards from Harden's, the leading UK restaurant guide

• Winner of "Most Distinctive Local Menu" 2006 and 2007 and "Best Cotswold Menu" 2014 Cotswold Life Food and Drink Awards. Runner-up as Hotel Restaurant of the Year 2011 and Best Cotswold Menu 2012 and 2013. Winner of Best Cotswold Menu 2014.

• Exciting British cuisine using Cotswolds produce from within 30 Miles of Tetbury

• Gourmet pizzas (eat-in and takeaway) from the wood fired oven

• "Barter-at-the-Back-Door" scheme for local people to bring home-grown fruit and vegetables in exchange for vouchers to use against food, drink or room nights

• Stargazy Fish Bar opened in 2015 next-door to The Priory Inn, under same ownership. Serves high quality fish and chips with lots of home-made extras, cooked to order. Awarded highly acclaimed National Federation of Fish Friers Quality Award 2016.
  

• Central walk-around open log fire, bare boards, oak tables, leather sofas and exposed beams of the old stable block - real ales, local lager, traditional hand-pulled cider, ice cold bottled beers and great selection of wines from small scale family-owned vineyards

• Local art from many artists including massive original picture of Rhumble the cow painted on-site by Gloucestershire's Carole Conde over period of 4 months.

• 14 en suite bedrooms including 1 family suite and 2 sets of interconnecting rooms - ideal for families

• Weekend prices for an en suite double or twin room with farm-fresh breakfast are £139.00.  The family room is £159.00. 

Family friendly:

• Under 12s stay for free if sharing their parents rooms

• Travel cots and z-beds are available and mini-fridges in each room

• Basket of toys/books and practical bits and pieces provided in children's rooms

• Family friendly restaurant with highchairs, changing facilities, toys, books and colouring

• Children's menu has a "make-your-own" pizza option

Details:

Address: The Priory Inn, London Road, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8JJ

Telephone Number: 01666 502 251