The Fox & Hounds has won yet another award at The Taste of Dorset Awards 2013. This year the pub came first in the “Grow Your Own” category.

For the past four year the Fox & Hounds, in partnership with Palmers Brewery, have supported the local community of Cattistock by allowing them to use the land at the back of the pub as allotment space. This has been such a success that even Hugh Fernley Whittingstall has been to see the allotments and used the concept in a recent television programme.

Licensees Liz & Scott Flight don’t charge people to keep an allotment but rather ask for excess produce to be donated to the pub kitchen. Scott said “This means there is often a wonderful supply of fresh lettuce, rhubarb, beans and more for me to use in the commercial kitchen”

The judge who came to view the allotment as part of The Taste of Dorset Awards said “There are no fees to pay but any excess produce is given to the pub for use on the menu. Shows what is possible from some inspired thinking!”We also suspect the judge loved hearing about the allotment holders swapping growing tips and weather advice over the bar whist enjoying a well earned pint of Palmers Best Bitter.

The Fox & Hounds is also 3 times winner of the “Best Local Pub in Dorset” award which is given at the same Taste of Dorset Awards each year.