16 Jan 2024
Not only has Dylans at The Kings Arms made the Estrella Damm Top 100 gastropubs in the UK list for the second year running, but it has climbed 22 places to reach 72 in the countdown.
The venue now sits alongside the likes of Parkers Arms in Clitheroe, two Michelin starred The Hand & Flowers in Marlow, and Harwood Arms in Fulham, London’s only pub with a Michelin star.
Dylans prides itself on an emphasis on quality ingredients such as Txuleta Prime Rib Dairy Cow and fresh Cornish Day Boat fish, an extensive range of craft beer, specialist wines and spirits, and a friendly vibe.
Recently acclaimed as a place to eat one of the best steaks in the UK by Top Jaw and Sorted Food, over the past 12 months, its reputation for offering unpretentious but high-quality dining in a casual pub environment has grown, making it ‘the’ place to dine in St Albans with bookings for Sunday lunch now being taken two to three months ahead.
One of the key reasons for this continued success is head chef Josh Searle, a young local talent who adapts the menu to make the most of the season’s best produce from small, local, and family suppliers. Developing his own style of cooking while staying true to Dylan’s ethos of simplicity and quality, Josh cooks the kind of food we all love to eat.
Owner Sean Hughes said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with our new position; it’s a testament to how hard the whole team has worked throughout the year to make Dylans at The Kings Arms such a special place.
“A jump of 22 places is a fantastic achievement for a small, local, independent business like ours. Our aim was and remains to run the pub as a key community asset but also to create somewhere locally to rival the most exceptional pubs and restaurants in London, so to be acknowledged in this respected guide amongst such quality establishments means a lot. We’d like to thank everyone who has been with us on this journey, especially our trusted suppliers and our most regular customers.”
