Josh Eggleton’s career started at an early age. He began working at his local chippie when he was only 15. Becoming a Gordon Ramsay Scholar in 2003 he took in the culinary cultures of Sicily, America and France. After his gastronomic travels and picking up food influences from far and wide, Josh returned to his family home of Chew Magna near Bristol to transform the two century old pub The Pony & Trap’s kitchen into what it is today.
He acquired pub’s freehold in 2009 and was shocked to win his first Michelin star at 27 after only a few years of being head chef.
Josh’s menus at The Pony & Trap focus heavily on local and seasonal ingredients. But it’s thanks to a strong emphasis of growing up with good home cooked food that traditional ‘pub classics’ like fish and chips and burgers also make an appearance in the lunch menu.
“Fish and chips was one of my favourite dishes as a kid”, says Josh, “At The Pony & Trap, we triple cook our chips for the best flavour and crispy texture with fluffy insides”.
“Another favourite dish from childhood was my mum’s coriander chicken. She’d take a whole bird and marinade it with loads of coriander and then grill the jointed bird. Served simply with a tomato and red onion salad, it was one of the highlight of the week.”
Josh cites his father as being the biggest influence on his cookery today. ”I’d always watch my Dad cooking every Saturday and preparing meals for the week ahead. It was simple things like spaghetti bolognese and quiche, but I learnt that once you master these dishes it really sets you up for the future”.