The Pony Chew Valley, from siblings Josh and Holly Eggleton, will celebrate their 20th anniversary this year by shining a spotlight on the community that has supported them for two decades. Plans include an archive takeover of their à la carte menu, the launch of their very first cookbook and a perry made in collaboration with neighbours, Wilding Cider.
Josh and Holly Eggleton grew up near the picturesque Chew Valley, North Somerset, and took over The Pony & Trap pub in 2006, aged just 22 and 19. The pub became hugely popular for Josh’s modern seasonal British cooking, inspired by the local area, and Holly’s community-minded approach to hospitality. The pair went on to win numerous accolades, including a Michelin star which they held until the pandemic.
Following a major restoration, this iconic destination has evolved from gastro pub to rural restaurant with cookery school, gardens and orchards. The no-dig garden grows produce for the kitchen, and the ornamental gardens, designed by local legends Stonebarn Landscapes, provide education and enrichment. The Pony Family has also grown, now a thriving restaurant group with five brands across nine sites throughout Bristol, Bath and Somerset.
The duo will celebrate their landmark 20 years with an Anniversary Garden Party on Bank Holiday Monday 4th May, kickstarting a summer of events including the launch of The Pony Cookbook, a Pony x Wilding Perry and a special menu, ‘The Pony from the Archives’, running from May to September. Further plans will be announced soon, including a guest chef series at the Cookery School.
The Pony from the Archives
Showcasing their most-loved dishes since opening, with recipes honed over years, The Pony is launching a special anniversary menu – ‘The Pony from the Archives’ – running for lunch and dinner from 6th May to 26th September 2026, on Wednesdays – Saturdays only. (Advance booking recommended).
The menu will completely replace their usual à la carte offering, with a regularly-changing selection of their most popular dishes, as well as seasonal harvests from the garden. Dishes will include nostalgic classics with stories from the team and celebrate the close relationships they’ve formed with long-term local suppliers, such as Newberry’s Smokehouse, Strode Valley Organics, Homewood Cheeses and Yeo Valley Organic.
The Pony Cookbook
Josh Eggleton MBE is excited to be launching his debut cookbook this year, which promises to be a comprehensive tome of The Pony’s signature modern British classics served over the years. It will also be a celebration of the produce and producers of Somerset, from long-valued suppliers to new and emerging artisans, showcasing the variety of talent in this verdant county.
Recipes will tell the stories and anecdotes behind the dishes, with Josh’s personal memories taking diners on a heartfelt journey through The Pony’s past while championing the Chew Valley and beyond. The Pony Cookbook will be available from June via The Pony website, priced at RRP £35.
Pony x Wilding Perry
Raising a proper Somerset toast to the celebrations, Josh and Holly are excited to be launching their first product – a limited run of perry, made in collaboration with their friends and neighbours at Wilding Cider. Pony x Wilding Perry will be a limited-edition small batch release, using local pears from the Chew Valley.
Wilding Cider is led by Sam and Beccy Leach, natural cider and perry makers in Chew Magna, North Somerset. They practice regenerative farming in their traditional orchards, which are certified organic and include trees that are more than 100 years old. Fruit is picked, matured and ripened in the old-fashioned way, then slowly fermented with wild yeasts, no sulphates and plenty of time. The Pony Family have been working with Wilding for many years, including a cross exchange whereby the team helps out during apple harvest, in exchange for using some of the land to grow vegetables.
The Pony x Wilding Perry launches in May, priced at RRP £34 per 750ml bottle. It will be served in The Pony Family restaurants, and available online from The Pony website, with nationwide delivery.
On the 20-year anniversary, Josh Eggleton MBE, co-owner of The Pony Family, says: “Being at the forefront of the Michelin-star pub movement taught us so much; but it had never been the goal. Now, we’ve taken everything we’ve learned over the years and distilled that into what The Pony is. Yes, a country pub and restaurant providing local, tasty food; but also somewhere that inspires the people around us, from our staff to our neighbours. Somewhere that really benefits the community we are part of, for the next 20 years and beyond.”
Holly Eggleton, co-owner of The Pony Family, says: “The best thing about staying in one place for this amount of time, is the relationships you make along the way, and the people who show up and support you. There’s a real localism to what we do, which translates down through generations – we’re now welcoming the great-grandchildren of our first customers! Those roots are something we’ll always nurture, even as we evolve.”
Bookings & information
Bookings for The Pony Menu from the Archives, and more information about The Pony Chew Valley, can be found at theponychewvalley.co.uk.
