Award-winning chef buys Northamptonshire freehouse

Award-winning chef Darren Boyle and his partner Christina Harrison are the new owners of the Axe and Compass pub in Ringstead, Northamptonshire.

Boyle won the Egon Ronay Pub Caterer of the Year award while working as head chef at The Old Coachhouse in Ashby St Ledgers in Northamptonshire, which was also named the Best Pub in England by the Daily Telegraph and scooped the Booker Prize Best Caterer award. His first tenancy, the Zetland Arms in Warwick, won the Greenalls Pub of the Year award in 1997.

The couple paid the asking price of £370,000 for the freehold on the property. They are now planning a complete refurbishment of the premises and will be focusing on traditional food with a continental twist.

Property agent Britannia Business Sales (East Anglia) acted on behalf of previous owners John and Mary Gilhooly, who had run the pub for more than 12 years.