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Relaunch success for European Inn

July 2010
Pimms goes down perfectly in the Piddle Valley at The European Inn

Julie and Angus Troup, new landlords at The European Inn, Piddletrenthide welcomed local councillors, friends and newcomers as they officially re-opened on Saturday 26th June. On the hottest weekend of the year it was an atmospheric afternoon of refreshing Pimms, mouth-watering canapés, wine tasting and live music.

The inn was ‘officially re-opened’ at twelve noon by Councillor John Cox, Vice Chairman of the Piddle Valley Parish Council. Councillor Cox said he was pleased to hear that the new landlords of the European Inn would be “keeping up the tradition of great ale and great food” before he ceremoniously cut the red ribbon tied across the front door.

Visitors were impressed by the newly refurbished inn with one saying: “I haven’t been in since the new landlords took over, and I wouldn’t have recognised the place, it looks fantastic!” The front and back bars have been tastefully decorated using fresh and elegant colours from locally-based paint manufacturers Farrow and Ball. Fresh floral table decorations added a unique but simple finishing touch to the relaxing inn ambience.

The canapés prepared by head chef Andy Pike (previously of Perry’s in Weymouth), were bite-sized samples created to give guests a taste of the European Inn’s local and seasonal menu. Including, among others, deep fried quail eggs and pan fried Lyme Bay scallops with minted pea puree, bacon and pea shoots – they perfectly illustrated Andy’s talent for producing fabulous food. A couple from Blandford said: “We loved the decor, and the sample food was amazing, we are definitely booking in for a meal. Also, what a joy to have such friendly hosts!”

Music was provided by local band Ansell and Gretal who played a selection of acoustic covers including David Bowie, The Who and Glastonbury headliners, Muse.

Julie and Angus have been extremely busy since arriving in Piddletrenthide and despite having almost full occupancy from the time they took over, the accommodation upstairs has also been fully refurbished and an extra room has been added. Angus says: “It’s been hard work but most definitely worth it! We want to get everything just right for our guests.”

The European Inn is open Tuesday to Sunday in Piddletrenthide, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7QT. Lunch is served between 12 noon and 2pm and dinner between 6pm and 9pm. For more information or to make a reservation, please email info@european-inn.co.uk or call 01300 348308.

The European Inn relaunch event

June 2010
Mid-summer launch event for Piddle Valley Inn

There will be a warm welcome on Saturday 26th June at The European Inn in Piddletrenthide. Between 11am and 4pm new landlords, Julie and Angus Troup, are hosting a mid-summer launch party to introduce customers (past, present and future), and The Piddle Valley community to the newly refurbished inn.

On the launch day there will be complimentary Pimms on arrival and delicious, freshly prepared canapés and seafood delights from head chef Andy Pike (previously of Perry’s in Weymouth). Guests will be able to partake in wine and ale tasting, watch inspiring floristry and food demonstrations and will be given the opportunity to win an overnight stay in the recently refurbished rooms or a meal at the inn with all raffle proceeds going to charity. Plus there will be a ceremony at noon with an official ribbon-cutting by a mystery guest and music will be performed by local pop and folk cover band, Ansell & Gretel throughout the day.

Julie and Angus are newcomers to the trade after spending over 20 years in the aviation industry. Julie worked as an air hostess for Monarch while Angus was situated on the ground and was general manager at Swissport based at Stansted Airport. Inspired by Dorset based chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his River Cottage series in the late 1990s the couple moved to a smallholding in Wales in 2001, where they developed a passion for growing their own food and reared sheep, geese, ducks and chickens. Julie then took up an Advanced National Certificate in Floristry at the Welsh College of Horticulture where she gained a distinction on her course and won the title of ‘Student of the year 2004’. On completion of the course Julie set up a wedding and events floristry business which she ran from home. The floristry business developed further when the pair relocated to Suffolk in 2006 where Julie set up The Suffolk Flower Mill which recently featured in Country Living magazine.

It is this background and a true passion for food that Julie and Angus place at the heart of The European Inn ethos. Julie says, “We’re really trying to focus on seasonal, wild and local food. Our chef Andy is fantastic and has impressed us with his superb seafood dishes. And we’re not the only ones – we’ve had a couple of celebrity visitors already, and when we first arrived in May we had a couple that ate in the restaurant three times in one week because they enjoyed his food so much! Wherever possible we use fish and scallops from the Dorset coast and meat and vegetables provided by local farmers, it’s important for us to know where our food comes from. Everything is cooked from scratch and the menu is planned in accordance with what’s in season. We’re hoping to give people a real taste of the South West!”

Thought not only goes into what guests will eat – the upstairs accommodation has also been refurbished with rest and relaxation of occupants in mind. Luxurious Designers Guild curtains frame splendid views across the surrounding countryside and bathrooms feature organic products from Gillingham-based Neal’s Yard Remedies. Rooms boast numerous features and are even equipped with iPod docking systems.

The mid-summer launch event is from 11am until 4pm on Saturday 26th June at The European Inn, Piddletrenthide, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7QT. If you’d like to be added to the guest list or for more information please email europeaninn@mushroommarketing.co.uk or call The European Inn on 01300 348308.

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Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds,
Exhilarate the spirit, and restore
The tone of languid nature.
William Cowper

The European Inn nestles in the picturesque Piddle Valley, deep in the Dorset countryside. Whatever your reason for visiting this beautiful corner of the world, your visit will be perfectly complemented by a visit to The European Inn. We’d love you to stay for a night or two and relax in one of our blissful bedrooms or to enjoy a delicious, freshly cooked meal of locally-sourced meat or seafood. Sample our real ales and splendid wines while warming yourself by our wood burner in winter or taking in the stunning scenery from our decking in the summer.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you…
Julie and Angus

Contact Us

For room bookings, restaurant bookings and general enquiries, please call 01300 348308 or email info@european-inn.co.uk

The European Inn
Piddletrenthide
Dorchester
Dorset DT2 7QT

Click here for Google map.