Here is just a little info to let you get to know us better...
Here is a little potted history of our pub and the local area... if you have a spare minute or two and maybe a cup of tea (or is that a G&T), we think it's well worth a read.
The pub was named after the local landowners, the Tollemache family, who were the Earls of Dysart. Their coat of arms is above the door. Originally the building, which we believe dates from the mid 1700's, was a farm belonging to the estate. The Tollemache family themselves had a small-holding of some 25,000 acres in Cheshire and extensive estates in Scotland, but lived in London at the family seat of Ham House in Richmond, a nice little pied-a-terre in town.
Ham House in Richmond
Funnily enough, the original pub was in the building over the road, now known as Orchard House, but it moved into the current premises in the late 1800's. Members of the Cheshire List at RootsWeb have helped establish the landlords from that time:
1851 Census - Joseph Tapley
1857 Cheshire Post Office Directory - Richard Rutter (also Butcher)
1881 Census - Samuel Clarke
1892 Trades Directory - Samuel Wood (also Butcher)
Beverly, who is Richard Rutter's great great grand daughter, tells us that he married for a second time in 1857 at St.Boniface, to Margaret Andrew, and their five children including her maternal grandfather's mother Ann, were born in Bunbury, presumably in what is now Orchard House. She's not sure how long Richard was at the Dysart Arms but, from 1878 until his death in 1891, he had the Shrewsbury Arms in Little Budworth, and in fact this pub stayed in the hands of various members of the Rutter family until the mid 1940s. Richard's mother and descendants owned the Red Lion in the same village for a good many years. His daughter Ann and husband ran the Cotton Arms in Wrenbury, and she then went on to own the Peacock Inn in Willaston....and there were other Rutters in pubs in surroundings areas.
In the nineteenth century the Dysart was simultaneously a pub, a farm and an abattoir, although the building that housed the abattoir has now been demolished. The abattoir supplied the butcher's shop on the other side of the church, but this is also no longer in existence, having been demolished by a bomb in the Second World War (the bomb was dropped by a German bomber jettisoning its load on the way back from Liverpool docks).
The Dysart Arms can be seen on the far left
Looking across the churchyard towards
the old Post Office and the butchers,
destroyed in world war II
We bought the property in 1996 from John and Sue Lloyd, who had kept the pub in immaculate order, and who had laid the foundations of the gardens as they now stand. We converted the extensive outbuildings into kitchens, and connected them to the original pub building with a substantial conservatory, which worked very well and joins it all together into a seamless whole.
The Dysart in the late 1950s.
Reassuringly little has changed
in two generations
( Courtesy of Bob Welch)
The only difficulty we have with the Dysart is the lack of parking space, hence the retention of the hitching-rail for horses.
P.S. Are there any other old photographs out there we might include on this page? If so, give us a shout - Ed
If you'd like to put a name to a face, allow us to introduce you to the crew...
Manager
Originally from Bunbury, James has worked in pubs since his student days. Despite those years being spent on one side of the bar or the other, he earned a degree in Psychology but developed a deeper passion for the hospitality business. B&P management later became the ultimate goal and he joined the company in 2016 as Deputy at the Pant yr Ochain. He later took the reins at the Cross Foxes for a few years before returning home to Bunbury in 2023 as Manager of the Dysart Arms.
Deputy Manager
Taylor comes to us on her hat-trick return to Brunning & Price and we were so pleased she decided to come back for more. When not being our host with the most, Taylor loves to spend time with her son, partner Craig and crazy Labrador, exploring new places.
Matt has an extensive knowledge of the hospitality industry and we are lucky he has landed with us here at the Dysart. He is Cheshire born and bred and grew up in Brunning & Price's very own Grosvenor Arms as his dad was the General Manager for many years. When Matt is not serving you with a big smile, you will find him on the golf course or sipping a nice glass of Spanish Albariño.
Assistant Manager
Aka Gav, lives in Tarporley. He has a long history of working in pubs from when he finished school in 2008. A sebbatical to the Royal Navy as a radar specialist in 2016, because why not; following in his father's footsteps. But the pub and restaurant game was just too much to resist and so he returned! Fun fact: Gav was ranked 10th in the world on Battlefield Xbox One (most of us don't know what that is!)
Assistant Manager
Dot is a local Bunbury character who has stamped her mark on the pub - she originally arrived as a part-time kitchen assistant, but her natural hosting skills and easy manner have made her part of the fixtures and fittings of the pub. She keeps a watchful and motherly eye over the young things, and is dear to the heart of all.
Supervisor
This is our favourite Geordie, Lisa! Lisa first started with Brunning & Price in 2001 working her way up to Deputy Manager at our sister pub the Grosvenor Arms. Lisa left the company, had 3 children and then decided the hospitality industry was the way forward so joined us here at the Dysart. How lucky are we?! In Lisa's spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, while enjoying a glass or two (or ten) of Prosecco.
Bar/Waiting
Abbie has been in hospitality for more than 3 years now and works like a trojan when she is home from uni. Abbie is studying Marketing and Business Management at Keele University. She has recently joined the rowing society at Keele Uni and is really enjoying it!
Bar/Waiting
Helen is one fantastic lady, who always has a smile on her face!
When Helen isn't going on tour with her newly done up horse box, which she has turned into a fabulous sandwich truck, you will find her sipping a glass of her favourite white, New Zealand Sauvignon with her hubby, cooking or walking her gorgeous Jack Russel, Stan.
Helen loves travelling and her favourite place she's been is Mombasa in Kenya as the beaches were beautiful.
Bar/Waiting
Scott is a local Bunbury boy, a true Bunbarian!
He loves nothing more than finishing his shift and enjoying a nice cold pint of Guinness, made even better when he has a burger to accompany it.
Scott has just finished university and got a first in Business Management and while he figures out what to do, we are lucky enough to have him here behind the bar with us!
Senior Sous Chef
Matt is originally from Poland and moved to England in 2006. He began his cheffing career in 2007 and joined Brunning and Price in 2011 and we think we are very lucky to have him here with us at the Dysart!
In Matt's spare time, he enjoys riding his motorcycle around the gorgeous Cheshire countryside, dining out with his wife or sipping an Angel Envy whiskey.
Head Chef
Paul is a Nantwich chap and had been in his family pub business; The Lamb at Willaston since leaving school. In October 2008, he felt it was time to spread his culinary wings and headed straight for the Hand and Trumpet, before heading to the Old Hall and in 2014 he took on the role as head chef at the Dysart Arms. When Paul isn't cooking up a storm in the kitchen, he is spending time with his wife Becks, family and little pooch Twiggy.
Chef de Partie
Lea is a man who cares for nothing more than his family. He is new to the village and has embraced village life like a fish to water. He has taken this into the kitchen with him and strives to learn and bring quality food to the customers of the Dysart.
Chef de Partie
Bob, who is a bundle of positivity, started in our kitchen in 2023. He has been cheffing for 5 years and when he's not in the kitchen he enjoys playing music or getting behind the camera and doing some freelance photography. A multi talented man!
Bob studied music at the British Institute of Modern Music.
Cleaner
A true Bunbarian, which is what you are if you come from round here. Jenny is married with a daughter, Clare, and has been a lynch pin of the Dysart since day one.
Gardener/Maintenance Person
Alan looks after every inch of the pub with ultimate care and attention with our garden being his greatest triumph! No issue is too big for Alan and this jack of all trades is definitely the master of all. Father to Head Chef Paul, Alan has himself spent his time running a pub of his own but has now happily swapped pulling pints for his watering can and screw driver!
