There were a few sore heads this morning (Tuesday 23rd January 2024) at The Unruly Pig in Woodbridge, Suffolk. That’s because Chef/Patron, Dave Wall and Head Chef, Karl Green and General Manager Jackie Ha were celebrating being given the number one place in the Estrella Damm UK Top 50 Gastropub Awards 2024 and declared winner!
At a glitzy awards ceremony held at the 2023 award winner The Parker’s Arms (in Newton Le Bowland Lancashire), the great and the good from the hospitality world attended the prestigious annual top gastropub awards.
The Unruly Pig is no stranger to accolades. Indeed, it is multi award winning having been named number 77 in the National Restaurant Awards 2023 as well as GQ Magazine Food and Drink Awards 2023 ‘Best Pub’.
Indeed, if that were not enough in itself, this is the second time The Unruly Pig has hit the number one slot as it was also the winner in the 2022 Estrella Damm UK Top 50 Gastropub Awards and thus went on to host the 2023 awards at the pub in January 2023.
Chef/ Patron Dave Wall commented:
‘This is another great accolade for Suffolk and for Team Unruly. Every pub in this prestigious list are serious and talented operators – we were therefore in auspicious company and very lucky to even make the cut. To win the number 1 slot however is an astonishing privilege and a highlight of my career. It means so very much because it is our peers who vote for these awards, and I am humbled by their generosity and kindness in voting for us’.
Owner (and former solicitor) Brendan Padfield said:
‘Our team at The Unruly Pig make me proud every day but it is their sheer hard work, dedication, loyalty, and attention to detail that seems to make the difference. These are troubled times for the hospitality: BREXIT and the cost-of-living crisis continue to adversely impact every single day, so this is a remarkable, timely and so well-deserved shot in the arm for Team Unruly. They have made an old man so proud and so happy…and in truth a little weepy . Many of my friends thought I was bonkers to have such a dramatic change in career so late in my late and, in truth, it has not been easy at times, but the rewards have been huge. I recommend anyone to consider a change in career, no matter what their age. I am living proof that you can teach old dog new tricks and that the hospitality sector can still offer great fulfilment, success, and career satisfaction. The Estrella Damm UK Top 50 Gastropub Awards 2024 will live long in my memory. Thank you so very much (from the bottom of my heart) to all the lovely people who voted for Team Unruly’.