Just to put the record straight...

I have now been asked a fair number of times whether we are the same people that run The Orange Tree (Totteridge) or The Arkley (Arkley).

The answer to this is an emphatic 'no'.

The Orange Tree, The Arkley, The White Horse (Shenley), The Old Bull and Bush (Hampstead) and The Freemasons Arms (Hampstead) along with a number of others are all part of 'Village Pub and Kitchen'...a Mitchells and Butlers brand.

Other Mitchells and Butlers brands that you may be familiar with are: Ember Inns (The Three Hammers), Harvester (The Jolly Badger, The Kings Arms), O'Neills, Toby Carvery (Red Lion, Barnet), All Bar One, Brown's, Vintage Inns etc etc (for a full list click here).

Mitchells and Butlers have a very extensive portfolio of pubs and bars across the country, and with clever branding that sometimes requires a little bit of 'unpicking' to fully understand, they can appeal to a wide audience without immediately appearing to be a very large pub chain operator....which is exactly what they are. Some might exclaim at this point, 'oh, how cynical!'. We couldn't possibly comment.

So I hope that puts that one to bed....