A new dining destination is set to arrive in the North Cotswolds this month, as EMBER at The Chandlers Arms prepares to open in Epwell on 26 August, bringing live-fire cooking, American barbecue influences and craft beer to one of the region’s best-known pubs.
The new concept is a collaboration between two established names in the Cotswolds hospitality scene: EMBER founder Matty Cartwright and The Chandlers Arms co-founder Harry Flockhart. Together, they will combine fire-led cooking, seasonal British produce and global culinary influences to create a relaxed but distinctive dining experience.
The Chandlers Arms is already recognised as a Michelin Guide-listed pub, and EMBER will introduce a new direction centred around cooking over flame and smoke, inspired by traditions from across the Atlantic and beyond.
Cartwright’s approach has been shaped by time spent exploring live-fire cooking and low-and-slow barbecue techniques in the Carolinas and Texas, alongside influences gathered from street food cultures across Asia.
Flockhart brings classical French training to the partnership, having developed his skills working alongside his family’s restaurant in France and in Michelin-starred kitchens in the UK.
The pair’s shared vision is built around food that tells a story, with each dish drawing inspiration from their travels while remaining rooted in the quality of local ingredients. Wherever possible, produce will be sourced from farms within a 10-mile radius of the pub.
The opening menu will feature a selection of small and large plates designed for sharing, including smoked apple cobbler pork belly, smoked beef cheek massaman, potato pavé with whipped pimento cheese and EMBER’s signature burger.
At the heart of the concept is a commitment to fire, flavour and craftsmanship, with dishes created using traditional smoking and live-fire techniques to showcase the best of seasonal British produce.
The drinks programme will also play a central role, with EMBER offering an international craft beer selection alongside exclusive house cask ales brewed by Cartwright and Flockhart themselves at their Warwickshire brewery.
The team’s brewing approach reflects the wider ethos behind the project, with surplus bread incorporated into the malt bill to help reduce food waste while creating distinctive flavours in the finished beers.
Cocktails will feature spirits from Cotswolds Distillery, including signature serves such as the Grapefruit Gimlet and Brown Butter Old Fashioned, alongside a wider selection of wines and spirits celebrating producers from around the world.
The interior has been designed to create a characterful and welcoming setting, with deep teal walls, low lighting, reclaimed furniture, vintage Chesterfield seating and pieces from Cartwright’s personal art collection.
Among the more unexpected details will be a tribute to music legend Jimi Hendrix and a large Tweety Pie sculpture adding a playful touch to the space.
EMBER at The Chandlers Arms joins a growing number of independent hospitality ventures helping to shape the Cotswolds’ evolving food scene, offering visitors a destination that combines relaxed pub dining with ambitious cooking and a strong sense of place.
The restaurant will open on 26 August at The Chandlers Arms, Sibford Road, Epwell, OX15 6LH.
