It was a night of mixed emotions for Bristol's food scene on Monday as the entries to the Michelin Guide were announced.
A number of restaurants across the city including Gambas, Marmo and Bokman have entered the guide for the first time, all recognised for their exceptional food with a Michelin Plate.
But while Paco Tapas, Bulrush and Casamia have all kept their stars, The Pony & Trap was not able to.
While the Chew Magna venue is due to reopen in spring, it will do so under a different guise and will no longer be recognised as a gastropub.
A spokesperson for the Pony & Trap said it will instead be "a place for guests to enjoy food and drink from the roots up," which will "remove the formality associated with fine dining".
Chef Josh Eggleton, Pony & Trap co-owner, said he is "not disappointed" at the loss of a Michelin star as he and his sister Holly, with whom he runs the business, are "not in it for the accolades".
"Even now, myself and Holly still find that achievement a staggering thought," he said. "We never imagined wining a star, and we certainly never considered retaining it for a decade.
"It’s not really about the accolades for us, but of course, it is utterly amazing to receive recognition for your hard work.
"Ultimately we came to the industry through a simple love of food and hospitality and 15 years on that is our priority."
As well as relaunching the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna as a new venture, the siblings are also opening a new restaurant in south Bristol, next door to Bristol Beer Factory's tap room.
The Pony North Street will serve "modern British bistro classics," with an all-day menu including a full English using ingredients sourced from Chew Valley, brunch dishes such as Chew Valley trout and scrambled eggs and of course a Sunday roast.
Main courses on the menu include southern fried confit duck leg, whole turbot to share and salt baked celeriac with mushroom soy, artichoke and crispy root veg.
According to the restaurant's website, it will be "full of all the charm, passion and deliciousness from of the original The Pony & Trap, but this time in Bristol".
Eggleton added: "I suppose you could say our hands have been forced a little by the pandemic, but we would rather see it as an opportunity.
"Amid this challenge of Covid-19 we’ve decided to do something really exciting and we're looking forward to the new incarnation."
The removal of the Pony & Trap's Michelin star follows the closure of the Michelin-rated Wilks in July 2020.
This means the three remaining Michelin-starred restaurants in Bristol are Paco Tapas, Casamia and Bulrush, with Box-E and Root both recognised with the Bib Gourmand.
