THE Churchill Arms has been included in The Michelin Guide 2010, 13 months after Richard Shore and Sheridan Mather stepped from in front of the bar to behind it in a bid to breath new life into the pub at Paxford, near Chipping Campden, which was struggling because of the recession.

Having been regulars at The Churchill Arms for years, they took over the village pub in January 2009 because they were saddened to see it struggling.

Neither had any previous pub trade experience, Richard having previously run a property development company and Sheridan a headhunting firm for Hedge Funds.

They have become tenants at the pub, which Enterprise Inns have owned since Sonya Kidney sold it to the company in May 2008.

Richard said that, since they employed William Guthrie as chef, the pub had won two AA (Automobile Association) rosettes and its four letting rooms were graded with four stars by the AA Good Pub Guide.

Satisfied they had “a reasonable product”, they invited Michelin to visit the pub and the famous restaurant guide book publisher duly conducted an unannounced inspection of the premises.

Richard said they were honoured to receive the accolade.

He said: “Obviously, we’re very excited about it.”