It has been a very tough time for pubs in recent times. Devastated by the pandemic, the struggle to find suitably qualified staff, the ever increasing costs of energy, increasing competition from supermarkets offering cheap deals on alcohol & fewer people visiting our pubs, has meant that over 700 UK pubs have called last orders for the final time, during the past twelve months. The rural areas of Britain have been hit hardest, so it is very pleasing to come across a village pub which is flourishing within its local community during these very difficult times for the pub & hospitality sector.

I was visiting the beautiful village of Kilsby in West Northamptonshire which retains several attractive buildings, including some fine examples of Northamptonshire rubble stone construction, and a number of thatched properties. There are two pubs in the village, The Red Lion in the northwest of the village, Sir Frank Whittle, famously credited with inventing the turbojet engine, briefly lived at ‘Laurelcroft’, next door to the pub at 1 North Street, until 1949 and the other one, which I was visiting, The George at Kilsby, on the eastern side of the village located alongside the ancient Roman Watling Street (A5).

The ‘George Hotel’ as it was originally called, was named after King George III because the pub lies on the route of the old eighteenth-century turnpike road from Daventry to Lutterworth. George signed the Act of Parliament which allowed the turnpike road to be built. The George was built nearly 188 years ago in 1838, after the building of the nearby Kilsby Rail Tunnel was completed. It was originally an 18th-century stone thatched coaching Inn, offering basic accommodation, food & drink for passengers and stabling for the horses of the passing stagecoaches.

Like many village pubs across the country, in 2018 The George sadly had to close its doors, but four years later, much to the delight of villagers, The George reopened after a major £330,000 refurbishment of all its interior and exterior spaces, whilst retaining many of its original features and character. Since reopening The George at Kilsby has once again become a centre for the local community & for those looking to enjoy good food and drink in comfortable surroundings. The George at Kilsby operates as a desi pub, seamlessly blending all that’s best of a traditional British village pub with the tastes, smells and colours of South Asian cuisine. You can get authentic Indian dishes, such as Chettinad lamb curry, Goan spiced scotch eggs, alongside the traditional Sunday roasts, stone-baked pizzas, fish and chips and a selection of burgers. They even serve a unique Asian High Tea!

What is a desi pub, I hear you ask. A desi pub is a traditional British pub owned or managed by people of Indian origin, often Punjabi, that combines classic pub culture and beer with South Asian food and hospitality. The concept emerged in the 1960s and 1970s across industrial areas like Birmingham and the Black Country in the West Midlands. Landlords began taking over struggling or failing local pubs, transforming them into safe, welcoming spaces where everyone could drink together. 

While Northamptonshire sits just outside the core West Midlands birthplace of the desi pub phenomenon, the county features several fantastic pub-to-curry house conversions and hybrid venues, such as The George at Kilsby. As well the standard pub grub like scampi and chips, The George at Kilsby also offers specialist tandoors and open grills, serving signature dishes like the sizzling mixed grill (spiced chicken tikka, seekh kebabs, lamb chops, and masala fish on a bed of onions), alongside garlic mogo, naan, and regional curries. You could say, The George at Kilsby. Offers the best of both worlds, an “East meets West” establishment.

The George perfectly captures that unique vibe: a proper pint at the bar, paired with sizzling tandoori grills or authentic North Indian and Nepalese curries. Traditional draught lagers, ciders, and cask ales remain on tap because it is still fundamentally a pub. The George fully retains its character as a local village pub and serves as a community hub, with family gatherings on the weekends, and the occasional live music and cultural events. It is family-friendly, dog-friendly and hosts occasional live music alongside monthly cookery masterclasses, led by the head chef & his kitchen team.

“I’ve worked in hospitality for many years; it’s a dream come true to be taking on such a lovely old pub. I looked at hundreds of pubs before seeing The George. I knew it was ‘the one’ as soon as I walked in the door. I want to make The George an asset to the village and a pub they can be proud of once again. We are incredibly grateful to everyone for their support and positive feedback”

Head chef patron Harishankar Krishnamurphy, or Hari to his friends and family, has extensive culinary & hospitality experience which includes top hotels in Dubai, Muscat, Singapore, India & the Grand Cayman. In the UK, Hari has held senior positions at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, The Belfry Hotel, Resorts World Birmingham, and Walton Hall Hotel. Hari has the backing of a talented team of chefs and a young and highly professional customer, front of house team.

As soon as my wife & I entered The George we were greeted warmly & taken to our table by one of the polite & friendly staff members.

The Food & Drink:

Offering a menu of mouth watering, homemade dishes infused with an Asian-inspired twist, this traditional village pub is both a fantastic local and popular dining destination for foodies. On the A La Carte Menu. Customers are faced with a serious choice of small plate starters such as Salt & Pepper Calamari, Freshly Made Soup, Porcini Mushroom Arancini with Parma Ham, Street food madras Pakora, XO Prawn Momos, Smoked Salmon and crab salad or Buffalo, Jack Daniels or Korean Crispy Wings! We were spoilt for choice, but we finally opted for the dishes below.

Starters:

GOAN SPICED SCOTCH EGG: Mustard emulsion, potato air puff, cornichons

CRAB BENEDICT: A toasted croissant roll, parmesan shaving, poached egg & hollandaise sauce   

Mains:

Curries: CHETTINAD LAMB CURRY: Lamb braised in a southern spiced gravy with coconut, curry leaf & other aromatics  with paratha & rice.

The Chettinad lamb curry was a fiery, deeply savoury dish, that paired the slow-braised lamb with a complex mix of toasted spice paste, coconut, and other aromatics. The soft, flaky, butter-layered paratha and fluffy rice, simply soaked up the savoury meat juices. It delivered an immediate, lingering warmth in the mouth. An excellent dish well presented.

Large Plates: MOROCCAN LAMB SHANK TAGINE: With cous cous upma, crispy okra, garlic hummus & chilli bread  

The garlic bread delivered a fiery heat, while the okra provided a mild, grassy sweetness. The ladies’ fingers were just perfect. The lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender, giving way cleanly to the fork, coated in a thick, velvety tagine reduction. The meat absorbed the sweet-and-savoury notes of the tagine sauce perfectly. The couscous upma was light & fluffy and paired nicely with a swipe of the smooth garlic hummus. A rich, savoury dish, which ticked all of the boxes.

Desserts:

Triple Chocolate Cookie Dough: With vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche, custard & white chocolate shavings

Strawberry & Chocolate Waffle: A fresh waffle with cut strawberries, Belgian chocolate sauce & vanilla ice cream

Wine:

Santa Rita 8km Merlot was a rich, velvety wine with a deep red colour and the aromas of ripe blackberries, plums, and hints of vanilla, which complimented the flavour of the Lamb Shank.

Beer:

London Pride: I enjoyed a pint of London Pride, a premium ale which is very easy to drink. It went down well with my fiery curry! I like this ale because it is not too strong and it has a satisfying finish. It has a good malty base with an excellent blend of hop character.

At this seasonal time of year, why not try their Festive à la carte & set Christmas menus which are already proving to be very popular. There is something on their extensive menu for everyone to enjoy! There is also a tempting dessert menu should you have a sweet tooth and any room for a little more! The central focus at The George is on offering a wide range of excellent quality food, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented using locally sourced ingredients, whenever possible. Why not check out their very good website to find out more about their Festive, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year, Prix Fixe, A La Carte, Afternoon Tea, Vegan, Curry Club, Tapas & Drinks Menu.

The Central Bar is well-stocked with popular spirits and if you like your cocktails this is the place to be as there is a wide selection available all of which I was informed are freshly made to order. Choose a Classic Cocktail such as a Mojito, Margarita, Mai Tai, Negroni  and Manhattan or a Martini Cocktail, maybe an Expresso Martini or Pornstar Martini!  Premium & Fizz Cocktails like the Bellini and Rose Collins are very popular with visitors. If you prefer your drinks without alcohol there are a number of very tasty Mocktails on offer too. The George offers a wide range of Draught & bottled Ales, Lagers & Cider including London Pride, Amstel, Inches Cider, Bira Morreti, Cruzcampo, Guinness & Beavertown.

The Garden Room is a large function room, with its own bar, which overlooks the renovated beer garden. The Garden Room is an ideal space for that special occasion, as it is of a good size & is beautifully furnished and separate from the rest of the pub by a long wooden corridor, making it more exclusive. It is the perfect space for private parties, weddings or other special occasions.

Whilst sitting in the dining area enjoying my meal, I noticed several people coming in off the street, not only to eat but to sit and enjoy a drink, read the newspaper or chat with friends. The George has many live music events planned for the New year, and they have already proven to be very popular with locals and visitors alike. The George at Kilsby is still very much a local for the community.

Not only is The George an excellent local pub & restaurant but it offers much, much more. A monthly Curry Club, sharing their passion for food with authentic curry cooking classes, exploring the diverse tapestry of Spanish cuisine on their Tapas evenings, a sophisticated Afternoon Tea experience and an evening of Steak & Live Music. Why not drop in for breakfast/brunch which is served between 9.30am & 11.30pm on Saturday.

The George is the perfect base for exploring the local & wider area. Nearby you can explore the market towns of Daventry, Northampton & Rugby plus local attractions such Princess Diana`s ancestral home at Althorp House, the National Trust property at Canons Ashby, the British Motor Museum, Stratford -upon – Avon & the world-renowned Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.

Whatever you like, whatever the season, The George is sure to have something on the menu to satisfy your appetite. The George is a very pleasant pub in which to stop for a meal with friends, organise a special occasion or simply drop in for a couple of beers or other refreshments. The refurbishment has turned what was a perfectly acceptable country village pub into a very special village pub offering exceptional food, drink and professional service in very comfortable surroundings in a beautiful village setting.

I very much liked The George and the staff were brilliant! The serving staff were very attentive, efficient, polite and knowledgeable, engaging in conversation with customers. I urge you to check out The George at the earliest opportunity when you are next in the area. You will not be disappointed! I had a great time, and I plan to be going back very soon!

Why not check it out for yourself!