About The Overstone Arms
A small country pub in Pytchley, run by a chef with nearly forty years in catering behind him.
A Proper Country Pub
We are a small country pub, and we're very lucky to have a team of part-time staff who help us look after our customers. The Overstone Arms opened its doors again on 1st October 2022, and started serving food on 9th October 2022.
In January, we closed for two weeks for a major refurbishment programme to bring this stunning pub back to its best — and we haven't looked back since. Our staff are friendly, and we truly value all the commitment and hard work that's gone into growing the business.
Philip Ferguson
Philip's career in food started in 1987, aged just 13, making sandwiches and rolls for the first sandwich delivery round in East Ayrshire, Scotland, through his family's business, Susanne's Catering. He left school in 1990 for a full-time placement doing front of house and cooking, and began a YTS scheme the following year, one day a week at Ayr's catering college — cooking and serving at the RAF club in Scotland and the S.A.L. club in Prestwick Monkton, with outside catering built on fresh, wholesome food delivered straight to the customer.
The decades that followed took him across Scotland and England: catering manager for the family's Highland Meats — "the best education in meat quality and cooking" — running a snack bar with his sister at a bingo club in Stevenston, his first restaurant open to the public at 27, catering large events at an equestrian centre in Symington, and even a stint running a chip shop doing steaks, pizzas, kebabs, fresh fish and the occasional deep-fried Mars bar.
At 34, a meal at the Bell Inn in Finedon, Northamptonshire, changed everything — Philip fell for the pub on sight. In 2015, aged 41, he was given the chance to run its kitchen and restaurant, launching his own company, Bell's Kitchen. By 1st January 2019, it was the number one restaurant in all Northamptonshire on TripAdvisor.
In October 2022, Philip took on The Overstone Arms — opening the doors on the 1st and the kitchen on the 9th — bringing that same hands-on, produce-led approach to a new pub and a new village.
Philip's Career
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1987
First job in catering, aged 13, Ayrshire
Making sandwiches and rolls for the first sandwich delivery round in East Ayrshire, Scotland, through his family's business, Susanne's Catering.
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1991
YTS scheme; RAF & S.A.L. clubs, Scotland
A one-day-a-week catering college placement in Ayr, cooking and serving at the RAF club and the S.A.L. club in Prestwick Monkton.
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2015, age 41
Takes over the kitchen at the Bell Inn, Finedon; founds Bell's Kitchen
A meal at the Bell Inn at 34 changed everything — by 2015 he was running its kitchen and restaurant under his own company, Bell's Kitchen.
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1 January 2019
Bell's Kitchen — No.1 restaurant in Northamptonshire on TripAdvisor
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1–9 October 2022
Takes over The Overstone Arms; kitchen opens
Opening the doors on the 1st and the kitchen on the 9th — bringing that same hands-on, produce-led approach to a new pub and a new village.
Bell's Kitchen, On Camera
Two short clips from Philip's own Bell's Kitchen days at the Bell Inn, Finedon — a look at the food and the pub that shaped his approach at The Overstone Arms.
"Bell's Kitchen — love the food we do for you"
Bell's Kitchen on TripAdvisor
Home Cooked Food
"Home cooked food" is written on our sign outside, and it's the same philosophy Philip has carried since his earliest days doing outside catering: fresh, wholesome food, delivered properly. Years spent in the meat trade with the family's Highland Meats business taught him what good meat quality looks like — which is exactly why our steaks matter to us, from the 28-day matured Blackgate steaks on Thursday Steak Night to the dishes on our set menus.
Set In The Heart Of Pytchley
The Overstone Arms sits in the Northamptonshire village of Pytchley, a short drive from Kettering — a proper stone-built country pub with a beer garden, cask ales and a genuinely part-time, friendly team who care about the people who walk through the door.
There are ongoing plans to keep building on that village-hub feel, including an extended Orchard Garden and a village shop — this is very much a pub that's still growing.
An Evening Well Spent
Behind the pub, our covered "Secret Garden" courtyard is one of the loveliest spots on a summer evening — string lights, a bar, and a relaxed corner for a quiet drink. It's also available to hire for private functions.
Dogs Are Always Welcome
We welcome friendly dogs in our bar area and gardens, with a dog station containing tasty treats, water bowls and poo bags.
- Dogs must remain on leads and close to your feet
- Treats, water and poo bags provided
- Disruptive dogs will politely be asked to vacate, for the comfort of other guests
