The Highlander has been in the Prutton family since it opened after refurbishment on 7 October 1975.
Run since 2007 by Charlotte (a babe in arms in 1975) and Eric, The Highlander is a great little pub which serves delicious food with a garden for the summer months and a massive log fire as the nights draw in.
"When Eric and I took over the pub, we didn't want it to be a gastropub," Charlotte said. "We always wanted to be a good pub that serves good food."
Eric is the chef behind the kitchen and there's a great team that keeps standards high. There's locally-sourced meat and bread and even eco-friendly tap water that's pumped into bottles behind the bar.
Which is one of Charlotte's dreams: "We'd love to have a completely carbon-neutral business," she said. "There's so much we could do but at the moment, the pub is so busy we don't have time to develop those plans."
The pub retains much of its charm (and, indeed, one of the original cash registers is on display) of the early days in the hands of the Prutton family. That all helps keep the regulars coming back.
Charlotte and Eric strive to keep the family-run ethos alive in The Highlander, while offering new dishes on the eclectic menu (my favourite is definitely the Tagine - not your usual pub grub fare!).
We're fortunate to have several long-standing, family-run businesses in Hitchin which continue to provide great products and services to our community. Next time you're passing, give The Highlander a try (especially if you like a bit of jazz once a month!)
