Welcome to
The Cricketers Arms - About Us
Relaunched in August 2019, The Cricketers Arms was taken over by Harry & Sam Kodagoda and is the debut site of Horizon Pub Company Ltd.
Harry brings a wealth of experience and numerous awards with him to Rickling Green. Having trained as a chef from the age of 16, he went on to work in some highly respected kitchens in London and was part of the team that launched Auberge du Lac at Brocket Hall. In 2005, Harry became Head Chef at The Fox at Willian and this saw the start of a 15-year career with award-winning and family run hospitality group Anglian Country Inns Ltd. It was here that Harry scooped up the award for Best Fish & Chips in the country as judged by Tom Kerridge. After seeing Harry’s passion, work ethic and love of all things food, he was made Director of Food for the group where they went on to win some huge accolades such as AA rosettes, Michelin bib gourmand, Top 50 Gastro Pub, Best Food Offer at The Publican Awards (two years running!) and in 2014, Harry himself won Development Chef of the Year.
It has always been Harry’s dream to have his own restaurant, but when he announced to his wife Sam, just 1 month after she gave birth to their 2nd child that now was the time, she was less than impressed! Nevertheless, once The Cricketers Arms came onto the market, Sam was firmly on board-having grown up locally in Bishops Stortford and on seeing the pub’s picturesque village setting, she knew this was the right pub for them.
With their strong and dedicated team, headed up by General Manager David Wilson, Harry & Sam want to put The Cricketers Arms firmly on the map and build its reputation as a destination dining pub with rooms.