OUR STORY
WINNERS OF BEST PUB IN HERTFORDSHIRE 2022
About
The Silver Cup sits on the edge of Harpenden Common and is minutes from the bustling High Street and the station. A part of Harpenden’s Community for nearly 200 years, we have lovingly refurbished the pub to bring it up to date - a public house for the 21st century.
We serve top quality Modern British food in our dining room, it’s just a little bit special but welcoming and unpretentious. We’ve retained our bar so everyone is welcome to call in for a drink and a bar snack.
Our small and dedicated kitchen and front of house team are here to welcome you and create a memorable experience, whether you are simply calling in for a drink, to catch up with friends over lunch or indulge for a special occasion.
The Silver Cup is led by two local lads, Matthew and Michael, Who both grew up in Harpenden and share a love of good food and drink and who have returned to their home town to offer the warmest hospitality and top notch food to locals and visitors alike.
SILVER CUP
19th Century
SILVER CUP
Present Day
Our Story
Established in 1838, Silver Cup was a classic Victorian public house at the end of the Harpenden race course on the common - traditionally the winner was awarded a silver cup, hence our name. As far we know, we are the only pub in the country called The Silver Cup!
Matthew and Michael took over the lease in spring 2020 in the depths of the first Coronavirus lockdown and took the time they were forced to close to lovingly refurbish the interior of the pub and transform it into a contemporary and stylish dining space.
OUR AMBITION
Over the next few months, we aim to improve the garden making it a welcoming, peaceful and safe space for all, including families with children. We will also refurbish the four bedrooms bringing them up to the same high standards as you see from our food and drink.
We aim to be a contemporary public house, a restaurant with rooms serving some of the best food you will find outside London with rooms for Harpenden residents and visitors from further afield. We will always be a pub at heart and part of the Harpenden community we grew up in.
OUR PEOPLE
Matthew and Michael both grew up in Harpenden and have gained years of experience working in bars and restaurants around the world. They are supported by a small dedicated team and all share a love for good food and drink and warm hospitality.
Matthew
CHEF & CO-OWNER
Matthew is a passionate chef who has always loved food and cooking and is dedicated to creating imaginative Modern British Food. He loves sourcing the best seasonal British produce and designing menus that will surprise and delight people with inventive twists.
Matthew has worked in some of the top restaurants in London and Hertfordshire including Auberge du Lac,The Typing Room, The Galvin Brothers and Anglo in Farringdon where he was head chef.
Having grown up in Harpenden in a family who ran The Silver Cup for seven years and with aunts and grandparents running pubs in North London, Matthew was almost destined to build his life around working in hospitality. After graduating from Westminster Catering College, he travelled to Australia to expand his palate and discover new culinary techniques and styles. Back in London he developed his love of British produce and worked with some of the top names in the industry including Lee Westcott, Mark Jarvis and Tom Spence. Driven to run his own restaurant, he began hosting weekly supper clubs at what was then his Dad’s pub, The Silver Cup. These were so popular that after reconnecting with his childhood friend, Michael, they decided to launch their own restaurant and pub together.
Michael
GENERAL MANAGER AND CO-OWNER
Like Matthew, Michael grew up in Harpenden in a family who ran bars in the town and neighbouring St Albans and was inspired to follow a career in the world of hospitality.
He is dedicated to offering a warm welcome to everyone who visits The Silver Cup - regulars and first time visitors.
After studying Hospitality Management at university he gained a graduate job in the US with one of the largest pub and restaurant groups in the country. Back in the UK he worked with Mitchells and Butler and Green King, but always dreamt of running his own place.