Goodbye to 'Mr & Mrs Underhill's' as Ludlow culinary couple set to bow out
It's been their life for almost 35 years. Husband-and-wife team Chris and Judy Bradley have been among Britain's best and most successful restaurateurs during a glittering career.
Their achievements have been remarkable: they have run Shropshire's most successful restaurant of all time, they hold the county's only Michelin star and their restaurant was named Britain's best by an influential guide just a few years ago, beating the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Michel Roux Jr and Raymond Blanc, among others.
But on December 20 the couple will hang up their apron strings when they close Mr Underhill's for the last time. They've decided to call it a day and want to go out at the top of their game.
Judy says: "We shall serve our final dinne and Mr Underhill's in its current format will cease to be. It will be a very sad day after almost 35 years but we want to go out on a high. There are still new dishes to be served as well as some old, old favourites if Chris can remember the recipes.
"We hope we shall be able to fit in most of our regulars who would like to come for a final visit as we have kept some tables back for most evenings."
The Bradleys' restaurant, on the banks of the River Teme was integral to the gastronomic boom that made Ludlow the gourmet capital of rural Britain back in 2000.
And while three other Michelin star-holders came and went, Chris and Judy stuck at it. They redeveloped their restaurant, building new guest rooms, spending a fortune on a new kitchen and redesigning their dining room.
It wasn't all plain sailing: on one unfortunate occasion they were flooded when the banks of the adjacent River Teme overflowed, sending a stream of muddy water into the restaurant.
But they soon recovered and in 2010 their restaurant was named the best in the land. It won the inaugural Harden's Award for Britain's Best Restaurant, leaving Chris and Judy "gobsmacked".
At the time of the award, Judy said: "We're astonished and delighted. We're low profile. Chris never does television, he just stays in the kitchen and cooks. And I do front of house.
