Edition stops by for a brew with Hayley and Craig, co-founders of Caxton’s quirkiest pub
Cambridge Edition: Hello both! Firstly, what’s your brew of choice?
Hayley: It’s a strong coffee (preferably three times a day) for me and a decaf cuppa for Craig please!
CE: Tell us a bit about the business – what led to its inception?
Craig: We launched The Chubby Frog last December. I’d previously owned several highly successful restaurants; one of our joint ventures in recent years was a food truck which proved extremely popular at festivals and local events. We decided to combine our experience in business and catering – alongside our love of working together – to create a unique offering that would provide something a little different from your average pub. We also wanted to create a space to help bring back some of the community spirit we feel had been lost since the pandemic. And so, The Chubby Frog was born!
CE: For those who don’t know you, introduce us to The Chubby Frog!
Craig: We are an independent, family-run establishment proudly avoiding traditional gastropub expectations, both on the plate and in the restaurant itself. We also pride ourselves on serving generous portions of fresh food (you won’t find tiny pretentious dishes here!) without compromising on the quality. Our aim is to wow diners with epic plates of lushness that leave you feeling satisfied yet excited to return and try more!
CE: Tell us more about the brains behind the operation.
Hayley: Making The Chubby Frog what it is truly is a collaborative effort! Craig brings a wealth of culinary experience to the table after spending over 30 years in the hospitality sector, and I have been running multiple businesses for around 15 years – collectively giving us a broad and fairly unique skill set. We’re both highly motivated, creative and entrepreneurial, so it’s safe to say we make a good team! We’re also blessed to have our wonderful manager Jessica – AKA our right-hand woman – who helps bring our ideas to life and keep the standards high within the restaurant and our front-of-house team.
CE: What do you enjoy most about your work at The Chubby Frog?
Hayley: We love creating a memorable experience for our diners. Even since our earliest conversations around the business development, we had customer experience marked as a top priority. So everything – from the cosy, vibrant and quirky interiors to the eclectic menu and warm welcome you can expect – has been designed to create an unforgettable occasion that makes guests want to come back and see us again. When we see people simply enjoying the vibe we have created, catching up with their family, tucking into great food and sharing good conversation, it’s honestly
the best feeling.
CE: Finally, got any plans in store?
Craig: We’ll be rolling out extended hours over the summer to provide our much-loved brunch seven days a week, which will coincide with the opening of our newly refurbished pub garden: something we’re all very excited about! Leaning into our desire to create a space that fosters community spirit, we have also launched a Business Brunch Club which is hosted once a month. It’s designed to offer community, connection and collaboration within the local business community – as well as support for those who are entrepreneur-curious. We also host an Old Skool Pub Quiz every six to eight weeks, which has proven to be super popular – so it’s well worth booking in advance as the night
sells out fast!
Follow @thechubbyfrogcambridge and find out more at thechubbyfrog.com.
77 Ermine Street, Caxton, Cambridge CB23 3PQ
