A 21-year-old has brought fresh ideas and flavours to a Norfolk pub, where he has just been promoted to head chef.

Jack Cronin-Aldridge is now running the kitchen at The White Horse in South Lopham, near Diss, after joining the team in April 2023 as a sous chef.

Mr Cronin-Aldridge grew up around pubs as his parents own The White Horse in Stoke Ash in Suffolk, where he did a cheffing apprenticeship aged 19 with his dad.

Diss Mercury: Jack Cronin-Aldridge is the head chef at The White Horse South LophamJack Cronin-Aldridge is the head chef at The White Horse South Lopham (Image: James Neale)

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He then moved on to The Old Ram in Tivetshall St. Mary and then JD Young in Harleston, before getting a job at The White Horse in South Lopham.

Diss Mercury: Fish and chips from The White Horse in South LophamFish and chips from The White Horse in South Lopham (Image: James Neale)

He was also a runner-up in the Best Young Pub Chef category at the Great British Pub Awards 2022, which was won by fellow Norfolk cook Tiffany Long, then 24, of The White Hart in Ashill.

Diss Mercury: Jack takes inspiration from cuisines around the worldJack takes inspiration from cuisines around the world (Image: James Neale)

Mr Cronin-Aldridge said: "I wanted to join The White Horse in South Lopham as it has great potential and amazing people work there. 

"It is all my own menu now and my food has had really positive feedback - we do a variety of dishes, from Asian to Italian and also pub grub."

Diss Mercury: A dessert from The White Horse in South LophamA dessert from The White Horse in South Lopham (Image: James Neale)

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James Neale has owned The White Horse for the last three years and the manager and "face of the pub" is Jodie Colson. 

Ms Colson, 27, said: "The pub is thriving and we want to break the mould of what a pub can be.

Diss Mercury: Jack Cronin-Aldridge has been appointed the head chef of The White Horse in South LophamJack Cronin-Aldridge has been appointed the head chef of The White Horse in South Lopham (Image: James Neale)

"We do lots of events, with live music every Saturday night and we are having a big summer party in our beer garden from 2pm on August 27. 

"We are getting customers from further away coming to try Jack's food."

The White Horse is open daily from 12noon for drinks, with food served from 12noon-3pm and 6pm-9pm on Monday to Saturday and 12noon-5pm for roast dinners on Sundays.

For more info, visit https://www.restaurantji.co.uk/norfolk/bressingham/the-white-horse-/