Why organic?
The Duke of Cambridge is the first (and only) organic gastropub in the UK to achieve Soil Association accreditation. Everything it serves is organic.

What does organic mean?
In essence, organic farming is a method of farming that works in harmony with the land while respecting the environment and its animals. It is a way of farming crops and animals without the use of chemicals such as fertilisers, pesticides and medicines. It helps develop a fertile soil by growing mixed crops and encouraging earthworms to keep the soil healthy, and nurturing insect and animal life to naturally deter crop pests. Farmers rotate the crops to keep the soil healthy – for example, allowing sheep to graze the land to increase its fertility, then planting wheat the following year. Animals are reared without the routine use of antibiotics and other drugs common in conventional farming, and to achieve Soil Association certification they must be raised according to very high standards of animal welfare.

Why is The Duke of Cambridge organic?
We believe in what’s best for the health of the environment, and are certain that organic farming is the only way forward – conventional farming causes serious environmental damage and costs the taxpayer millions. Not to mention that organic food tastes so much better – it is literally bursting with flavour! If you’ve never tasted an organically-grown apple, we challenge you to do a comparison with a chemically-sprayed one and see what we mean. Also, we believe that organic food is better for you – studies have shown that levels of chemicals in non-organic foods exceed the legal levels set by government regulations. Anything that is certified by the Soil Association is free of all these chemicals and additives, and means that the food is unadulterated – not saturated with hydrogenated fats, artificial sweeteners and colourings, monosodium glutamate and other nasties.

How does the Duke of Cambridge get its organic certification?
The Duke of Cambridge has received an organic certification license from the Soil Association – the only gastropub in the UK to have ever done so. ‘Organic’ is a term defined by law and all organic food production is governed by a strict set of standards and guidelines. To be certified by The Soil Association we must keep detailed records of all the ingredients used to ensure a full and traceable trail from food production to the dining table. We have an annual inspection and audit of these records, and must maintain the standards required. We are subject to random inspections. We pay the Soil Association an annual fee for our certification license, and having this license provides a guarantee to the consumer that what they purchase and eat is produced and processed organically.

Do you have to be certified organic when catering?
No you don’t. Recently the government re-interpreted the EU guidelines on organic certification, and catering has been made exempt, allowing organic companies to regulate and police themselves. However, we’ve always been certified by the Soil Association and don’t intend to change our policy on this. We believe that allowing companies to police themselves is extremely dangerous to the integrity of the organic movement.

Geetie's Cookbook
A new cookbook with recipes from the kitchens of the Duke of Cambridge is now available at Amazon.

“Over 50 years of intensive farming has created serious threats to our health, our countryside, wildlife and animals.”

The Soil Association