On 1st July, partners in business and in life,
Danielle James & James Fairchild, took
over The Three Cranes in Great Cransley,
which had been owned by the same family
for 28 years. After three intense weeks of
renovation, Danielle & James opened their
gastro pub to the public to great acclaim.
With its contemporary look, wooden flooring,
décor in sage green and cream, leather
chairs and sofas, the bar and restaurant
areas are most inviting and pleasing to
the eye. The outdoor beer garden has an
extensive play area and multiple seating
facilities for alfresco dining or for a refreshing
drink with one of James’ popular bar snacks.

Danielle & James met at the 4AA red star,
2 rosette Bedford Lodge Hotel in Suffolk,
where they worked for the past seven
years as Financial Controller and Executive
Head Chef. James is born and grew up
in Northamptonshire, so when a family
member in Walgrave told them earlier this
year that The Three Cranes was up for sale,
the couple decided that the time had come to
branch out on their own.

James has more than twenty years’
experience in the catering industry; during
the earlier part of his career, he served on
luxury cruise liners including the iconic QE2
and the 5-star Sea Goddess II yacht and, in
more recent years, at Champneys at Forest
Mere and The Millstream Hotel in Bosham.
A member of the Craft Guild of Chefs since
2003, James also became a professional
member of the ‘Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’ in
2008 and won Chef of the Year for Suffolk in
a local business awards in June.

James’ eclectic style and modern artistic
flair is reflected in his reinvention of classic
dishes. His style of cuisine is to inject new
concepts and international flavours into the
menus and add his own twist. French fries
are, for instance, served with parmesan and
truffle oil, and the mixed berry Eton mess
is complemented with basil. The menu is
kept deliberately simple, with the emphasis
on high-quality ingredients, sourced locally
when at all possible. Danielle & James
are passionate about supporting the local
community and constantly strive to reduce the
food miles produce has to travel, effectively
minimising ‘field to fork’ and maintaining the
support of the local economy.

In addition to the lunch and dinner menus,
an extensive afternoon tea menu has been
launched, served Wednesday through Sunday 2-5pm (bookings preferred), with a selection of
choices to which you can add a glass of prosecco if you are
in a celebratory mood. There is also a Gentleman’s Full
Afternoon Tea, which includes toasted BLT and sausage roll
with an optional pint on the side.

Danielle & James are keen to support local charities. On
Friday 14th through Sunday 16th October, The Three Cranes
will be putting a fish supper on its specials board for lunch and
dinner in aid of the RNLI.

Opening Hours: Tuesday: 5-10pm (food 6-9pm);
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 12-3pm (food 12-2pm)
and 5-10pm (food 6-9pm); Saturday: 12-11pm (food 12-9pm);
Sunday: 12-9pm (food 12-5pm); Monday: closed.

The Three Cranes, 1 Loddington Road, Great Cransley, NN14 1PY
Tel: 01536 790287 • www.thethreecranes.co.uk

 

The Three Cranes

The Three Cranes