our story

Deep dive into our teams journey building and developing Inoshishi, Izakaya.

how it begun...

Inoshishi was conceived by cofounders Rupert, George, and their team following a year running their pub in Bruton, The Prickly Pear. The The Prickly Pear (reopening in 2025 following a large renovation project) focused on delivering a vibrant Mexican dining experience along side a traditional British pub experience. An excellent combination if we may say so ourselves!

The birth of Inoshishi came about following a team trip to Japan in January 2023 and a fortuitous meeting with the buildings owner.

The shift from pulling pints and food service to getting The Prickly Pear ready for its renovation and launching Inoshishi was rather fun indeed with the whole team trading their cocktail shakers and chef whites for paint brushes and power tools.

a little about our food...

It's widely known that out Head Chef Jordan Confino loves a challenge. Crafting the menu at Inoshishi was no exception. After cooking exceptional Mexican inspired food at The Prickly Pear, Jordan, Jayden and the rest of the kitchen team dedicated a significant amount of time to immerse themselves in the intricacies of Japanese cuisine and culture.

This extensive research, training with a master Japanese chef in London and well honed culinary skills led to the creation of our ever evolving Izakaya menu.

The culinary offerings at Inoshishi are a fusion of traditional Japanese Izakaya dishes interpreted through the lens of traditional French culinary training often found at the Michelin restaurants where Jordan was trained. By incorporating these methods, we enhance Japanese flavours while crafting our own style thats promises a distinctive dining experience. Our specials board showcases an array of traditional delicacies such as Sashimi, Tartare, and Wagyu steak, and more.

We take great pride in our menu and the strong relationships we've cultivated with our excellent suppliers who we strive to minimise our impact on the Planet.

Our Partners

A little about our drinks...

Alisha and Josh have crafted an exceptional drinks selection to complement our food offerings. With Josh's expertise as a self-taught mixologist, he has curated and created a distinctive array of Japanese cocktails along with classic favorites. Whether you prefer your cocktails adventurous or timeless, sweet, sour or salty, we are confident we’ll have a tipple with your name on it.

Exciting partnerships have been blossoming behind the bar, notably with Lost and Grounded. Together, we've crafted a special lager using 80% rice. This creation is crisp, dry and a firm team favourite after work that pairs wonderfully with our menu. Of course a Japanese dining experience wouldn't be complete without a strong selection of Sake. To round off a meal, we feature perfect coffee from Girls Who Grind as well as an array of teas.