our story

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

how it began...

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

The birth of Inoshishi came about both as a result of a team trip to Japan in January 2023 and a fortuitous meeting with the building’s owner.

The shift from pulling pints and food service to getting The Prickly Pear ready for its renovation and to launching Inoshishi, was indeed a lot of fun, with the whole team trading in their cocktail shakers and chef whites for paintbrushes and power tools!

a little about our food...

It's widely known that our 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 immersing themselves in the intricacies of Japanese cuisine and culture.

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

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

We take great pride in our menu and the strong relationships we've cultivated with our excellent suppliers, with whom 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.