Pub chain adds unique twist to nation's favourite summer dessert
Published On Friday 28 Jul 2023 by Sticky Beak
See Recent News Articles
The UK’s number one pub company Greene King has teamed up with doughnut sensation Project D to launch a doughnut filled with strawberries, cream and ice-cream.
The Horseshoe Homer, priced at £6.49, has been added to the new summer menu at Greene King’s chain of 249 Hungry Horse pubs. The menu challenges people to either “share” the sweet treat or “go solo”.
Baked in the shape of a horseshoe to match the pub chain’s logo and topped with pink icing and colourful sprinkles to mirror Project D’s best-selling Homer doughnut, it is the first ice-cream-filled doughnut to be produced on such a large scale.
With the addition of strawberries and whipped cream, the dessert is tipped to challenge England’s traditional summer dessert enjoyed at fetes, regattas and tennis championships across the nation.
Project D’s collaboration with Greene King, which will see it manufacturing thousands of Horseshoe Homers each week, marks yet another coup for the bakery brand that has previously partnered with the likes of British Airways, Slevykuponu, Amazon, Coca-Cola and Brewdog.
Max Poynton, marketing director and co-founder of Project D, said: “This is absolutely huge for Project D. It’s like winning a Grand Slam for us!
“Although we have big ambitions, Project D is still a relatively small company in comparison to Greene King. To work alongside such a massive pub chain – one that’s been going in the UK since the 18th Century - is just amazing.”
Hungry Horse is just one of 14 brands owned by Greene King, which was founded 224 years ago in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. In total, the group operates 3,100 pubs, restaurants and hotels as well as brewing some of Britain’s best-selling beers, including Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale.
The Horseshoe Homer recipe underwent months of testing at Project D’s state-of-the-art research and development facility in Corby, Northamptonshire, to meet with Greene King’s requirements.
“It took tonnes of development with our team of nutritional scientists to arrive at the perfect result. But we’re all delighted with it – and to see the Project D brand on the new Hungry Horse summer menu is just fantastic.
“The addition of whipped cream and fresh strawberries was yet another challenge that we overcame. But I don’t think anyone who tries a Horseshoe Homer will look at strawberries and cream in the same way again.”
Max’s statement appeared to ring true when he visited The Merlin, a Hungry Horse pub at Pride Park, Derby, on the day the new menu was launched last week.
“We popped in to try one of our Horseshoe Homers, just to see how well they had travelled. But they were completely sold out on the first day by the time we got there. I guess that’s the best test we could have hoped for!”
Sarah Williams, senior marketing manager at Hungry Horse, said: “As anticipated, the Horseshoe Homer is proving extremely popular with guests and the feedback we’ve had so far has been incredible.
“We’re big on quality and flavour and we knew Project D would be able to deliver just that to our new menu. I’d urge everyone to visit their local Hungry Horse as soon as possible to get their hands on this taste sensation.”
Project D was co-founded from a kitchen table in 2018 by former schoolfriends Max Poynton, Matthew Bond and Jacob Watts.
Having grown to a company with a turnover of almost £3m, Project D recently launched a successful crowdfunding bid as part of plans to quadruple its turnover in the next three years. The expansion plans will include the opening of permanent retail stores across the UK.
To find out more about Project D, visit www.projectdoughnut.co.uk. To discover your nearest Hungry Horse pub, visit www.hungryhorse.co.uk.
| Derby Indian restaurant 'spices up' Easter treats for kids Nicco Restaurant & Bar is among a number of Derbyshire businesses helping parents cut the cost of entertaining their kids this Easter. The popular Pride Park-based Indian restaurant Read The Article | |
| Fresh New Flavours at Successful Cafe A successful Derbyshire cafe and deli is evolving its menu with exciting new brunch and deli options to keep up with customer demand. Read The Article | |
| The Original Bakewell Tart - Now With A Chocolate Twist For Easter The Bakewell Tart Shop, home of the one and only original Bakewell Tart recipe, is delighted to launch its special Easter Iced Cherry Bakewell Tart – topped with a chocolate mini egg instead of the traditional cherry. Read The Article | |
| The Cupola Wins Prestigious Best New Business Award Recognising Outstanding Contributions to Tourism The Cupola, an independently owned and family-run establishment in Stoney Middleton, with a restaurant, educational visitor Read The Article | |
| Bottoms up as Derby brunchers prepare to welcome city's first evening soiree A restaurant famed for its unique bottomless brunches has just served up its 75,000th glass of fizz and is launching the city's very first evening soiree Read The Article | |
| The Dovecote Restaurant At Morley Hayes Reopens Following Stunning Refurbishment The award-winning Dovecote Restaurant at Morley Hayes has officially reopened following an extensive refurbishment that promises Read The Article | |
| Spring In Our Step! - Award-Winning Fischer's Embraces A New Chapter Of Exciting Opportunities. We are excited to share some fantastic news that has brought a real spring to our step. We have once again received prestigious recognition Read The Article | |
| Live Music, Cocktails & Community Vibes: Barca at Casa Hotel Launches Weekly Music Nights As demand continues to grow for experience-led nights out and authentic local entertainment, Casa Hotel is answering the call. Read The Article | |
| Longbow Venues Celebrates Recognition At The Publican Awards 2025 - Derbyshire's Only Finalist Longbow Venues, an independent hospitality business based in the Peak District, is thrilled to announce its recognition at The Read The Article | |
| Mayor of the East Midlands to Open New Cafe at Crich Tramway Village Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, will be officially opening the new café at Crich Tramway Village, home to the National Tramway Museum on Saturday 5th April. Read The Article | |