There’s a nice beer garden round the back. If you have a few hours to spare and the sun’s out, it’s the perfect place to hang out with pals, shielded from the noise of traffic.
Location
On a busy main road, easily accessible and with a big car park at the back. It’s also on several bus routes, so good public transport options, too. It’s right next to a Premier Inn for which it also serves as the restaurant.
First impressions
It’s a Greene King property, billed as a Pub & Grill and that was just the vibe – a hearty, traditional bar with grub.
Service
Absolutely no complaints. From the moment we arrived the staff – and there were plenty of them – were switched-on, friendly and attentive. No hanging around for ordering, serving or the bill and they all had a smile.
Menu
Crispy squid and Stilton and peppercorn mushrooms sat alongside the more traditional soup and pate for the starters. Pub classics included gammon steak, chicken fajitas, mac and cheese and lasagne and there’s a wide choice of burgers. The grill is the big deal and there were enough options to keep the heartiest beef eater happy.
Taste
The chicken sharing platter was plentiful with a wide selection, and the chicken fajitas main was nicely spicy. A few more peppers and a bit less of the red onion would have been appreciated.
Something special
The grill is highlighted as a speciality and the sirloin steak was spot on.
Price
Starters, mains and drinks came to just under £50.
Ambience
It was a chilly early Saturday evening and the fires were more than welcome. It’s obviously a popular haunt with a thriving bar and barely a free table, but the atmosphere was lovely and not noisy. Nice to see lots of young families having a relaxed meal.
Toilets
They’re big, clean and accessible.
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe