Michelin starred, thatched pub with a definite buzz and some nicely done favourite dishes

The thing I love about pubs with quality food is that they completely blow the theory of Michelin starred venues being unobtainable or far too expensive out of the water. This is one of those said venues and as I was in the area for a Remembrance Service the next day, I couldn’t have been happier tucked away in my own corner of the pub bar area with favourite dishes watching England defeat South Africa in the rugby on their TV displayed for all. Quite a few pubs will accommodate you for food in the bar area if there are no spaces left in the restaurant and this is the other reason I love British pubs so much in this way.

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The prawn cocktail to start, with its Bloody Mary sorbet was frankly one of the nicest I have ever had. Sorry, Heston, but it even smashed your delights with vanilla mayonnaise. I have never had such a fresh combination of cocktail sauce and the crunchy perfection of the salad leaves made this an absolute killer.

The steak tartare was a menu special and I enjoyed as a main but certainly not as stratospheric as the prawn cocktail or within the same steak tartare leagues experienced at say Chiltern Firehouse, Berners Tavern or Story. The long crisp was good for covering bases but this plank-like crisp was quite hard and thick, detracting the tartare a little so I actually didn’t use much of this or see its need. The side veg were cooked well and were perfectly fine and the staff / management were very kind in providing a portion of sauce béarnaise to go with my chips – the latter sauce being runnier than I was expecting but superb in flavour.

All in all this was a lovely venue to visit and has a clear, vibe to its bar. Eminently popular, there was a very good atmosphere and it is a no brainer for celebrations or just a lovely place to enjoy a grand occasion. I would drive back to Yorkshire for a vat of their prawn cocktail alone and that it not a joke!

Food Grade: 75%