This pub has recently come under new management. For those that had visited before the transition, it deserves a fresh visit - without preconceptions left from the past owners.
Upon entering the establishment, we were greeted by a young lady who showed us to the table we had booked for dinner. She apparently functioned as a hostess and waitress - but she seemed to seamlessly integrate these two distinct roles.
The decor of the pub is pleasant. Subtle interludes of it's long history are ever present - it appears the building itself used to function in an agrarian role. Despite this, though, modern features have been brought in to aid in the comfort of patrons. My wife said the woman's bathrooms had been recently renovated. New benches adorn the front lawn - I'm sure these will be seldom unoccupied during the later summer months.
As for the interior, it shows much in the way of recent improvement. A beautiful stone floor is present in the bar area. The dining room is quite simply stunning. An ornate display of various china pieces covers one wall. The floor of the room, an elegantly varnished solid wood affair, makes it feel more a court from many generations past than a dining room of the present. The chairs were remarkably comfortable, and highchairs seemed in no short supply.
On to my favorite part - the food. Our waitress, the girl that had welcomed us, came to take our order. I started with the crab cakes and my wife with the smoked salmon and avocado salad. My crab cakes were simply mouth-watering. The chili dressing perfectly complemented the subtle herb essences in the cakes. My wife's salad was also superb - especially if her refusal to give me more than one bite before devouring the rest is any indicator.
For our main courses, we had the roast tomato, mascarpone, and rocket pasta and the rabbit pie. The pasta was again to the high degree of culinary excellence we had come to expect from our starters. The pasta itself was well cooked - as were the other fresh ingredients. The rabbit pie, though, was something else. Never have I experienced such gastrointestinal euphoria. The rabbit meat was cooked to a perfect tenderness, and the airy pastry that was layered on top was delicious. The vegetables and potatoes that accompanied both meals were fresh and well prepared - an unbeatable combination.
We opted for the chocolate torte for dessert. The rich chocolaty flavors of the middle layer, accompanied by the creaminess of the sandwich layers, was heavenly. To put it simply, it rivaled many of the tortes I have sampled in continental Europe, including Sacher Torte in Vienna and Gateau St. Honore in Paris.
In all, I would rate this pub very highly. The decor, combined with the history of the building and the superb nature of the food are everything a pub could hope to be. A variety of beers and ales are served in addition to the Wadsworth range, ensuring that even patrons with the most astute preferences can be easily pleased. I have encouraged friends and family who leave nearby to visit - I know we will next time we're over. read more
