Inside is a picture of the packhorse.
Delightful Decor
Decor
As you can see, pictures, pictures, everywhere. You'll never be short of things to look at and talk about.
I commented to a member of staff on the number of pictures. He said, 'Two of the pictures are upside down. It's deliberate. It's like that in all the group pubs. We have about 80 all over the country.'
Service
The staff were friendly, chatty, smiley and helpful. Easy to catch their eye and wave to them when we were ready to order. They didn't rush us out. That is the advantage of a country pub - as opposed to a small city centre place where there's a crush and rush on seating and parking space.
They did not ask us if everything was all right. So I did not have the courage to tell them I did not like the batter on my fish, which was too crisp. I would have preferred a batter softer, more like a thin pancake. I fantasied that f I had been a regular, I might have gone into the kitchen, seen if fish was heated in n oven or grill or frying pan, and told them exactly at what point they should lift it out and said, I'll come here every Friday if you can cook it the way I like it. Restaurants do steak the way you like it.
Strangely, I had the opposite problem with the crumble dessert. Undercooked. No texture to the crumble which was not crumbled on top but a smooth uncooked paste. Yes, the same as steaks, the customer's preference should apply to batter.
Is it just me? I had the same view of the masala dosai at Praba restaurant later the same day that it should have been cooked the way I like it. Cooked too much. Crispy and crackly instead of soft like a pancake.
Four things I like to know. Where to sit. They were good at that. The sign at the door tells you. Staff behind the bar tell you. They offer to show you to the table. One separate nook of alcove tables in a middle room between the bar and restaurant is the dog friendly area.
Toilets
The toilets were lovely. I tried both the spacious handicapped toilet which was spotlessly clean and welcoming, and the ladies' room. Flowers. Colours. Clean. Accessible bin for hand towels. Plenty of visible spare toilet rolls so they don't run out.
Interesting
Seating Choice
Choice of indoor, in three indoor areas, the bar area, the main restaurant with windows, the more enclosed area, the two large alcove dog-friendly tables. Plus seating at the front where you can sit to hail your friends if you arrive first. The large garden at the back. Plenty of seating. No need to worry about booking, except for events and co-ordinating with friends. However, you can make an automated booking online.
Events
They organize country walks, and one off events such as the Sausage day, and Spanish food and music.
Meal Tickets
Our bill came with small address card size pieces of paper marked meal ticket. I thought they were address cards and took only one.
It had small white print on grey and a QR code. You might need reading glasses, and to take time to check what it says.
Later I discovered it was a discount voucher. I presume you received one person per meal. You needed six of them for a discount, and they were valid until November, four months away.
So, and if you had six of them, which would have been from two more meals for a couple, or more. But we are unlikely to go back to this area. Are they valid also in London, where other restaurants in this group can be found?
Prices
Pricier than a Wetherspoons, but less than the top Michelin restaurants in the area.
Regulars come here because it is nearby and convenient with parking.
Useful Websites
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