5 /5 Keith Bollands: Our first visit to the DofE in 2026, although we have chosen the restaurant here for family "occasions" several times a year for 4-5 years. We have always enjoyed the food here, and tonight was no exception. There is plenty of choice on the menu; the steak and ale pie caught my eye as I had not tried it before. Fortunately I had not read another diners scathing review, and my experience was entirely different: beautifully tender beef with some mushrooms and zero "gristle", beneath a generous crust of puff pastry (very slightly burnt on one edge, so I feel sure it had not been microwaved!), accompanied by a large side-dish of new potatoes and vegetables. My two companions had the chicken curry and the mushroom stroganoff, which are almost always listed on the "specials" board, and both were fine. There is plenty to tempt on the dessert menu too: our choices included spotted dick and white chocolate cheesecake, both excellent. Service was efficient, polite and unobtrusive. The bill, including drinks and service charge, came in at under £30 a head, which strikes me as excellent value these days.
The only (minor) disappointment: my mother at 90+ is unable to walk far; when booking she always requests the "disabled" space near to the back door, and is told it will be reserved for her, but tonight, for the first time, we found it already occupied when we arrived. Luckily there was a standard space empty at the side of the pub and only a short walk away.
