4:42pm Monday 28th June 2010
The Clog & Billycock
Billinge End Road, Pleasington, Blackburn BB2 6QB
Tel: 01254 201163
Email enquiries@theclogandbillycock.com
www.theclogandbillycock.com
AFTER a walk in our glorious countryside you tend to build up a hearty appetite and this is one of the best places to satisfy it.
The price is perhaps a bit more than you will pay at most local eateries, but after sampling the food at this welcoming gastropub, it is well worth the extra.
My wife and I went at lunchtime with a couple of friends to the pub situated just through the attractive village of Pleasington.
It is one of a number of a handful run by award-winning chef, Nigel Haworth and his deliciously tempting, contemporary twists on traditional local favourites were a winner with the four of us.
Originally known as the Bay Horse Inn, it's unusual name came about because clogs and billycock (a kind of bowler hat) were the favourite attire of a landlord who took over in the early 20th century - and somehow the idea stuck.
I knew we were in the right place as soon as we walked into the attractively decorated pub as we watched delicious-looking food being whisked past on trays to be served at the wooden tables by friendly and efficient staff.
It operates a take your seat, check the number of the table and go and place your order service, but that is the only similarity to the system operated by many bland chains.
There is a diverse menu catering for most tastes and pocket from soup and a sandwich to ribeye steak. There are a number of vegetarian options and a children’s menu is a scaled down version of the one for adults.
We started with delicious warm homemade bread and tasty dips of black and marrowfat pea with preserved cherry tomatoes, followed by stems of thick asparagus, the best I have ever tasted .
It was difficult to decide what to have from the excellent choice on the main course but there were no complaints from all four varied meals.
The men's choice of fish and chips and steak and kidney pudding, mash and vegetables, may sound ordinary and uninspiring, but it was perfectly cooked and presented and were again mouthwateringly delicious.
The ladies went for a ploughman platter of Lancashire cheese, York Ham, Scotch egg, and homemade pickles and a selection of local seafood, which comprised smoked salmon, smoked kipper, hot smoked trout, potted Morecambe Bay shrimps, smoked mackerel pâté, pickled cucumber, beetroot relish and horseradish cream.
The quality of the food reflects the aim to use locally sourced produce and the result is well worth the effort.
As you can imagine we were pretty full after all that and although the double chocolate mousse, English summer trifle fresh raspberries, custard, double cream, jelly and traditional Bramley apple pie, carnation milk and custard, all sounded mouth-watering, we plumped for a couple of scoops of home made Ice Cream, which slipped down a treat.
There is an extensive wine list which is not over priced and there are several half litre options for a tenner, while there is a nice selction of beers.
Booking is recommended but can only be made for six or more at weekends.
Not a cheap lunch at £20 each with drinks and coffee, but worth every penny.
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