THE Brinsop is always a pleasure to visit — whether for a pint of well kept cask conditioned ale, a pub snack or a decent restaurant meal.

Whatever your choice, and we’ve done all three over the years, the place is a mini oasis for lovers of decent grub and good beers.

The Brinsop is not out for a Michelin star — it’s not that kind of place and I don’t mean that unkindly.

But what you will get is good food, usually locally sourced, well cooked and at a price that won’t make you feel as though your credit has well and truly been crunched.

For me the place is heaven on earth as I can combine two of my favourite pastimes, eating and drinking, in one place.

The Brinsop has always had between three and six different cask conditioned beers available and the menu has always been interesting, with nifty little twists.

The Brinsop is one of those rare, decent restaurants where you can still get a table at the weekend without booking if you go early on (though it is advisable to book) — and the night we went there was a lively buzz about the place with most tables taken not long after we sat down.

The place has had a facelift, new wallpaper and little touches here and there, which gives it a brighter, airier feel than before.

My wife didn’t want a big meal so she ordered two starters which was no trouble at all to the pleasant staff, while I ordered a starter and a main course.

Soups are dear to both our hearts — we often make our own at home and so we like to compare our efforts with those we buy in restaurants.

I can safely say that my wife’s butternut squash and sweet potato soup was piping hot and a flavoursome, substantial bowlful, which passed the critical Wright taste test with flying colours.

My starter of asparagus and blue cheese tart with a rocket salad was tasty with a sweet edge, if a little oily, though I assume that was due to the cheese.

My wife’s second starter, which she ate as her main meal, came with my main course. She ordered black pudding on mushroom and potato puree and topped with a poached egg.

while my pork fillet, stuffed with wild mushrooms and garlic and a reduced red wine sauce was a really good substantial meal.

Neither of us felt like pudding but there was a good choice on offer and we know from previous experiences, that the desserts are very good.

We finished our meal and kept the table in the restaurant while awaiting the arrival of my brother-in-law and his wife. They ordered from the bar snack menu which again caused no problem for the willing staff. How many restaurants do you know where the staff would be so amenable? That’s the beauty of the Brinsop and that’s why we return on a regular basis.

The cost came to just over £30 and was washed down by a couple of excellent pints of Thwaites Original — so good value all round.

wwright@theboltonnews.co.uk