My husband's brother was up from 'the big smoke' at the weekend. Although there's many and plenty great places to eat near us on the Fylde coast we thought we would take a sunday drive over to Pleasington and treat him to lunch at the Clog and Billycock.
It's quite hard to impress a Londoner most of the time. Everything they have is bigger, bolder, better, tastier.
Except when it's not.
This was a case in point. As part of the Ribble Valley Inns group, the Clog and Billycock is a 'gastropub' in the best sense of the word. Impressive decor, superb service and staffing, PROPER local food. We had given the place a bit of a build up on the way - yes it IS worth the drive! And it didn't let us down.
The dish that impressed my brother-in-law? The fish and chips. As good as anything anywhere in London could throw at us. An almighty shame they had run out of the pigs trotters.
But the happiest chappie in our group was my little boy. We couldn't resist ordering him Sausage and Mash from the childrens menu. At 14 months old we thought it was time he had his own food even if the portion sizes are more geared to a five year old. Not only did he enjoy it; but from the moment it arrived at the table he couldn't wait to eat it all. Result. (AND he had the ice-cream too!).
As we were leaving I noticed a friend at another table tucking into her main course. She had also travelled on a 50 mile round trip for a leisurely lunch. In the hospitality business herself, she commented on the quality of the staff and also reckoned that Nigel Haworth manages to 'spray some magic' across his businesses to give that extra something.
Obviously - I recommend a visit!
Sarah Lundy
I went there about a year ago....it's really time I went back!
Posted by: Zoe | 26 January 2010 at 01:35 PM