This building has had a mixed history starting off life in 1818 as a Methodist Chapel (see the plaque on the outside) became a Salvation Army Hall (both Methodists and Salvationists being staunchly against alcohol) before being a betting office and finally a pub. It’s received several accolades for its quality beer (usually serving more than 6 guest cask ales) and the bar is classically a real drinkers bar. There’s only one room with a few tables dotted around but the majority will stand and chat whilst leaning up against walls or "propping up the bar". To enjoy a drink in the Horse and Plough is a traditional experience and I’ll guarantee that whatever time you go in the evening the place will be packed – that’s what quality and well-kept beers can do for a pub. In recent years the establishment went on to develop an upstairs restaurant also with a first class reputation.
We’d been invited to a friend’s 60th and it’s a good sign if a restaurant can dish out 80 odd quality meals with some degree of synchronicity. Admittedly the three tables were not served at exactly the same time but tables were served in sequence and considering that we had a choice of main course they did remarkably well. The restaurant is compact and because of that it has a real buzz to it (helped of course because we were all friends together) and at times we had to assist the waiting staff by passing loaded plates to those who were just out of reach of the waitresses’ reach.
The meal was served as a typical English Sunday lunch with roasted meat (a choice of lamb, beef or chicken) and a good selection of fresh vegetables, potatoes (both boiled and roasted), traditional stuffings all fully plated. Somehow Sunday roast dinners are better served in this way, and soon the room fell into virtual silence as we tucked into our "roast and two veg" Sunday dinner. Appreciative murmurings could be heard as friends enjoyed Gerry’s 60th celebration.
Putting on a show for us was Ryan Vardy, a young magician, whose speciality is close-up magic. He amazed and bewildered us with card tricks, disappearing rings, and the blowing of soap bubbles, which then transformed into floating glass globes. I sat right next to him and tried to follow the deception but it was so cleverly done not one of us could spot the trickery. That’s magic for you!
This was a leisurely meal and it took the best part of the afternoon with us all enjoying some of the excellent and medium-priced wines and rounding the meal off with puds. I decided to stick with tradition and had a bread and butter pudding with lashings of custard and the merest hint of fresh cream drizzled over the centre. It did nothing for my diet but what the heck it was real tasty.