THE Sparrowhawk has long been a favoured destination for those seeking a country pub without having to stray too far off the beaten track.

This historic building retains much of its olde world charm with plenty of nooks and crannies and creaking floors.

Although primarily a dining pub, you’ll find plenty of locals enjoying a pint and when the sun shines, the outdoor tables are packed.

Visiting on a Saturday night we were lucky to be found a table even though we hadn’t booked. The menu is relatively small, but filled with classic pub staples, supplemented by a decent selection of daily specials.

My first choice, the gammon, egg and pineapple had proved so popular it was sold out, so I chose the Lancashire cheese and onion pie, homemade chips (for some reason they’re called fries on the menu, sorry but I’m a traditionalist at heart) and house salad for a reasonable £8.95.

The better half went for one of her favourites, the 8oz rump steak with chips and peppercorn sauce, for £14.85.

For the cheese pie, I got my own little pot pie complete with crust. Being critical I’d say the filling was a little lacking in moisture and the pastry slightly too firm around the edges, but there was no denying its cheesy taste.

Plus points too for the house salad. The steak was well cooked, we’d asked for medium and that’s what we got, but at £14.85 I’d say it was a bit on the pricey side.

We both went for pudding and my sticky toffee pudding with ice cream (£5.25) was light and delicious.

An orange sorbet with a glass of Cointreau (£3.75) was an unusual and refreshing choice for the better half.

VERDICT

  • Food: 7
  • Drink: 8
  • Service: 8
  • Atmosphere: 8
  • Value: 7