Newton in Bowland: Parkers Arms

5:01pm Monday 18th February 2008

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EXPECTATIONS were high as we entered the Parkers Arms.

After all the pub is now in the hands of the owners of Weezos, one of my favourite restaurants in the area.

Now for anyone visiting the Parkers it is only fair to say that the pub is currently a work in progress.

If you're looking for the complete dining experience then it's too early for you to visit as a much-needed facelift will be carried out in the next few months.

But to be honest I couldn't care less about the lack of carpet, the dour dining room or even the fact that Dale Winton was blaring out of the TV in the corner of one room.

No, you see the food is fabulous and that surely is the most difficult ingredient to get right.

Anything else is just cosmetic and with a little time will be up to scratch.

On offer is a very Lancashire menu with a twist.

There was a choice of around a dozen reasonably priced (less than a tenner) mains -all of which I wanted to try.

In the end I opted for the beef and real ale stew with herb dumplings (£9.85) while the better half wanted the Lancashire hotpot.

Sadly it is such a popular dish - and we were late - that it had run out so instead she settled for a Parkers Arms 7oz burger with cheese (£8.95).

The stew was quite simply outstanding.

Tender chunks of beef you could slice with a fork in a wonderfully aromatic gravy served with carrot, cabbage and potato and lovely, soft dumplings.

This was hearty fare and I ate the lot.

The burger too was far removed from your standard 'meat in a bun' offering.

For pudding we ordered one piece of treacle tart and vanilla ice cream and two spoons - and once again were weren't disappointed.

A word too about the wine list. How many establishment offer a decent glass of white Chinon at a reasonable price?

Clearly the interesting menu which has made Weezo's a success is already in place.

The rest will surely follow - and rest assured we'll be back to sample it.

The verdict

Don't be put off by the shabby surroundings, taste the food.