Fence: Fence Gate

4:34pm Monday 3rd December 2007

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By John Anson »

A TRIP to the Fence Gate without sampling its award-winning sausages would be a bit like going to Blackpool and not buying a stick of rock.

The Fence Gate has a very nice restaurant - The Topiary - but you are equally welcome to dine in the bar areas, which is what we chose to do.

With its open fires, leather chairs and abundance of wood, it's the epitome of a country pub - relaxed, inviting and comfortable.

The bar menu, although not as extensive as the restaurant, should suit most diners, although vegetarians might find their options in short supply.

If you're a sausage lover, you'll be spoiled for choice and in the end I went for the intriguing sounding Smokey Taste of Lancashire - pork sausage with smoked Lancashire cheese and onion. I was given the choice of mash, chips or bubble and squeak, but you have to have mash don't you?

The better half didn't fancy a major meal so opted for the Greenland prawn open sandwich. At £8.95 and £5.75 respectively, neither dish could be said to be exactly cheap.

A Fence Gate banger is a pretty substantial affair, but I was still a little surprised to only get two on my plate along with two large scoops of mash and gravy.

The addition of smoked cheese certainly made for an interesting taste, reminiscent of a meal around a campfire and both the creamy mash and gravy, with a hint of red wine, were delicious.

The open sandwich was packed with prawns covered in Marie Rose sauce and served with a small salad and it was clear that the freshest of ingredients had been used, although I still think it was a tad over-priced.

The great thing about the Fence Gate is its atmosphere. A seemingly permanently busy car park is testament to its appeal and the traditional, locally-sourced menu is certainly very good.

But you do have to pay a price for the quality and ambience. On balance, I'd say it's one worth paying.

VERDICT: A sausage lover's delight but vegetarians may go hungry.

FENCE GATE, Wheatley Lane Road, Fence.