Pb grub

WE'VE all been there. It's a week since you did the shopping and if you wanted anything more exotic than beans on toast after work, you would have to be East Lancashire's answer to Nigella Lawson.

There's only one sensible answer -- ignore the few odd ingredients still left in the fridge and treat yourself to supper out.

And eating out at the Harpers Inn at Fence is certainly a treat -- this was one of the best pub meals we'd tasted in a long time.

It's a warm and stylish hostelry -- more's the pity that no-one else was there to sample it that midweek evening -- although it's always full to bursting at weekends. Diners can choose to eat in the bar, the balcony dining room or the light and airy conservatory and there's a large menu to suit all tastes, as well as a specials board.

With no-one else in the family particularly partial to lamb, I usually opt for it when out and the Harpers' lamb Henry is certainly worth making the journey for.

The meat, marinated in mint yoghurt before cooking and served with a red wine jus, was full of flavour and just fell off the bone.

Hubby went for the steak and ale pie, which turned out to be a veritable feast of tasty chunks of meat in succulent gravy, which spilled generously from its light, shortcrust pastry topping.

Our ravenous teenager opted for something different again -- the chicken melt -- a whole boneless breast, topped with dripping mozzarella cheese and bacon, which proved obligingly filling.

Meals are served with either new or roast potatoes or chips, as well as vegetables of the day, and are nicely presented to your table in side dishes. We will be back!

GILL JOHNSON