The Folly, Napton on the Hil

We visited the Folly Inn at lunchtime on Thursday 9th August. A delightful pub situated on the Grand Union Canal with pretty grounds, a campsite and holiday lets. The pub itself is very quaint but I would imagine gets very busy at weekends. When we visited it was very quiet and a nice sunny day. The landlord is very pleasant and dresses quite appropriatly for he pub. I'll let you find out yourself. The barmaid was also very friendly and welcoming. Although we did not eat the menu appeared reasonable and the house specialities are their home made pies which did look very apetising. Around this area there are a lot of pubs on the canal but this is one of the best for surroundings and comfort.

17 Aug 2012 17:10

The Kings Head, Napton on the Hill

Kings Head, Napton
Whilst staying in the area we visited a number of pubs to look at the menus and clientele as in the past during our travels we have been disappointed with the food and surroundings of places we have booked despite researching them on the internet and being told that they rated highly. Unfortunately businesses can go downhill very quickly and lots of reviews are very old.
We visited the Kings Head on Tuesday 9th August 2012. The outside of the pub appears a little drab and not particularly inviting but once inside the surroundings are very pleasant. I had a pint of very well kept Old Hookey beer . My wife had a soda water with ice and lemon for which we were not charged. The staff were extremely friendly and not overbearing despite our just perusing the menu. I have to say it is one of the best menus I have seen for a long time with an array of unusual starters, mains and sweets. We would have had difficulty choosing if we had been eating. We decided to book for Sunday lunch.
At 2pm we arrived and were swiftly shown to our table by a very pleasant young lady who handed us the menus and explained the daily specials available. We both opted for a starter of terrine of smoked mackerel, trout and salmon with gherkin relish and wholemeal bread at a cost of �5.95 each. Absoloutely sublime and well worth the price considering the ample portions. For mains I had the slow braised blade of beef and my wife the lamb Sunday dinner. These came accompanied with a massive Yorkshire pudding, mashed potato and roast potatoes. A large bowl of seasonal vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower cheese, carrots and baby onions accompanied the meal. Despite the indulgent sweet menu beckoning we were unable to partake as we were as full as ticks.
Well worth a visit but book early as it was busy. Ample staff of two young ladies and two young men all of whom were extremely well mannered, polite and helpful made the service was excellent.

17 Aug 2012 17:00

The Blue Lias, Stockton

The Blue Lias, Stockton
Whilst staying in the area we visited a number of pubs to look at the menus and clientele as in the past during our travels we have been disappointed with the food and surroundings of places we have booked despite researching them on the internet and being told that they rated highly. Unfortunately businesses can go downhill very quickly and lots of reviews are very old.
We visited the Blue Lias on Tuesday 9th August 2012. The outside of the pub, set on the side of the Grand Union Canal is a picture postcard setting. Bedecked in a wondefull display of well tended window boxes, hanging baskets and border displays it makes a lovely place to sit and while a way a few hours over a beer and watch life on the canal pass you by. I had a pint of very well kept Bombadier bitter. My wife ordered a soda with ice at which point the barmaid made it clear that they charged the same for soda water as for lemonade as it came from a bottle not tap. This is most unusual as most pubs do not charge for soda water and at �1.49 was little expensive considering it came from and already opened Schweppes bottle and was flat.
The menu looked reasonably priced with sandwiches and baguettes priced at �4.50 and main meals around the �9 mark we earmarked it for another visit with some friends later in the week simply because of the beautiful surroundings.

17 Aug 2012 16:54

The Malt Shovel, Coventry

The Malt Shovel, Bubbenhall
I live in Birmingham and booked Sunday lunch for two at this pretty, olde worlde country pub whilst house sitting in the area. I had booked for 2pm. At 1.15pm my son telephoned me wanting to come over to join us for lunch with his girlfriend. Typical notice given by kids. I contacted the pub and spoke to a very welcoming helpful young lady asking if it were possible to re arrange the meal for 2.30pm and increase the numbers to 4 persons. It was no problem.
My wife and I duly arrived at the pub at 2pm and were greeted by a very friendly barmaid and waitress. We ordered drinks and sat and waited for the kids to arrive. The journey should only have taken them at the most 45 minutes. I noticed that the pub stopped serving food and closed at 3pm on Sundays. At 2.35pm the kids had still not arrived. The hosts were extremely understanding and told us not to worry which was very considerate considering the circumstances.
Eventually they kids arrived with 15 minutes to spare and we ordered our food. At no time were we put under any pressure. The meal was excellent and very reasonably priced. The real ales well kept and the puddings lovely.
I was surprised that the pub was not busier as it is set in a lovely village location with a nice beer garden, very hospitable staff and pleasant food. We will return.

6 Aug 2012 14:28

Three Horseshoes, Princethorpe

The Three Horseshoes, Princethorpe
Coming from Birmingham to housesit in the area we found the nearest pub to be the Three Horseshoes in the hamlet of Princethorpe on the Fosse Way. Run by husband and wife team Geoff and Anne we found the place to be very welcoming with good home cooked food and bargain two courses at lunchtime for �5, Monday to Friday.
The menu is quite varied and reasonably priced. Most produce is locally sourced and the meat from a local butcher. The rump steak was some of the best I have tasted. Being on quite strict diets neither my wife nor I eat chips or fried products. Geoff said that it was no problem so instead of chips and onion rings he gave me baked potato and baked beans with a good salad. No extra charge and absolutely delicious. My wife had the chill con carne which she enjoyed immensely.
The pub can be easily missed as it lies back from the road but it is well worth a visit. We will be going back for sure.

6 Aug 2012 14:14

Hare and Hounds, Coventry

Our visit to the Hare and Hounds at Keresley, Coventry on Saturday 23 July 2011 was a disaster. We went with two friends for a celebration meal and booked a table in the restaurant for 7pm. The pub is pleasantly located with a good play area for children but how disappointed were we with the awful meal and service we received. We arrived at 6.45pm and were shown to our table and given menus.
The pub had specials boards and menus that read like gastro pub/ high end restaurants eg Baked hake with oven roasted vegetables in rice and seasonal spring beans. In fact it was boil in the bag stuff.
There was only one other couple in the restaurant. It took 20 minutes to take our order. A further ten minutes after placing it the waitress came to the table and told me that the brie and cranberry starter that I ordered had been sold out. A further 5 minutes later she returned to say that one of our friends starter, the lamb kofta, was also unavailable. At 7pm on a Saturday!!!
We ordered stilton mushrooms as an alternative. At 7.45pm our starters arrived. The stilton mushrooms were chopped mushrooms stirred into the same stilton sauce they serve as a steak accompaniment. It was like a soup. Nothing like proper field mushrooms stuffed with stilton sauce like I have had elsewhere.
My wife had ordered king prawns in chilli sauce (again over described on the menu board). When they came they were small ordinary size unshelled prawns, similar size to cocktail prawns that had been overcooked. We complained only to be told that the chef said that it has got king prawns on the bag and that the mushrooms were what it says on the menu.
Things did not bode well as two of us had ordered a surf and turf each, one a hake and the other a steak and ale pie. After another � hour wait, by which time two other tables had filled up making a total of 14 people in the restaurant, our mains arrived. You guessed it awful rubbery small prawns, about 10 of them plonked on top of the steak and no onion rings as ordered. We couldn�t be bothered to complain again after the previous response. The steak was OK but nothing to shout home again, the hake was small and overcooked and the pie average. All served with frozen chips.
We decided to skip sweets as we didn�t fancy another � hour wait and doubted they would be up to much anyway. We asked for the bill which came on four separate till receipts, one for drinks, one for starters, one for mains and another for a further round of drinks. The print on the receipts was so feint we couldn�t read them. The final total was written on and ringed in red ink �84.65.
We paid and left without leaving a tip. It is quite clear that the pub does not employ enough staff, one waitress who, in fairness to her, can only serve as the food comes from the kitchen. The food is obviously not prepared by a chef, all comes from the deep freeze, nothing fresh and the whole ambiance is false. They cannot have many regular returning food customers and if they do they have no taste buds. Give it a miss on all accounts.

24 Jul 2011 13:12