Tel: (01642) 645 526
Food served: Noon-7pm
The Masham’s website records that Location, Location, Location was once filmed in its surroundings.
And it is indeed an ideal venue for an aspirational television property show: a charming, cosy terraced pub in a beautiful terrace in leafy Hartburn village.
The website further proudly describes a pub which has been in the same family’s hands for more than 20 years and has had ‘hearts and souls’ poured into it. All of this is easily believable. The feel is comfy and welcoming - the kind of place you could easily settle into for an afternoon. And it would seem that we were not alone in thinking this.
We were told before we had even received our drinks (choice of ales including Strongarm, Bass, Doom Bar and Deuchars IPA) that we would have to be out in two hours because there was another booking after ours.
Fair enough, if a little jarring. We made our way to our table before returning to the bar to order.
Starters arrived 20 minutes or so later. Mrs Eats loved her foray onto the specials board: pan-seared rare beef fillet with pear, crunchy pine nuts and plenty of stilton.
My tandoori salmon skewers were firm and tasty and came with a warm flatbread and side salad. What they did not come with was the advertised mint yoghurt - meaning another return to the bar.
I went for roast pork and it was a mighty main. A vast, crispy Yorkshire pudding sat atop lovely meat (albeit with no crackling) and a carefully prepared creamy mash. The gravy was the highlight - rich and fulsome - but the sweet red cabbage ran it close. Great stuffing too. This was an excellent meal.
‘When in Rome’, thought Mrs E, as she opted for a half parmo which came with hand-cooked chips and salad. She was satisfied but not overwhelmed.
While she nipped to the loo, I was asked - as I sat with forkful midway between plate and mouth - if I had finished eating. Perhaps this was a hint. I looked again at my watch.
Desserts - a strawberry tart and chocolate brownie - were also good. By this point, we were nearing our deadline so made another trip to the bar to settle the bill.
The table was being turned round before we’d even got back to the door. The place is clearly hugely popular - but we did head back to the Eatsmobile wondering if Phil Spencer and his entourage felt the same as we did after their visit.
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