Small plates left a big impression at Peterborough pub

Support for local groups, organisations and events has ensured its role in the community is much appreciated by many in the locality.

However, its primary purpose it to supply its customers with food and drink, which it also has a reputation for doing very well, I might add.

There is always a good selection of beers on, and as far as the food is concerned, it is everything from breakfast on a Saturday morning through to a range of pub classics coming out of the kitchen noon and night.

And with the change in the weather (in theory so far) Spring has brought a new emphasis to its Wednesday “specials”.

Winter’s “Pie Night” has been replaced by “small plates” , what some might view as tapas-style dining. There’s 16 to choose from – £6 each or four for £20 – and pretty much something to keep everybody happy.

So last week, with the wife and two girls, I gave it a go.

You can eat in the bar (there’s a TV and pool table) or, as we did, the bigger, more comfortable dining area.

We asked about portions, so we didn’t order too much or too little, and plumped for two each, to be shared, with a couple of side dishes – a nice fresh salad and crunchy sweet potato fries (£3).

Here’s how it all went down.

My choices were the barbecued pork belly ribs – packed with juicy meat in a delicious sticky sauce – and marinated buffalo wings with chilli sauce, plenty of them, meaty and very moreish.

Beef arancini rice balls – sticky rice with a tasty beef filling and a crisp, bread-crumbed coating, served in a tomato sauce. Very enjoyable.

Breaded king prawns – much-loved by the girls in particular, who told me they were the best thing on the table!

They were also big fans of the king prawn mac n cheese – everything you expect of this thick, mushy, cheesy favourite with a few surprises – the prawns!

A Lincolnshire Scotch egg – new to the girls, who were quite taken. Lovely crisp coating and soft, moist yolk with a great herby sausage meat flavour.

Halloumi cheese wrapped in Parma ham – what’s not to like, elevated by the ham of course.

Finally, Donna’s curved ball – the mini corn and tofu fritters, a vegan option, that were surprisingly good, it has to be said. Nice flavour and texture combination.

Service was excellent and the chef brought the dishes out and told us a little bit about them, which was a nice touch.

And we all seemed to appreciate the eclectic background music too.

If you are interested, there is an incentive for you during May. For each couple dining from the “small plates” menu there will be a bottle of house wine – if you take a copy of this article on page 47 of the Peterborough Telegraph dated April 25..