A meal out

We’ve lived in this area for all our married life – that’s over 40 years now. In all that time we’ve often passed an intriguing-looking hostelry but never stopped.

For my birthday treat last night, we decided to finally go there. The last we’d heard of it was a couple of years ago when it was taken over by a small chain, specialising in fish, though it did do a few meat dishes. Fish is okay for us. We love it.

By yesterday the Fox had thought maybe he ought to book. He then discovered the hostelry was not in the phone book, either as a business or as a pub or a restaurant. We checked local papers – no ads.

The reason why we’ve never visited the place before is that it has always been going in and out of business. Nobody seems to have been able to make it pay. Gordon Ramsay was even called in to turn it around in one TV programme years ago. It closed yet again shortly afterwards.

So was the absence of an entry in the phone book etc. a sign that it had once more shut down? We nervously set off in the car.

The black & white building is set right on the roadside. From the Lancaster direction there is just a blank windowless wall. As the Fox drove passed I tried to see lights inside, but couldn’t. As we passed it we couldn’t believe it. There was a car park full of cars. Clearly it was open & doing good business.

The Fox hastened inside to check there were some vacant tables before getting my wheelchair out of the boot. He was soon back, looking pleased by what he had seen.

We were soon settled at a table for two. We both had a beef hash starter followed by a classic haddock & chips. We had fancied the Morecambe Bay plaice & shrimps special but they had already sold out of that. We were relieved when we saw the size of the haddock that we had chosen the smaller size. As it was we were hard put to finish it. We hate to think how big the large one would have been. We didn’t stop for a dessert, just a large cup of hot chocolate for me to complete the meal while the Fox finished his pint.

It made a very pleasant change. The building itself was fascinating, with multiple rooms. The staff was friendly, maybe a bit too solicitous for us to find relaxing. The food was reasonably good. We wish the place well.

P.S. The magnolia started to open up yesterday, just in time to celebrate my birthday!