The Black Bull, Peterlee

Jan 6 2008 by Robert Weatherall, Sunday Sun

SALES! You can’t avoid them at this time of year.

I had no sooner wrapped Mrs Eats Christmas presents and finished putting them under the tree on December 24 when she was planning how to spend the following days trudging from one shop to another with me in tow so she could save a few quid on yet another pair of shoes.

I remember a time when the January sales used to start in January, and the week between Christmas and New Year was a time you could sit back, relax and have a few days at home sat in front of the TV.

Not any more . . . it now seems as though we all have to wander around shops which are selling the very same items you bought in the run up to Christmas for half price.

It was this state of affairs which led us to our latest scran.

A post-Christmas shopping trip to a particular high street store in Middlesbrough proved fruitless for She Who Must Be Fed. The desired item wasn’t in stock but, thanks to a very helpful sales assistant, Mrs E managed to find out that the Sun- derland branch of the chain had the item in stock and would put one aside for her.

A trip in the Eatsmobile along the all-too familiar A19 beckoned. By the time we got in the car, negotiated our way out of the Captain Cook shopping centre car park and started heading north it was lunch time. I might accept the sales getting in the way of me watching Spartacus for the 100th time, but I won’t allow them to get in the way of a decent scran, so I decided Mrs Eats latest must-have item could wait and pointed the Eatsmobile in the direction of County Durham’s Peterlee.

“Why are you turning off?” She demanded. “It’s Sunday and it’s lunchtime,” came my response.

I could see the turmoil etched on Mrs E’s face. She was balancing up the prospect of bagging another “bargain” against having a scran.

I think the fact that the item had been set aside tipped the scales in favour of stopping off for a bite to eat and then resuming shopping. And so it was that we found ourselves at the Black Bull.

We last visited this place in February, meaning we have broken our rule of not returning somewhere within 12 months. However, due to time pressures, it couldn’t be helped.

The pub was quite busy and we were lucky to get a table. We settled down with a pint for me and a white wine for Mrs E and started to look at the menu.

The options for Sunday lunch at £5.99 were beef or turkey. Mrs E went for the former while I opted for the latter. My turkey was fine but Mrs E complained her beef was a little too stringy.

There was a good selection of vegetables, roast potatoes done well and very tasty gravy. Missing, however, was any sign of stuffing. I thought it was an oversight at first until I re-read the menu and realised it just wasn’t included.

Although I fancied dessert, there sadly just wasn’t time to have that and get to the shops in Sunderland.

• To get to the Black Bull, head towards Peterlee along A19. Head southbound but don’t turn off at the main Peterlee exit. Instead, continue on flyover for another mile and take next exit on left. At mini roundabout, turn left and pub is on left. If you are heading northbound, take the main exit for Peterlee and double back on yourself to follow the directions above.