White Swan Inn, Warenford

Jun 17 2007 By The Sunday Sun

Tel: 01668 213453

There is a lot to be said for having continuity in a pub. I always think it's good to see a familiar face that you recognise from your last visit.

I really couldn't remember the last time I visited the White Swan Inn at Warenford. I was convinced that I had been in many moons ago and that it had a different name.

The lady behind the bar said that it was once called the Warenford Lodge . . . she should know as she's been there no less than 29 years.

She explained that she had seen a lot of changes over the years, the latest being new owners arriving. I think she had been going to hang up her beer towel but had stayed on during the transition period. When Mrs Eats and I called on a sunny Sunday afternoon there were a number of cars in the ample-sized car park but the place was not too busy. There seemed to be a good mix of locals and passers-by, all of varying ages.

The bar area is very traditional and could be mistaken for any country pub, but when you take the couple of steps into the restaurant area you enter a completely different world.

Mrs Eats and I pitched up at the bar to begin with, where I ordered a pint of Guinness and she went for a glass of white wine.

We pondered the menus at the bar and for once we were in agreement that we would both try the pate. Then Mrs Eats had a change of heart when our friend behind the bar told us that we would also be served with bread rolls before our meal.

On most occasions, She Who Must Be Fed allows room for a dessert, so with this in mind she then changed her mind and cancelled her pate.

Amazingly enough, from a very extensive menu which changes every day, we both went for the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

We were shown to our table and, as we took in the minimalist, almost continental surroundings, our main courses were brought to us.

I explained to our waiter, who appeared to be pretty much a one-man band on the day we called, that he was jumping the gun a little as I had not yet enjoyed my starter. He said that it had been crossed off the menu, and to be fair to him my order had been mistakenly chalked off along with that of Mrs Eats.

Anyway, I got over this and ploughed into the main course of beef, which came with seasonal vegetables including green beans, new potatoes and carrots. They were all cooked to perfection and tasted spot on. The beef was also more than a match as it was lean and tender in thick cuts, and covered in a gorgeous gravy. It was well worth the £8.95.

The mix-up with my starter was now a distant memory and I was looking forward to my dessert. I didn't fancy anything particularly sweet so I went for the cheese and biscuits priced £5.55. Mrs Eats, on the other hand, could not resist the apricot and vanilla cheesecake with ginger ice cream priced £4.95.

Mrs Eats gazed on her dessert with glee and soon confirmed that it tasted as good as it looked. My cheese board was also impressive, with a broad selection.

The White Swan Inn proved to be a great find. The place is clean, the staff friendly and the food excellent.

My only criticism would be that on the day we called they seemed to have a staff shortage, and that may have gone a long way to contributing to my missed starter.

• Head north on the A1 towards Belford. Take the right turn for Warenford and the White Swan Inn is on your right in the centre of the village.

• Our Eddy must have enjoyed one over the eight last week when he visited the Wheatsheaf Inn at North Shields, North Tyneside. He stated that a pint of Stella lager was £3.35 when in fact it is priced at £2.85. A pint of Director's is £2.40 and not £2.41 as he stated. Eddy apologises for any inconvenience caused.