Eddy Eats' review of the year

Dec 23 2007 by Eddy Eats, Sunday Sun

IT has been another busy 12 months for Mr Eats. Eddy and She-Who-Must-Be-Fed have done more miles in te Eatsmobile this year than either of them would like to remember as they scoured the region to try and find recommendations for your scran destination each Sunday.

As with every year, it has been a close-run thing. Last year, the honours were sharex between two pubs but, this year, there is a single winner who managed to pip its nearest rivals to the post by ust one point.

It takes a lot to impress Mr Eats, and you know that when a pub scores highly it must be doing something right, so here ar his top scrans for 2007...

THE CB INN, Reeth, North Yorkshire

OUR winner this year was The CB Inn in Reeth, North Yorkshire.

It was a sunny day in August when the Eatsmobile pulled up outside this unassuming pub. Mrs Eats had demanded that I take her to see a collection of paintings at the Bowes Museum in nearby Barnard Castle.

The Charles Bathurst, or “CB Inn” as it is known, sits in the most northerly of the Dales, Arkengarthdale.

We were both impressed with the beef, lamb, proper big Yorkshire puds and roast spuds as well as plenty of vegetables, including boiled potatoes, green beans, sweetcorn, baton carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.

Another nice touch, which impressed Mrs E, were the proper cloth napkins provided at each table.

Character 5

Quality 5

Service 4

Value 5

TOTAL 19/20

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THE BOATHOUSE, Wylam, Northumberland

ALTHOUGH there was one clear single winner this year, three pubs got the second highest scores, the first of which was The Boathouse on Station Road, Wylam, Northumberland.

The good reports of award-winning real ale were what tempted Mrs Eats and I to try out this pub on a bright September day. After paying a visit to the birthplace of father of the railways, George Stephenson, we headed to The Boathouse. Painted white on the outside it looks more like a cottage than a pub but is full of character, with traditional low-beamed ceilings and a dark wood bar decorated with tankards.

She-Who-Must-Be-Fed was very impressed with the prawn cocktail starter and I had a high opinion of the carrot and tomato soup. And the big tender cuts of beef for our main course made a satisfying meal.

Character 5

Quality 4

Service 4

Value 5

TOTAL 18/20

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LONGHIRST HALL, near Morpeth, Northumberland

ALSO scoring highly this year was Longhirst Hall, near Morpeth, Northumberland, which we visited in October.

Our early arrival meant we were able to enjoy a relaxing drink while admiring views of the gardens and listening to a pianist before being shown to our table.

Mrs Eats went for the broccoli and courgette soup while I was torn between the chicken liver parfait with homemade chutney and the soup, eventually choosing the latter. Served piping hot with a bread roll and butter it was delicious.

For main courses there was plenty of choice but we went for the beef and were not disappointed. The tender slices were accompanied by roast and potatoes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and sweetcorn.

Character 4

Quality 5

Service 4

Value 5

Total 18/20

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