1:17pm Thursday 22nd April 2010
By Amanda Goodship
THE WHITE HORSE,
Compton Bassett,
Calne, Wiltshire
SN11 8RG. Tel no: 01249 813118
FOOD SERVED: Closed on Mondays apart from Bank Holiday Mondays noon to 2.15pm, Tuesday to Sunday noon to 2.15pm and Tuesday to Saturday evenings 6 to 9.15pm.
Closed Sunday evenings.
B&B accommodation.
10 per cent discount for service personnel on showing ID, and for customers aged over 60
THERE are definite benefits to living in the countryside.
Aside from the obvious - beautiful scenery for walking the dogs, rambling fields and quiet lifestyle - there’s usually a pet-friendly inn knocking about within walking distance.
My friend Laura and her pet Bichon, Percy, myself and my daughter, Erykah, all piled in to The White Horse after a couple of miles’ stroll to the village of Compton Bassett just as the rain attempted to batter us with big dollops of water.
We entered the pub through a large oak door. To the left is the bar and to the right the restaurant. Landlady Tara Adams welcomed us to the traditionally-styled bar and we were seated at a large table under the window in front of the inglenook fire.
“We have lots of locals from the village frequenting the pub and regulars from the surrounding villages and Calne, so there is always a warm ambience about the place.” Tara said.
And she was true to her word as strangers can walk into this real ale pub and feel at ease almost immediately because of the friendliness of the staff.
Located just over 10 miles from junction 16 of the M4, it’s an ideal place to stretch the legs and have some wholesome food.
With an energetic pup nipping at our heels we quickly settled on choosing our meals.
Boasting a selection of local real ales, fine wines – which Tara is happy to recommend - and fresh produce, delivered daily, The White Horse Inn offers mouthwatering meals for lunch and a separate menu for the evening that compliment the drinks list.
We ordered two homemade lasagnes - layers of pasta covered in a creamy meat sauce sprinkled with cheese and served with chips and salad at £7.95, and a children’s portion of the pub’s own sausages, which come from rare breed Gloucester Old Spot pigs. They are served with chips and beans for £5.95 from the lunchtime menu.
The portion of lasagne was just right and the meat was chunky and rich, but the chips were the best I’ve ever tasted. They were all neatly shaped chunks of potato that were golden and crisp but unusually fluffy and creamy inside and we all agreed they were delicious and filling.
The White Horse Inn also has hot baguettes such as bacon and brie, sausage and tomato or cheese and mushroom to name a few, all for £5.95. Or there is the lunchtime special, The White Horse Trio, which would suit the biggest of appetites. For £8.95 you get a wooden platter of sandwiches to choose from, such as grilled brie and smoked applewood rarebits with cranberry or roast beef and horseradish in a white bloomer, plus a bowl of homemade soup of the day and a portion of chunky cut chips. There’s also a starter list to choose from, and a la carte and desserts lists too.
I ordered the light and fluffy bread and butter pudding with custard at £5.65 from the dessert list, which I devoured and have to admit was better than my Mum’s – sorry Mum. Erykah had the children’s favourite, three flavours of ice-cream sundae, for just £3.95. There are also yummy treats like chocolate pate which consists of rich dark chocolate filled with nuts and fruit, served with a homemade shortbread biscuit for £5.85, or for an extra 10 pence there’s a duo of white chocolate crème brulee and chocolate parfait.
After paying our bill, which came to total of £38.35 for the three of us including drinks, we went outside briefly and visited the pub’s pet corner. “The children especially like to see my pet pot bellied pigs, sheep and geese.” Tara said.
We didn’t see the pot bellied pigs. They were being sensible and stayed undercover, and probably watched us with some amusement as we made a quick dash for shelter as the heavens opened.
That’s the only downfall to walking in the countryside. There’s no predicting what the weather’s going to do.
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