PRINTER'S ARMS: Spicy delights

Printer's Arms, Denshaw

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THERE is something reassuring about the way owners past and present of the Printers Arms have resisted the temptation to go 'open plan' and minimalist.

This is not just any old watering hole. This is an old coaching inn that is steeped in history.

And while there might have been significantly more horsepower involved in our transport onto the fog-ridden tops on the night we called, its appearance through the midst would have been the same whichever century.

It's a striking building and welcoming once you cross the threshold with side rooms to left and right, the bar straight ahead of you and a more formal dining area to the far left.

The slight nod to modernising is that they have knocked the wall out above seat height to give a view of the bar, which in these days of TV sport does allow that room to see the screen next to the bar. A must for some, others might prefer it bricked back up.

Nevertheless, not at all intrusive as we looked through the menu and polite young staff brought us our place settings and cutlery.

I was tempted by spicy tomato soup with crusty roll and it certainly lived up to its billing - hot in more ways than one and a generous helping too.

Mrs W was very undecided and was beginning to wonder if nothing really took her fancy among the starters when she plumped for smoked chicken.

Cheekily that was quite unusual, served cold with a strong flavour to the meat and quite refreshing on a bed of finely chopped salad.

Looking back, I must have really been in spice mode as I then followed up my soup with beef enchiladas, two large pancakes stuffed with chilli meat and sauce to which I cheekily added a side order of hand-cut chips.

Well I did need something to help me mop up the sauce!

Mrs W went for a chinese-style vegetable stir-fry in a sweet chilli sauce and served with cous cous and salad.

There was nothing flamboyant about the presentation, just good solid home-cooked food at good-value prices - there are even discounts for older visitors during the week.

I fancied a change on the sweet front and went for creme brulee - totally indulgent but delicious all the same - and I did only have half as we also shared the cheese and biscuits with Mrs W leaving me the blue-vein brigade.

No complaints there then. We rounded off our meal with two Latte coffees and with drinks the bill came to under £50.

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