Gone are the Sundays spent sat in a beer garden washing down the day’s dinner with a glass of pale ale. We’re into the cold months now, where toasty interiors and a hot plate of meat and veg take priority.
Pubs and winter - like Ant and Dec or, er, Mrs Eats and I - need each other. But on this particular Sunday, tired from an afternoon walk and annoyed at having to get the big coat out of the cupboard, it felt like I needed some roast pork and gravy just that little bit more.
In our quest for fine meat and a cosy setting we took a seat at Shiremoor House Farm, nestled on the outskirts of New York in North Tyneside.
Points were scored immediately as we walked into the rustic farmhouse, greeted by low light, exposed wooden beams, stone walls and pleasant hum of atmosphere. No clanging of steins, no drunken belly laughter and no lingering smell of stale beer on sticky tables. This place was above all that.
The two of us sunk ourselves into our grand old armchairs either side of a small wooden table, understanding immediately the difficulty we’d have in getting back up again once we’d washed down our meat and trimmings. Feeling like medieval royalty, we awaited our banquet.
The food
Soon a well-presented mountain of food arrived before us. In seconds I was tucking into some roast pork, which lay below the duvet of sage and onion stuffing and, to complete the holy trinity, a side of crackling.
To complain that there isn’t enough of something might serve as both a compliment and a source of frustration, and this summed up my mood when I found just a single - albeit beautiful - stick of crackling. Perhaps the abundance of stuffing was intended to make up for it, but at least the pork found a Goldilocks zone in both quality and quantity - just right.
It was only when we dug deeper into the mountain that cracks started to emerge in the form of seasonal vegetables. Roast potatoes are a given, and the carrot and cabbage were acceptable, welcome even. Cauliflower doesn’t excite. But boiled potatoes? Now you’re testing my patience. I’m all for trying something different on my Sunday plate, but not at the expense of good old mash.
On the beefier side of the table - and I’m referring to the food, not Mrs E, I must make clear - the topside was going down well, and garnered a similar response. Good, well-cooked meat with a quality fitting of its price. All in all it’s an enjoyable bite.
On the subject of pricing, you're looking at £12-13 for a roast dinner on their Sunday menu with meat-free options setting you back under £10. If you're feeling particularly brave, the Trio of Meats for £16 will save you from choosing between beef, chicken and pork.
Desserts and drinks
Full from our earlier endeavours, it took some courage to awaken that separate stomach for desserts, but determined not to disappoint She Who Must Be Fed we bravely fought on.
Our final challenge came in the shape of a chocolate brownie. The old classic was served with a scoop of ice cream that refused to melt, mainly because this is a dish served cold. Probably on purpose. None the less, a pleasant and safe end to lunchtime.
As for drinks, Shiremoor House Farm prides itself on its "quality wine and perfectly conditioned cask ales" according to their website. Pints of lager come in at around £3.80 with cider and IPA available for under a fiver, while the selection of wines and gin - including a helpful selection of recommended gin pairings - shouldn't leave you wanting. A bottle of wine will cost around £18.
As nights get darker and moods get grumpier, that glass of wine and some warming grub sounds pretty alluring, especially when a snug pub and its reasonable Sunday menu rears a beckoning finger.
Sometimes the winter months call for a snug pub and a self-induced food coma. And when the temperature drops, this cosy little joint tucked away in North Tyneside provides the perfect blanket
Character: 5/5
Quality: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Rating: 16/20
