The Lock Inn, Bradford on Avon (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

The Lock Inn, Bradford on Avon

12:51pm Friday 8th May 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

As the Kennet and Avon runs practically past our back door, I suggested a family cycle ride along the towpath to Bradford on Avon where we could enjoy lunch at one of the waterside cafes.

You would have thought I was suggesting a family torture session. After overcoming various objections (including such spurious excuses as ‘My bike’s too small for me’ and ‘Muuuuum, it’s going to raaaaiiiin’) we finally got going.

Guess what? Once the the wheels were whizzing, everyone enjoyed it – though luckily we made it to the Lock Inn before the drizzle turned into rain.

We chose an inside table, where the decor is best described as canal kitsch. After spending half an hour reading the menu, which as well as acres of food and drink choices also includes a hilarious set of notes advising diners of everything from the tastiness of the food to the pointlessness of moaning if a passing bird should christen you, we ordered.

I sampled the Boatman's Breakfast, at £6.10 – well all I can say is that if canal boatmen ate like this every day I can’t understand why their boats weren’t well down at the stern end.

Two sausages, two rashers of bacon, a vast puddle of baked beans, mushrooms and fried potatoes, egg, smoked sausage, black pudding, two slices of fried bread and tomato arrived on a very hot plate, which was good because otherwise it would have gone cold before I could eat it all.

David chose cheeseburger and chips (£4.60) and was pleased when the burger came on a real floury bap with melted grated cheese, not a burger bun and slice of the processed stuff. Lots of fat chips, too.

Katie had bangers and mash (£5.95): three plump sausages, the choice of baked beans or peas and so much mash she left a hillock on the side of her plate. Merryn's vegetable samosas (£6) came with rice and salad and hoi-sin sauce, and disappeared very fast indeed.

We decided the meal was not complete without something chocolatey, so shared two slices of scrummy Rocky Road between us. The whole treat, with a round and a half of soft drinks, came to £30.65.

They also run a bike hire business just across the road, so if you live too far away to make cycling from home realistic you can still sample the towpath experience.

It did rain properly on the way back, but we pedalled on regardless, with David treating the boatdwellers we passed to a couple of choruses of Singing in the Rain.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)