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WARM WELCOME: The Vounteer may lack a cosy feeling but that may be because it is still undergoing changes

I HAD read an article about the recent acquisition of The Volunteer Inn in Great Somerford by Arkell's Brewery so we ventured there one weekday evening.

Arkells paid £800,000 for the pub and is spending more inside to bring it up to standard. Brewery manager James Arkell was quoted as saying that parts of the inside had not been touched for 50 years.

We found the interior of the pub is an interesting mix of modern and traditional. There is solid wood flooring combined with red carpets with gold motif and red curtains. On the cream walls are canvas prints featuring jazz musicians plus Arkell's prints.

We found a table in a corner by the door close to the function room. Strangely there were no starters. The menu did have a good choice of sandwiches, wraps and salads but we wanted something more substantial.

The meals included a 6oz beef burger with chips at £6.45 and steak and Kingsdown ale pie at £8.75.

Keith chose an 8oz sirloin steak served in peppercorn sauce(£12.95).

Keith said it was cooked well but the peppercorn sauce could have been more peppery. The only nagging irritation for him was the food tasted of either smokiness or burned fat which tainted the flavour.

I chose beef stroganoff (£11.95) - pan fried strips of sirloin steak with mushrooms, wine and brandy served on a bed of rice.

I'm not usually a big lover of stroganoff because the offerings I have had in the past have been served in a creamy sauce but this one wasn't.

It was a pleasure to eat. The beef was cooked well and the rice had that stickiness taste and texture you get in good risottos. The bill, including drinks, came to £31.25.

We received a nice welcome and the service was good but the pub didn't have a cosy feeling. That may be because new tenant, Peter Prunty and his family, are still making improvements.

Jill Crooks

2:24pm Wednesday 9th April 2008

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