FOR some people, a fancy meal at a posh restaurant is the pinnacle of eating out.

But I prefer the distant clattering of plates, the banter of locals propping up the bar and the slightly rough around the edges aesthetic of pub dining.

This was all on show at The Woolpack Inn, in Beckington, which I visited on Sunday night with my parents, who were both in a state of utter shock that their usually frugal son (so they say) had offered to treat them to a meal out.

We found our table and perused the menu, which featured a few tantalising options, including a Sunday roast section with lamb, beef, chicken, pork and vegetarian choices.

This was tempting, but I went for the Chicken Supreme (£10.49), which justified my decision to avoid a roast.

The chicken was very well cooked, as were the vegetables, with a nice bit of crunch to them.

The one downside was the lack of gravy, which meant that the last of the vegetables were a bit on the dry side.

My mum went for the large fish and chips (£9.99). She’s never been one to complain about food, but she did say that the chips weren’t quite hot enough, as if they had been cooked in a big batch earlier on and left in the fryer. Aside from that, she said the fish and mushy peas were delicious.

My dad, after much deliberation (that’s where I get my indecisiveness from, maybe, or possibly it isn’t, who knows) went for the 8oz rump steak (£11.79). He didn’t say much as he devoured his slice of meat, but offered up a “that was brilliant” once it was finished. High praise indeed for the meat, but he also mentioned that his chips weren’t hot enough.

I had the triple chocolate pudding for dessert, which added £4.99 to the bill and was worth every penny. My parents both had a coffee which they had no complaints with, which is encouraging considering their ‘connoisseur status’ when it comes to the stuff.

All in all, with three main courses, three-and-a-half pints of lager, a pudding and two cups of coffee, the bill came to £54. Not bad at all, even for the most frugal.

The food was very nice, especially when the overall ambience of the place was factored in. I would certainly recommend The Woolpack Inn.

Woolpack Inn, Beckington
BA11 6SP. Tel: 01373 831244
www.oldenglishinns.co.uk/our-locations/the-woolpack-beckington

Parking: Small car park at the rear of the pub and limited parking available on the road outside

Gazette ratings:
Food: 7/10
Choice: 7/10
Décor: 8/10
Customer service: 7/10

Trip Advisor rating: 4/5

ROBIN MURRAY