The Loggerheads, near Market Drayton

Sometimes it's worth travelling a little way to discover good food,

The Loggerheads is one such example, yet apparently it has even more on the menu . . . "Who you gonna call?"

Speaking to the landlady after a recent visit, I discovered the place has three resident ghosts. Angela Phipps, who holds the lease with her partner Paul Johnson, told me that their pub has a man who appears in the garden, a lady seen working in the kitchens and a dog that runs around the place.

She said that on setting up the bar at 12 noon one day she was surprised to glimpse someone in there already. She walked in to see the apparition walk through the wall. The staff are used to the sightings and aren't disturbed by them. They just make them feel a tiny bit tingly – and luckily Paul and Angela have never seen anything in their flat above the lounge!

Dating back to the 1700s, The Loggerheads was originally a coaching inn and then a hotel which has been extended over the years. It is now part of the Punch Pub Company. Being blissfully unaware of any paranormal activity, myself and Simon drove out from Telford on a Friday night to park on a nice big car park fronting a large pub which looked recently refurbished.

In fact since Angela and Paul arrived in 2009 it has been updated both inside and out. Having booked a table for 8.30pm we walked in to find the place empty, but we were quickly assured by the bar man that a lot of diners had just left. And, as we settled down at our reserved table by the fireplace, more groups of people were to come in through the door.

We checked out the menu while enjoying a large glass of Shiraz (£3.90) and a pint of Carling (£2.85). It was an extensive menu and I was really pleased to see that the choice included some really well priced pub meals, such as scampi with chips or potato for just £5.95 or beef in ale pie or chilli con carne for the same price.

Our starter choices were creamed garlic mushrooms, pan fried in a white wine, garlic, herb and cream sauce served with garlic bread (£3.45) for me, and cod goujons, being strips of cod in a light beer batter, deep fried until golden and served on a bed of salad leaves and tartare sauce (£3.45) for Simon.

Both fancying a steak, our mains were an 8oz sirloin steak for me (£11.95) and a fillet steak for Simon (£13.95). Both were served with salad garnish, mushrooms and onion rings served with a choice of chips, or new or jacket potatoes. I also ordered a steak Diane sauce, which we shared, at £1.50.

My mushroom dish was absolutely delicious and right up there at restaurant standard. The mushrooms were small and tasty in a wonderful sauce, which there was a lot of, and I spooned it all up. I also had two slices of very pleasant, lightly toasted and buttered garlic bread. Simon said he also enjoyed his starter very much.

Our steaks were both also very good. We'd asked for them to be medium and they were agood pink in the middle. The meat was tender, tasty and juicy and easy to cut. Our dishes came with some nice big chips, but happily these weren't piled high. The onion rings were golden brown and yummy, not blackened and tough like so many I'd unfortunately had over the years in other pubs.

The crispy sliced iceberg lettuce was a good foil to the meaty steak, and the steak Diane sauce was lovely. It was pale and smooth with a satisfying flavour.

The pudding selection changes quite often, being written up on a board. When we were in it included a lot of comfort foods, which Simon loves. He ordered treacle tart with ice-cream (£3.95) and I ordered cheese and biscuits (£3.95). Again it was thumbs up for the tart. I was more than impressed with my cheese selection. I had good slices of Stilton, Brie and Cheddar, with biscuits, butter, celery and home-made chutney.

Again this was up to restaurant standard. And our friendly waitress asked us during each course if everything was alright. We finished off with a coffee before heading happily home.

My only disappointment now is that I didn't glimpse a ghost.

ADDRESS

The Loggerheads, Eccleshall Road, Loggerheads, Market Drayton TF9 4NX

Telephone 01630 672224

MENU SAMPLE

STARTERS

Chef's home-made chicken liver and brandy pate served with wholemeal toast, salad garnish and onion chutney (£3.45); Roasted Mediterranean vegetables cooked with garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar served on garlic bread (£3.45)

MAIN COURSES

Bacon wrapped chicken supreme with Stilton or cheese & leek sauce (£8.95); cod fillet in beer batter served with peas/mushy and fries (£6.45)

DESSERTS

Tiramisu (£3.95); lemon cheesecake (£3.95)

SERVICE Excellent. Warm, welcoming and efficient.

DISABLED FACILITIES Flat access into the lounge