The Wheatsheaf, Ludlow

and friend enjoy a 'catch-up' lunch at The Wheatsheaf in Ludlow.

It's not the oldest licensed premises in Ludlow but it's pretty close and in one of the most historic parts of the ancient market town.

The Wheatsheaf Inn's licence was first issued in 1738 and it is right next to one of the town's finest landmarks, the Broad Gate – one of the original gates into the town in medieval times.

A wonderful spot and a perfect place to take a break if you walk around the lovely Breadwalk from Dinham Bridge, along Whitcliffe across Ludford Bridge and up Lower Broad Street back into the town centre.

Well I didn't do that last week, although I have done the walk many times, instead I was dropped off right by the door to meet a girlfriend and have a catch up. It's amazing how quickly the time goes and it had been weeks since I had seen Gay.

And there is no better way to catch up than over lunch.

The Wheatsheaf had been recommended by several friends as a friendly place with decent bar food. And it almost made top marks for that.

First up was the meet and greet. I arrived first and made my way to the bar to see if we could eat. The bar person, who I think was the landlady, was busy serving but didn't as much as smile in my direction or that of what appeared to be another stranger (obviously a tourist) who arrived behind me a minute later.

Yet she smiled and warmly welcomed a number of people who were obviously regulars later. Small point but it makes all the difference in what is a hard market today.

The pub is very clean and welcoming in terms of decor and ambience and it was busy.

I did get a sort of welcome when I made my inquiry and service was then good. We sat in a window seat and made our decisions. We were both hungry and I went for Brie and asparagus cheesecake (£4.50) and Gay chose garlic mushrooms (£4.25).

My "cheesecake" was tasty and came with a good side salad while Gay had a very hearty bowl of mushrooms in a cream sauce with toast and side salad.

Next I had smoked haddock with parsley sauce on a bed of leeks (£8.75) which was a very good portion. The fish was still firm and the leeks had not been overcooked, they were still crispy. Perhaps a little less parsley in the sauce would have been better or if it had been chopped up a little more finely.

Gay had an old favourite that was popular years ago – chicken supreme (£8.95). A decent breast fillet stuffed with ham and a nice light sauce arrived. Good, but the sauce was a little gloopy, was the verdict.

Our dishes had a choice of side orders and we had a selection of vegetables, new potatoes and chips.

The vegetables, which included cauliflower and broccoli, were again like the leeks, still crisp, but it was a pity we couldn't manage more. And that was down to the sweet, buttered new potatoes and astonishingly good chips. We simply could not resist either.

Full and needing to go shopping (another part of our catch-ups is the retail therapy) we declined the offer of a pudding.

Our waiter was well dressed and attentive and while I wouldn't say the food was all home-cooked it was well-priced and acceptable pub grub.

ADDRESS

The Wheatsheaf, Lower Broad Street, Ludlow SY8 1PQ

Tel: 01584 872980

Web: www.the-wheatsheaf-inn.co.uk

MENU SAMPLE

STARTERS

Chef's 'soup of the moment' served with roll and butter; Prawn Marie Rose served with brown bread

MAINS

Pork loin served with Shropshire Blue and leek sauce; Homemade lasagne - all served with chips, jacket or new potatoes, salad, veg or peas

DESSERTS

Lemon panacotta tart; Banoffee roulade