Arriving 15 minutes later than our booked time, is always a good test of the management. However the owner, hovering in the busy bar warmly welcomed us and said no problem despite an almost full restaurant.

Wide range of beers at this freehouse but the wine list is not enormous but a good selection. Mostly around £10, represented good value. [Although we didn't try it, we noted that they had good Champagne- Lanson- priced at around £25 compared to supermarket price of around £20. I regard that as good value] Bar staff and waitress very smiley and helpful.

The restaurant is part of an old pub formerly known for many years as the Foxes Brush and changed hands a couple of years ago. The new owners provide a choice of good English menu or Chinese dishes (with take out facility for locals) and we decided to plump for the English menu. We have had takeaways before which we have found rather bland and not as spicey as usually found. Also found the menu to be fully priced. However the alternative is an 8 mile trip into nearby Grantham so the convenmience and choice make this worthwhile.

There is a main restaurant which is an old beamed room and a newer conservatory. We were in the conservatory which doesnt have as much character as the main restaurant but nevertheless was still nicely laid out with candles on each table. Starters mostly fairly unexciting but 'safe well tried and trusted' starters including whitebait, deep fried mushrooms etc. The menu had a wide range of main courses particularly with choices of rump, sirloin, peppered, fillet and rib eye steaks as well as chicken, surf 'n turf, fish, salads etc. Choice of jacket spud or chips or range of salads (without being drowned with dressing). We were offered (without extra cost) pretty much any variation of jacket, chips or salad (one of our group was slimming) which arrived in huge quantities and cooked exactly as requested. The sweets comprised mainly a huge ice cream menu from ordinary scoops up to banana splits, multi flavoured ice creams as well as a few hot dishes such as apple pie. Again good portions at reasonable prices. Coffee to follow.

Total cost including a couple of sharpeners to start with came to £25 per head which was good value. Overall a pleasant dining experience which we are happy to recommend.

'Apple-pip, your roving reporter'