On a cold winter evening, no food is better than pie and mash and the Bear Inn at Bradford on Avon does exactly that.

I was looking for homely food but with a rustic feel and the surprisingly wide choice of pies available tickled my taste buds.

I opted for steak and mushroom pie with mash and vegetables, although the other pies also looked pretty tasty. Mediterranean vegetables and halloumi pie, beef chilli pie, chicken and chorizo – the list seemed endless.

When ordering, the ever-so-friendly barman asked if I would prefer a ‘junior size’ pie instead of the regular and after a long day, I interpreted ‘junior’ as child size, so I proceeded to order the normal size regardless.

One thing I have realised about Bradford on Avon is that the people have big hearts – but they also love big portions.

I was so surprised at how big the pie was, particularly as it only cost £13.49. If you have a big appetite then I would challenge you to attempt to finish the regular: next time I visit I will happily order a junior.

After getting over the sheer size, I thought I would conduct the Mary Berry test to see if it was cooked through.

The 40-minute waiting time, which I was warned about, was worth it: the pastry was beautifully crisp and the beef was melt-in-your-mouth good. The red wine and rosemary gravy really added richness and made it seem quite luxurious.

The vegetables that accompanied the pie really did make me think of home-cooked food, though for my taste the carrots were overcooked. I was far too full to order anything else.

I will definitely be making another trip to the Bear Inn to try another variety of pie, and at only £16.94 for my meal and a pint of coke, I would consider it a bargain. When you make pies so good, there isn’t much point in serving anything else and the Bear Inn in Bradford should be proud they’ve accomplished that.

Where: 26 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon
Tel: 01225 862356
Web: www.bearinnbradfordonavon.com

  •  Open Monday 6pm-11pm, Tuesday to Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday noon-10.30pm
  •  On-site accommodation
  •  Pub garden