The Fox and Hounds, Colerne
3:56pm Thursday 26th March 2009 in
The Fox and Hounds, Colerne, has had mixed fortunes in the past few years. It was closed for a while, then reopened two years ago, flourished briefly and then closed again.
About a year ago new landlords took over and we heard good reports of the food.
We were glad we’d booked. It was Friday night and the place was buzzing. It has the feel of a locals’ local.
The décor has not changed much with the new ownership and happily the collection of photographs of the village from 50 to 100 years ago is still on the walls.
As it was the eve of the Six Nations final, it was nice to be greeted by a life-size image of ex-England rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio, in an advert for Greene King brewery.
We were taken straight away to our table with a bottle of Chilean Merlot where we perused the menu.
The pub specialises in fish and there is an extensive board of the day’s choices.
On the main menu, the three vegetarian options looked interesting and the meat-eaters’ choice was wide enough to be interesting but small enough for everything to be cooked on the premises.
The pub prides itself on sourcing most of its raw ingredients locally.
I chose Portabello mushrooms, described as being having three cheeses and garlic. My husband chose haddock fish cakes.
Both came with salad garnish, but there was a distinct absence of cheese or garlic in my mushroom. The filling looked like a crumbled cheese mixture – then I put my specs on for a closer inspection and it looked like couscous – and that’s what it tasted like too. The fish cakes were judged ‘all right’.
We fared better with the main courses. My pollock, described as ‘line caught’ was delicately flavoured and served on herby potato.
My husband’s Tornados Rossini steak was delicious and perfectly cooked, rare, as requested.
Vegetables were extra. We ordered one dish and the portion was generous, but locally sourced or not, the carrots and green beans with courgette, were not a patch for flavour on the ones we pick from our own garden – but then perhaps we are spoiled.
I finished my meal with a crème brulee with hidden raspberries which was different and refreshing.
The total for the meal was £46.
Fox and Hounds 9 High Street, Colerne (01225) 744847 Booking advisable weekends Small car park Vegetarian options £5 lunch menu Fish delivered six days a week and Marine Stewardship approved Free WIFI Building dates back to 1725
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