9:16am Thursday 15th July 2010
By Amanda Goodship
I HAD a trip down memory lane last weekend when I visited the pub where I had my first job in the mid-1980s.
Just one mile from junction 17 of the M4, The Plough still retains its character and ambiance as a listed building where it is reputed Oliver Cromwell stayed in the 1500s before his attack on Malmesbury.
The conservatory is an obvious addition to the building since those days, but sadly it looks in need of some attention today.
We ate in there and it was hard not to notice the tired state of the glass building, where many diners were sat.
I feel that surroundings do add to or take away from a dining experience, and unfortunately mine was hampered by the building.
However, it’s the food I’m interested in most and that wasn’t bad at all.
Served up on large round plates came three genreous slices of roast beef, two Yorkshire puddings and several roast potatoes, all swamped in thick gravy.
I added some horseradish sauce to the meat, as well as some herby cabbage and cauliflower cheese, which were nice vegetable additons. Unfortunately the limp carrots didn’t get a look in.
The price for a Sunday roast, £9.95, seems a little steep compared to other places I’ve been to, yet the serving was more than my stomach could handle. I should have opted for the small roast for £7.95.
My other dining companions tucked into another beef roast, a gammon steak with mushroom, chips, and a bowl of salad (£9) and a child’s portion of chicken nuggets chips and beans (£6).
They were satisfied with their portion sizes and still managed to polish off a blackberry cheesecake, syrup roly poly with cream and an ice-cream sundae for £2.95 each.
The total bill came to £55.10, which included drinks.
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