Too chilly to eat outside...but there was a warm welcome indoors

9:00am Thursday 5th August 2010

By Michelle Tompkins

THERE is nothing finer than sitting in a pub garden on a summer’s day, sipping a glass of wine or a pint and soaking up the sun.

There is nothing sadder, however, than sitting in the same garden pretending not to shiver as a chilly wind whips around your neck and takes the edge off the weakening rays.

The Vale of the White Horse Inn has the perfect terrace for sunny days, with pretty decking and seating overlooking a picturesque pond.

But we lasted no more than three minutes outside before we gave in to the Great British Summer. “Shall we go indoors?” I said with chattering teeth, and they didn’t need asking twice.

The inside of the pub is darker, obviously, but has just as much charm. We sat down at a scrubbed wooden table and basked in the warmth of the shelter while we studied the menu.

The last time I visited, it was for a wedding and I didn’t really notice the decor for the crowd. This time it struck me as a cosy place, made cosier by the friendly bar staff who were happy to wait and offer suggestions while we deliberated.

I’m often tempted by the vegetarian option in a restaurant, even though I’m a meat-eater, and I hovered between the feta, pepper and red onion quiche and the flat cap mushrooms stuffed with goats cheese, olives and sundried tomatoes.

And then the barmaid spoke: “We’ve also got a special of homemade sausages on bubble and squeak, with a red wine reduction,” she said, and I was sold.

My husband opted for the homemade pie of the day, which turned out to be chicken, bacon and tarragon, served on peppered mash, and the kids . . . well, the kids did their usual and went for a burger.

My dish of three thick sausages (£8.50) went a long way to taking off the summer chill, although the bubble and squeak wasn’t as crispy as I’d have liked.

The pie (£10.50) was very impressive – a huge dish of chunky meat and sauce, topped with green beans and a puff pastry top. I tasted the filling and it had just enough of the aniseed tarragon flavour to taste it without overpowering the dish.

But the burgers (£8.95) were the real stars of the show. The 8oz patties were obviously homemade and were really thick and meaty, sat on top of a toasted ciabatta bun. The boys had ordered cheese and bacon on top (£1 extra each), and that was positively oozing out of the sides. I think the vegetarian in me died forever there and then.

One thing worth mentioning about The Vale of the White Horse is that the majority of the dishes are available as starters and main courses. Ham, egg and chips, for example, costs £6.95 as a starter or £9.95 as a main, and it’s not often you find that.

There are also £5 daily specials – a surprise dish on Mondays, whitebait on Tuesdays, tagliatelle on Wednesdays, curry on Thursdays, pie on Fridays, scampi on Saturdays and ham, egg and chips on Sundays.

Time your visit carefully and you might even be able to eat al fresco . . . perhaps.