Pub Review: The Dog Inn in Whittington
CHRISTMAS seems to come ever earlier these days, and even rural villages are not exempt from its hasty arrival.
So it was with that in mind that my wife and I found ourselves tempted by the chance to visit a Christmas craft fair in the rural idyll of Whittington, close to the cathedral city of Lichfield.
And, not one to let any opportunity pass me by, it seemed the perfect excuse to try out one of Whittington’s public houses for size.
The Dog Inn has been under its present management for little more than two months.
And it clearly seems intent on promoting itself as a country pub and dining venue.
So, we decided to delay our visit to Whittington Village Hall for the Christmas fair, run by the local St Giles Hospice, and stock up on food first.
Despite the savoury-sounding appeal of starters ranging from baked eggs and black pudding to smoked haddock, we opted to go straight for the main dishes.
I chose the steak and flat mushroom short crust pie with an Abbott ale gravy, while my wife went for the faggot and mushy pea wellington with red onion gravy.
Lovely succulent chunks of steak and mushroom pieces filled the pie almost to bursting point, and were perfectly complemented with the ale gravy without ever threatening to overpower the taste buds.
And it went perfectly with the appropriately titled ‘proper’ chips that were clearly freshly cooked.
My wife’s faggot and mushy peas was equally up to the mark.
Similar to a beef wellington, the complimentary ingredients came wrapped in a pastry shell and, I’m told, could not have been tastier.
Instead of chips, she chose buttery new potatoes to go with the dish.
The Bill
Faggot and mushy pea Wellington £8.95
Steak and flat mushroom pie £8.95
One pint of Adnams Broadside beer on special offer £1.75
Half pint of Marston’s Pedigree £1.30
TOTAL: £20.95
The Verdict * * * *
PLUS – Delicious food in pleasant atmosphere.
MINUS – Nothing to speak of.
