LOOKING for a relaxing Saturday lunch, we had requested a quiet table for two at this trendy gastropub. So we were more than a little surprised to be sat next to a table with a dozen women celebrating a birthday bash.

Luckily when we asked if we could possibly move to a peaceful looking table in the far corner, the waitress didn’t bat an eyelid at her difficult customers and reached for our glasses.

Happily ensconced in our new site we could then sit back and enjoy our lunch.

Formerly the Halfway House, the Green House is part of a mini-chain that also features the Cock at Wishaw and was busy without being packed.

We were determined to try all three courses without being too full to move so decided to split a starter and opted for the button mushrooms baked in a white wine, cream and garlic sauce. It was a good choice. The mushrooms had just the right amount of bite while the sauce was laden with rich flavours that could be mopped up with the accompanying Italian flat bread.

For the main course we went down similar yet different tracks. My companion chose pork belly which was seated on a creamy spring onion and coriander potato mash with an accompaniment of pork crackling topped by chorizo and apple pieces. He reported that the pork was tender and delicious but the chorizo slices thin and insipid.