IT’S THE ultimate test of a suburban pub – arriving hungry for a good meal on an unforgivably wet Wednesday night during the first week after Christmas and the New Year.

And, I’m delighted to say, The York passed the test with flying colours.

Part of M&B’s Sizzling Pub chain, it has been done up rather like an Ember Inn.

More importantly still, on a chilly night, the welcome for families like ours was warm, both in terms of the ambient temperature, which was perfect and not too stuffy, and the friendliness of the three members of staff who served us.

It often seems like a mental test when you have to go up to a bar remembering five lots of meals and drinks.

But genial server Rob’s patient approach meant the information I needed to convey was committed to memory. Our choices included a ‘new’ Indian Combo for me (£7.99) and a char-grilled chicken breast with chips (£3.49) for my wife, Collette.

Eldest daughter Holly fancied BBQ chicken with chips and salad (£2.99), while I was delighted that her younger siblings were soon tucking into burger, chips and peas and chicken, mash and corn from the Wednesday night children’s menu (£1 each per adult meal ordered).

With three fruit shoots at £1.40 each, a large chardonnay at £2.59 and a fairly decent pint of EPA (£2.20) our initial bill came to just £25.46 – with no washing up to worry about.