Alvanley Arms, Cotebrook

3:02pm Thursday 23rd August 2007

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NESTLED in the heart of the Cheshire countryside the Alvanley Arms provides the perfect retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The first thing that hit us about this 16th century coaching inn in Cotebrook was the stunning hanging baskets and the blooming flowers awash with colour adorning the entire front of the building.

My companion and I visited the pub, which is adjacent to the Shire Horse Centre, on a busy Friday night and even though we had not booked the friendly staff could not have been more accommodating.

One thing that strikes you about this place is that it is quite clearly family-run, the atmosphere is homely and welcoming and the horse pictures and rosettes make for a really special touch.

Our waitress showed us to our table situated in a cosy nook and all the staff were extremely pleasant and attentive - a rarity in this day and age.

The menu was extensive to say the least and featured a vast range of mouth-watering delicacies to suit all tastes.

It was also satisfying to see that a lot of the produce was sourced from local suppliers and that instead of a children's menu they offered smaller portions of their dishes in a bid to get children eating more healthily.

For my starter I opted for the Thai fish cakes on a bed of noodles while my companion chose the duck pancakes.

Both were beautifully presented and equally tantalising and the portion sizes were more than plentiful. It was quite simply delicious.

For my main course I decided on the duck breast in a mild pepper sauce while my companion opted for pork medallions on a bed of sweet apple chutney.

The meals were cooked to perfection, the portions were ample and they were served with an abundance of fresh vegetables, new potatoes and chips.

Even though we were more than full we could not resist the selection of enticing deserts on offer so we opted to share an apple pie, made by the pub's own pastry chef.

While a little pricey at £5.25 it was worth every sinful mouthful as well as the extra hours in the gym afterwards.

The Alvanley Arms is definitely not a cheap night out with the average main meal costing around £14, but for a rare treat it is well worth that little bit extra.

The staff go out of their way to look after you, the food is divine and the atmosphere is homely. For those special occasions the Alvanley Arms is definitely the place to go.

For more information visit www.alvanleyarms.co.uk.