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Park up and tuck in!
Elaine Singleton goes child-free to Greaves Park in Lancaster
Greaves Park, Bowerham Road, Lancaster
Having packed the kids off to weekend camps we had the chance of a summer’s lunch in the sunshine all to ourselves.
Maybe a spot by a river, or a canalside pub we thought. Of course when the time arrived to make a decision and depart, the weather had reverted to sideways rain and temperatures more in keeping with early March.
Sitting out eating summer salads in the sun was obviously off the menu, so after a brief re-think we headed down to the Greaves Park in Lancaster. Last time we were in this impressive Grade II listed property was several years ago when it was trading as a Brewers Fayre. Not the most sophisticated food choices but the Charlie Chalk activity packs and soft play space kept the small people happy.
In another change, Greaves Park has swapped ownership a couple of times, is now part of the Chameleon Pub Company and has left its child-centred catering behind. While this might be bad news for families with youngsters who refuse to eat out anywhere that doesn’t feature multi-coloured plastic balls in a netted enclosure, it’s good news to those who enjoy tasty food in pleasant surroundings.
On arrival, wrapped up against the wet and chill of the, erm, June weather, we were warmly greeted and seated in the dining room of a former villa dating back to the 1840s. Part of the parkland that it is set within is a beer garden and it would have been delightful on a sunny day.
The menu promised local produce freshly cooked and the prices all looked reasonable. We began with mussels in white wine and cream sauce (starter portion £4.50; main £8.99), and also garlic breaded mushrooms (£3.99). The mussels were pretty chunky and, coming with a hunk of bread, made for a tasty and filling starter. The mushrooms weren’t quite as much of a success. Rather than the filled field mushrooms I’d hoped for, these were rather mean button mushrooms in a sauce coating that was inoffensive at best, and not remotely garlicky.
However the main courses resulted in any disappointment quickly being forgotten. We went for beef stroganoff with herby tagliatelle (£8.99) and steak and ale pie (£8.25).
The creamy beef stroganoff was piquant, its juices soaked up by pasta cooked in Mediteranean herbs.
But for my money it was the pie that took outright gold. It came topped with shortcrust pastry – always a winner over float-away flaky puff pastry. Contained within were chunks of delicious steak that were both tender and full of flavour. Alongside the steak were mushrooms, those pesky button things again but here, soaked in the meat juices containing real ale, had taken on a deliciousness their predecessors lacked. Served alongside was a mound of mashed potato so beautifully seasoned that it seemed churlish to pour the accompanying jug of gravy across it. Sweet garden peas completed the dish.
Too full for pud, we headed out . . . into the driving rain!
Greaves Park is on Bowerham Road, Lancaster. Tel: 01524 389335
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Weather for Preston
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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