Guild Merhant review: Two-for-one deal is perfect for hassle-free family meal

On a trip to the Guild Merchant on Tag Lane with my girlfriend we were made to feel welcome immediately as we were shown to a table despite not booking.
The Guild Merchant on Tag Lane, PrestonThe Guild Merchant on Tag Lane, Preston
The Guild Merchant on Tag Lane, Preston

With a four-month-old baby, eating out can be tricky but the staff were most accommodating, finding us a corner table at our request.

The Cottam pub is typical Marstons, clean and tidy, well-lit with wooden tables in a spacious layout.

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The decor is contemporary without being too flash and with selected main meals in a two for one deal it’s perfect for a hassle-free family meal out.

Scampi and chips from the Guild Merchant, PrestonScampi and chips from the Guild Merchant, Preston
Scampi and chips from the Guild Merchant, Preston

Food and drinks are ordered from the bar and food arrived within quarter of an hour. Something you appreciate more when entertaining a small child.

I ordered the steak and ale pie plus a pint of coke and my partner ordered the scampi and chips.

The presentation of the food was simple but effective. For me the steak pie was excellent.

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Steak pie is one of my favourites and it’s a pet hate of mine when you order it at a pub or restaurant and it comes out in a bowl with a pastry lid. That is definitely not a pie, the pastry is best bit. But this pie was exactly what it should be. A large puff pastry pie with a thick crust and filled with tender steak smothered in ale. Covered in gravy, it was very tasty and also very filling.

Steak and Ale pie from the Guild Merchant, PrestonSteak and Ale pie from the Guild Merchant, Preston
Steak and Ale pie from the Guild Merchant, Preston

It came with chips and garden peas and I added an optional side of mayonnaise. The chips were nothing to write home about but not bad by any means.

Peas are peas, difficult to get wrong.

The scampi and chips was ordered by my girlfriend and she commented on the crispy texture of the batter and the strong taste of the scampi inside.

Often ordering scampi at diffrent restaurants, she said the quality of this scampi was pretty high and there was quite a large quantity making it a very satisfying meal. The chips and peas it was served with were, again, nothing to shout about.

Scampi and chips from the Guild Merchant, PrestonScampi and chips from the Guild Merchant, Preston
Scampi and chips from the Guild Merchant, Preston
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The service was exactly what I would look for in a meal too, attentive but not pushy.

They briefly checked in on us to see if we needed anything else but apart from that left us to it.

The price also certainly can’t be sniffed at. With both of our meals on the two for one deal, value for money was excellent and I would definitely consider going back again.

Golden Scampi - Fourteen crispy golden wholetails of scampi served with chips garden peas and tartare sauce - £9.75

Steak and Ale pie from the Guild Merchant, PrestonSteak and Ale pie from the Guild Merchant, Preston
Steak and Ale pie from the Guild Merchant, Preston
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Steak and Ale Pie - British beef slow cooked in a rich Marston’s beer gravy, encased in hand-finished shortcrust pastry top served with chips, peas and gravy - £10.70

Drinks - Coke and an Orchard Spritz - £6

Total: £16.20

Out of Five

Atmosphere: Four

food: Four

value: Five

ADDRESS: Tag Lane, Ingol, Preston

WEBSITE:guilguildmerchantpubpreston.co.uk

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