I’m a sucker for travel-related competitions and regularly check out the Guardian’s “website”:https://www.theguardian.com/travel/series/readers-travel-tips where each week, they request travel tips on a given subject.
At the beginning of April, the theme was a UK pub beer garden and having had an enjoyable experience at the “Princess of Wales”:https://www.princessofwalesclapton.co.uk/ the summer before, I submitted my “tip”:https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2021/apr/01/10-of-the-best-uk-pub-gardens-reopening-soon-readers-tips and won – a £200 voucher for a Sawdays Hotel.
We decided to celebrate the opening up of indoor hospitality at the pub on 17 May and booked a table. I then emailed the pub, asked if they’d seen the tip and rather cheekily mentioned my reservation. The manager responded appropriately and said he’d pass by the table to say hello.
On the 17th, the weather was a little grey, but we decided to walk to the pub along the River Lea – around 5.5km. Arriving at noon, we were shown to a table that we’ve sat at before. The manager served us and when I mentioned I was the lady who’d written the tip in the Guardian, he said the magic words, ‘the drinks are on me’.
I ordered fish and chips which I love but rarely order out as I’ve had some disappointing experiences in the past and regretted the amount of non-enjoyable calories I’ve consumed. As well as the main menu, there was also a sandwich menu and Roy chose a marmalade glazed ham sandwich.
As we were the first customers of the day, the food didn’t take long and so was piping hot when it arrived. My fish and chips were excellent: the batter was crisp and thin, the chips fat and chunky and the peas minted and mushy. Although the plate was adorned with half a char-grilled lemon, I decided to avoid it and sticky fingers. There was also a small jug of tartare sauce. The glazed ham sandwich was an absolute work of art: thick toasted brown bread filled with thick slices of ham and salad.
We really enjoyed both and washed the food down with a couple of pints of cider.
As before, the service was excellent and Covid precautions were taken seriously. Interestingly salt and pepper mills were provided instead of the paper sachets we got used to in the summer.
Although there was a dessert menu, we were pretty full so walked home instead of catching the bus. We arrived home five minutes after the heavens opened. It was a lucky day.
