Pies

I only wish I had taken a picture of what has to be the very best pie I have ever eaten last night. My friend, who was with me and had the very same steak and mushroom pie, also felt they had never eaten such a tasty pie before.

You do have to wait for the food to be cooked and the now owner of the pub I was in last night in Torquay, happens to be the chef and he deserves to see as many customers coming through the door as possible.

The pie nearly half filled the plate and the meat was so tasty and the crust was simply divine. You get this wonderful pie with chips and peas and also a desert for just £5.99.

So my advice for good pie lovers is to head over to the Coach House at Babbacombe and get that pie ordered. Not being a person often found in pubs, I was so surprised how empty the pub was all night, I was told by my friend that so many pubs are now like this these days.

It was not that many years ago that Carol and I would go to the Coach House on a Saturday night and you could not find a single chair to sit on.

There was one problem however and thankfully it did not happen until well after we had finished our meal. There was a problem with the ladies toilets and after a while the pub started filling up with the most disgusting smell imaginable.

So we left as the smell was getting so strong and unbearable and went to the Babbacombe Inn to finish the evening off, nice duel on stage singing so many songs that I once sung on stage, have to admit I found it a bit hard listening when they sung O Carol.

cant remember the last time i went in a pub for a drink let alone a meal,7 of us so too expensive,shame would make a nice change though

Sign of the times I'm afraid. Fewer jobs, static wages and rising prices means fewer evenings out for many. Anecdotally, the pubs doing well in London are places offering cheaper beer (Sam Smiths and Wetherspoons) and the 'community locals' serving £4 pints of Carling are really struggling.

Speaking for myself, I'd rather put another jumper on and eat rice and beans all week than forego a few pints in a comfy pub. But it's matter of priorities for many....and stinking toilets doesn't strike me as great way to hang on to your customers

£3.20 a pint would be a bit of a bargain up here

There is that. My (national) employer offers no 'London weighting' however!

Sunday Lunch at the Barn Owl, home of the infamous Steak & Tanglefoot Ale Pie.



I have to say as a pie expert, this one must rate as the 'worse pie ever' - nothing special (not that bad that one has to call the Maitre de over) - a tad on the dry side with an okay taste. Where have they won the award? Note the way the pie has been 'dropped' onto the mash.

To be avoided.

Unluckly Chelston.

Seems like the only bit of finesse that went into that dish was when the parsley leaf was placed delicately over the not-quite-clean carrot ;D