Woburn Hill Hotel High Street Cemaes Bay Anglesey LL67 0HU Tel No: 01407 711 388 Fax No: 01407 711 190 Email: woburnhill@btconnect.com WWW:http://www.woburnhillhotel.co.uk

Review

For me, a weekend in Wales is spiritually akin to a pilgrimage to Rome. I understand that a Pope once said that three pilgrimages to Bardsey Island were of equal merit with one to Rome. I think that’s a bit too exclusive and like to think that one trip to North Wales should cover several lifetimes worth of Papal blessings. Making me a saint. Or at least Venerable.

While the Royal Prince declared his love for Kate Middleton I opted for a trip to Anglesey. Finding somewhere to stay was easier than I thought it would be and I was able to secure a room at the lovely Woburn Hill Hotel in Cemaes Bay.

Of course being one of those people that likes to plan where to eat while away just as much as they like to spontaneously turn up a some fish restaurant in some sleepy countryside village, it comes as no surprise that I researched the Woburn Hill’s menu well before I’d even sent off the booking request.  The thing that sold it for me was the menu included a MIXED GRILL and regular readers will be familiar with my quest for the ultimate mixed grill.

Ah! Goodness! Meaty grilled goodness.

The Woburn’s mixed grill includes:

• Rump steak (win)
• Gammon steak (win)
• Pork steak (unusual but win!)
• Lamb cutlet (delicious and perfect)
• Kidney (oh yes)
• Sausage (naturally)
• Mushrooms (of course)
• Onion rings (essential)
• Tomato (win again!)

and

• BLACK PUDDING (WIN!)

all served with chips.

A perfect mix of grilled meats. Had it had some liver, it may have even further exceeded my already exceeded expectations. A fantastic selection that just filled me to bursting point. A meal that left me fully sated and unable to even consider pudding.

Anyway, the restaurant….the restaurant is open to non-residents and serves meals from daily from 6:30pm onwards. There are many other dishes to choose from with special diets catered for and specials every day. The staff are keen, attentive and very friendly and the atmosphere is just perfect.

Try as I might I simply could not fault the hotel or the restaurant.  It just goes to prove that a place does not have to be extortionate, overly fancy or in the business of serving poncey “micro meals” to be fantastic.

Conclusion

For food, I think the mixed grill was the best and most obvious choice for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I think it will be hard to beat judging by the mixed grills I’ve seen at other places.

Being objective, the other meals looked delicious too and I would most definitely dine there again. In fact the rooms at the hotel are really spacious and comfortable with a really tasty Full Breakfast served in the mornings. Eating there was pleasant, staying there was pleasant, and the area of North Anglesey is a place I could recommend to anyone looking for a weekend away.

Total score: 90%

	Jade Village Mona Road Menai Bridge Anglesey Tel: 01248 715409

REVIEW

If there is anyone reading this that happens to be a really good Chinese chef hoping to start their own restaurant business; you need to tap into the Chinese Restaurant market on Anglesey.

I love Chinese food. I’ve said that before and, regular readers will remember, I have already reviewed two Chinese restaurants previously. So it should come as no surprise that I would want to eat in a Chinese restaurant during my holiday in Wales.

Before departing on my break, I did some research into Chinese restaurants in the locality. Surprisingly there are few in the Anglesey area, at least in the area I was willing to drive. The one that stood out (on Google) was the Jade Village. Indeed reviews such as “The food is one of the best” and “This is the restaurant of choice for many of the local Chinese residents of North West Wales” kind of sold it to me.

It’s popularity was most apparent on approach to the car park which although pay and display was busy with customers hoping to dine there or just pick up a take home pack. I realised, in hindsight, that booking was probably a good idea.

Fortunately, I was able to secure a table providing that I finished dining by 8:30pm. Now whether this was the reason why the food arrived swiftly is a moot point but regardless, the speed and professionalism of service was outstanding. As was the food!"

For starters I had my usual salt and pepper spare ribs. These slightly let down the restaurant as there was not as much meat on the ribs as I would have liked but I was hungry so I let that one slide.

For mains I like to try restaurant’s specials. In this case the special was the Beef Cantonese style sauce and Duck in Plum sauce both of which I can thoroughly recommend. To accompany the meal I elected for the Yung Chow fried rice which also was a winner.

Despite the initial hunger following the ribs, I have to say I was fully sated by the last bit of the rice. But, as you can see, there was very little left of the meal at the end.

Conclusion

Now, I’d really like to give the Jade Village more than my final score. Indeed, it got a boost from the fact that a table was able to be slotted into their busy schedule. Had I had a more relaxed dining experience I probably would have given it even more.

However I need to be objective in my reviews. Comparatively, to the Water Margin and the Emperor’s in Warwickshire, the Jade Village is in a tough three horse race. I seem to recall being rushed in Emperors too but their food pales into insignificance next to the Jade Village. Indeed, even the Water Margin…ah the good old Water Margin….No…I’m afraid that the Jade Village would come second in that race. But it would be a photo finish!

Total score: 80%

	The Lobster Pot Church Bay Anglesey LL65 4EU Tel: 01407 730 241 WWW: http://www.lobster-pot.net

Review:

Sometimes the best way to explore a place is to take what I call “Interesting Roads”, by which I mean roads that are off the main drag. I’ve discovered many interesting places for myself by going down “interesting roads”. Taking an “interesting road” resulted in finding the Lobster Pot on the road to Church Bay and Swtan, a preserved 17th Century cottage owned by The National Trust. 

As well as mixed grills I also have love of fish dishes so when I saw the Lobster Pot I simply had to eat there. Especially as my other favourite Welsh fish restaurant, Pen Bryn Bach, is now under new management and well over 50 miles away from where I was when I came across the Lobster Pot.

Booking is advisable as this place is popular and the Lobster Pot runs a two sitting system: one at 6:30pm and the other at 8:30pm meaning that if you get the 6:30 sitting and you haven’t finished, you’re asked to move to the bar area to make room for the 8:30 sitting.

Anyway, after arrival I was ushered to the quiet bar area while I chose my courses (a similar system to that at Pen Bryn Bach near Aberdaron).

The menu is extensive and, in my opinion, slightly expensive. All the food served is locally sourced and lobster biased. I guess that’s a winning formula for a restaurant called The Lobster Pot. I should be wary of any restaurant called “The Jelly Fish”.

My starter was whitebait. Supposedly lightly coated in seasoned flour and deep fried but I saw no evidence of this. The little fishes were certainly deep fried but not coated in flour. Furthermore, the lemon was distinctly lacking from the mayonnaise.

Main course was presented swiftly. Service was very quick and there wasn’t much waiting around between courses. Main course for me was the Lobster Surf and Turf. Half a lobster served with an 8 oz Welsh Beef steak, vegetables and chips.

Conclusion

I have to say that for the cost there wasn’t much in the way of food. But inexplicably I was feeling rather full by the time I had finished. In fact there was little room for pudding.

Part of me suspected that the usual chef was probably having an evening off (it was the day of the Royal wedding) but I won’t hold that against the establishment. However, overall though I was very impressed. My only regret was not having the lobster mornay but if I go again I’ll definitely try that.

Excellent quality food, locally sourced, which is always a thumbs up for me, set in very peaceful surroundings. I had a really enjoyable meal happily not one to rival the belated Pen Bryn Bach but very close indeed.

Total Score: 85% 

	Aqua: Food & Mood Jury Street Warwick Warwickshire, CV34 4EW Tel: 01926 495 491 WWW: http://www.aqua-food-mood.co.uk/warwick/index.html

Review

If I was a millionaire, I’d eat here every night!

Or so I said, to the restaurant manager as he came to see if we had enjoyed our meal. Enjoy is probably not strong enough a word to describe how good Aqua is.

The Mucky Badger is a great fan of Middle Eastern food, specifically Lebanese. It’s incomprehensible why there aren’t more Middle Eastern restaurants in the UK as the food is so diverse in flavour and variety. It’s kind of like a secret jewel in that those that know of Lebanese cuisine actively seek it out for themselves and delight in sharing the experience with the uninitiated. Indeed, tonight was one such occasion for the Mucky Badger’s dining companion Zoe, who, until recently, was a long term vegetarian.

Often the best places to dine are those that hide in plain sight. Aqua commands a prominent place on Jury Street and is very tastefully decorated. Middle Eastern decorations and tented ceiling compliment the cosy atmosphere and the very friendly and welcoming hosts. Quiet Lebanese music accompanies your dining experience and a wealth of choice in the menu could leave those unfamiliar with Lebanese food curious to try a bit of everything.

Fortunately Aqua offers a Mezze board for 2 providing an ample selection of dishes to titillate one’s taste buds. A selection including: Hommous, moutabel (spicy aubergine dip) , tabboulleh, falafel, sujuk (Lebanese sausage), batata harra (sautéed spicy potato), warak enab (Stuffed Vine Leaves) and kibbeh (minced lamb parcels) which is followed by a mixed grill (a showcase of Aqua’s variety of kebabs) Arabic coffee and Baklava.

As well as a fine selection of wines and drinks, including a very cheeky Lebanese beer, Aqua’s menu also includes smoothies and coffees. There really is something for everyone’s taste at Aqua. Special mention should also go to the Manager who, on finding out about Zoe’s dairy allergy came over especially to see if there was anything he could offer to replace her dessert (which I enjoyed all to myself ) 

Conclusion

Now, until tonight if anyone was to ask the Mucky Badger “What Middle Eastern restaurant would you recommend?” I would probably answer either Teste on Stoke Newington High Street or Kimo’s in Liverpool. However, in future I will extol the virtues of Aqua in Warwick.

In fact, I will even be so bold as to say that Aqua has taken the Crown of Badger Delight from the “under new management” Pen Bryn Bach in North Wales.

It has been a very long time since I’ve dined in a place where I have enjoyed and savoured every mouthful of food. But that wait has now gone. Indeed if I was an uncouth individual, I might have let out the occasional audible moan of ecstasy or even tried to wrestle the chef for his secret recipes. However the Mucky Badger is house trained and no such wrestling or moaning (at least audibly) occurred.

So if you’re planning a night out during a stay in Warwickshire, or maybe you live near by and fancy something different, I insist you give Aqua a try. The service is excellent, the food (as already mentioned) fantastic and the welcome more than special. In all I am pleased to give Aqua a firm favourite 93% score. In fact, if Mucky Badger gave awards, Aqua would have one.

Make that two.

	The Red Lion, A361, High Street, Avebury, Wiltshire. SN8 1RF Telephone: 01672 539266 WWW:http://www.red-lion-pub-avebury.co.uk/

REVIEW

Now, you’d think a pub at a World Heritage Site, visited by thousands of people from all over the world would try to excel at cleanliness, hospitality and cuisine. You would though, wouldn’t you?

You’d hope that the staff were friendly and warming rather than gruff, austere and down right rude. You’d hope that the food you ordered would be brought with the minimum of fuss rather than turmoil, confusion and missing items. You’d probably even hope that the toilets would be clean, serviced and functioning instead of filthy, dilapidated and cramped. Wouldn’t you?

So when it came to visiting the Red Lion in Avebury, during a weekend of hippy yogurt weaving and floatiness, I was perhaps expecting a higher degree of hospitality than that which I actually got.

From the outside The Red Lion is a typical biscuit tin English pub. Thatched roof, timber framed and white walls. The inside, cosy with low beams and even it’s own well. Pub tat hanging from the ceilings and adorning shelves, fireplaces which no doubt welcome frozen or soggy visitors to the stone circles during the winter months. But on closer inspection the faults begin to show. With part of the bar area looking traditional and the other much akin to a Swiss beirkeller, two function rooms; one resembling a study the other a cheap faux European taverna from the 80’s, you know the type I mean, like someone’s gone to the Costa del Sol at the height of the 80’s package holiday boom and gone “oooh this decor looks stylish and would look good in my quiet rural pub”.

Now, I’ve tried to like the Red Lion. Really I have. My journalistic writing lecturer’s voice rang in my ears “BE OBJECTIVE” she said along with “BE CONSICE” and “BE HONEST”. So when I arrived and sat at my slightly sticky table I tried not to let that bother me. I even tried not to let the gruff school ma’am behind the bar dissuade me from placing my order. I would soak up the experience, no matter how terrible, and moan about it all here.

So where to start? Well first off the incident of the table renumbering. When I sat down at the sticky table, the number on the menu rack said 19. By the time I’d gone and ordered and sat back down again the table number had changed again. Not, I might add, by magic, but by “a shrieking harridan” proclaiming “THE NUMBERS ARE WRONG! THE NUMBERS ARE WRONG!”. Of course, Avebury, as you might or might not know, is in the heart of a Neolithic stone circle, so a crazed woman going round screeching about the numbers being wrong, probably wouldn’t usually  raise an eyebrow. But when you’re in a restaurant or pub or eating area where table numbers are as important as celestial charts and leys the last thing you want to hear is about wrong numbers.

However, in the trade, I guess this kind of thing happens all the time eh? Just like when you order surf and turf 8oz rump steak (medium) supposedly accompanied by grilled mushroom, tomato, onion rings, tempura battered KING prawns and watercress only to get about 3oz of charred wellington boot,  a couple of suspicious looking battered tiddly things and  nothing resembling greenery at all. Late. Luke warm.

Worse, nothing helps the digestion of a particularly tough bit of steak more than the realisation that for the past hour you have been drinking from the dirtiest glass in the world. But don’t feel sorry for the glass, because once, possibly recently, somebody loved that glass so much that they gave it a kiss in nice pink lipstick.

Then there’s the toilet. Dirty, small, smelly and cramped. The cubicle door has seen better days and I believe that the lock must have vanished in some weird cosmic maelstrom caused by fluctuations in the chi.

Lastly, the staff. As I have already pointed out the screeching harridan, there is no need to dwell or labour the point about her. The staff were young and inexperienced. Or on the outside they were. Personally I feel that staff are only as good as the instructions they are given and to be fair they were brilliant. The staff that is. The instructions they were given? Well no…not so good. And so I must stress here, it is never the subordinates that are at fault it is the management and their instruction.

Conclusion

So I suppose that  in it’s defence the Red Lion does give an accurate example of many pubs up and down the UK. Tatty surroundings, overworked staff and expensive food and drinks. Indeed, any visitor from outside the country who has never been to a pub in the UK before would no doubt have a more accurate experience of a British public house rather than a saccharine pseudo-pub with polished brasses, fake real ales and super smart staff.

But as for the Red Lion, it’s prominent position, year round influx of tourism and expensive menu and drink prices should mean that it is a bastion of cleanliness and a shining example to visitors from all over. But obviously my assumption is wrong. I think the major thing missing from the Red Lion is something no lion should be without. Pride.

Total Score 55%

Location & Photo

 

	White Lion Southam Road Radford Semele Nr Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV31 Tel: 01926 425 770?

Review

Think of a sleepy English village pub with a thatched roof and you’ll probably think of something similar to the White Lion in Radford Semele.

Situated on the busy Southam Road the White Lion’s character pulls you in with all the welcoming warmth a country gastro-pub can. This belies the fact that the pub is part of the Chef & Brewer chain which to me has become the John Lewis of gastro-pub  chains having been a regular at the Bear & Staff pub in Gateacre in Liverpool since my formative years. So being used to the outstanding quality of Chef & Brewer fayre, it was difficult to be objective describing the dining experience here.

The bar area boasts some excellent local real ales and promotional literature throughout the pub announces the imminent arrival of a season long in house beer festival. You know, the kind where you buy pints of local beer, drink it, come back another day and try another one. This pub is probably run by a very ale passionate landlord as the beer rarely disappoints but the prices unfortunately do. But I guess there’s nobody to blame for £3 a pint beer but the government.

The menu is beautifully presented and a chalk board proclaims a changing specials menu. The menu also features a Mixed Grill! Sadly this mixed grill is missing a number of the key ingredients to qualify for a Mucky Badger mixed grill award containing only gammon, chicken(!), sausage, steak and ancillary vegetables. Had it contained some lamb and some liver it could well be in the running for an award.

So not to be disappointed I opted for the 9oz Rump Steak. Served medium, the meat tasted fresh with minimal gristle and was accompanied by some chips and a small garnish. It might have been worth chucking some garden peas on that plate for the price that was paid but it still provided a decent meal.

Service there was more than splendid (despite being greeted with “Good evening ladies” – I must get round to having a hair cut) and the meal arrived without too long a wait. Even the dessert choices left me spoilt for choice. However, in the end the Lime Meringue pie was opted for and the flavour was it’s own reward. The cutting tang of lime causing memories of long forgotten much loved flavours of Angel Delight to come flooding back.

So for

• 1 x Mixed Grill
• 1 x Rump Steak and chips
• 1 x Lime pie
• 1 x Fizzy mineral water
• 1 x pint of Foster’s Lager

The price came to just over £30

Conclusion

Delightful surroundings and pleasant atmosphere with what seems to be fairly locally sourced ingredients served by excellently presented staff deserving a good score, however the price does leave a nasty after taste and while good food does cost more it can’t be helped to think how much profit this pub makes on dry sales.

Still, the portions and lack of fuss make this pub score slightly higher than the Plough in Eathorpe, but the cost prevents a higher score, 87%

I have a predilection for ginger beer. I love the stuff. No. Love isn’t a strong enough word. But for decency purposes I’ll say I love the stuff.

A while back on the good old B3ta website somebody posted a recipe for home made ginger beer. Their claim was that the ginger beers on the market just weren’t fiery enough for them. Carefully following the recipe, I made in roads to home produced ginger beer. It was phenomenal. I controlled the amount of ginger I had in it and everyone who tasted it made that “hooo!” noise as the burning ginger stung the back of their throat and caused their eyes to bleed.

Sure enough I experimented further. Altering ingredient quantities, changing the method that the ginger was used, prolonging the fermentation process. I am pleased to say I’m still not satisfied. Maybe it’s my ginger tolerance levels that have now surpassed those of even the most hardened ginger fanatic. I don’t know. I do know though, I am unable to find a ginger beer that satiates my fiery desire.

So it might come as a surprise to read even though I strive to make eye watering ginger beer, that I like to buy ready made ginger beer too. Purely for research purposes I’m sure you’ll understand.

So what better place to review some of these ginger beers than with the good old Mucky Badger?

My radio alarm clock woke me this morning to an interesting article about one of the worlds rarest plants.

The Middlemist’s Red is currently in bloom at Chiswick House hot house and is one of only two in the world. Curious, I took a look at the plant on the website.

BBC

Guardian

And I thought to myself “Hang on! That looks like the one we have at Gnomepants Manor”

The one we have is not in bloom yet as it is growing out doors. But here are a few pictures I took last year.

I’m probably very wrong and the camellia I have is probably some common variety…but still…

Location & Photo

Marton Road
Long Itchington,
Southam,
Warwickshire CV47
01926 633 233

Review

When you’re driving through the lovely Warwickshire countryside, possibly the last thing you expect to see is a Chinese restaurant. Unless, of course, you’re looking for that particular place.

The Water Margin has been a long time favourite of both my companion and mine. We spent New Year’s eve there in 2009 and whenever stuck on making a decision about what we’re to eat of an evening, the Water Margin is often our first choice.

Their menu is extensive and reasonably priced; the decor simple and clean. The staff always pleasant; The food? Well the food is more than delicious.

Having failed to have our Chinese food desire fulfilled at the Emperor’s restaurant (see previous review) we decided that the following night we would go to the Water Margin and compare.

Price wise, for about the same as we’d spent in the Emperor’s, we managed to get a substantial feast to share. The Water Margin’s set banquets do have a wide variation but when catering for two people the selections on the set meals are a little uninspiring. Don’t get me wrong though, they are delicious but my critical mind looks for a little bit more in the way of options. Indeed, had we been a group of three or four then the set meals for larger parties do come with much more choice. I guess the trick is to bring your chums to this one.

Anyway, we opted for:

• Prawn toast (6)
• Salt and pepper spare ribs – deliciously succulent and large, most of the Chinese restaurants I have been to in Warwickshire tend to have those tiny little riblets that consist mostly of gristle.
• Salt and Pepper Chicken wings in Honey – Again, another winner for both of us
• Chicken in Peking Sauce – A sweet and tangy sauce with fair sized chicken pieces
• Pork in Black Bean Sauce – A fantastic salty feast
• Yueng Chow Fried Rice – Much more than the mouthful  at the Emperor’s

The whole selection came to just under £35 which was a similar price to that paid at the Emperor’s but this time we left feeling full. In fact, I could not finish and my companion Zoe, had to finish what was left over despite my appeal for a doggy bag.

The staff were thoughtful and pleasant; the surroundings, again pleasant; the food first rate. Now if the Emperor’s portions were this size I’d have been pleased but when you find smaller relatively off the beaten track restaurants that do comparatively excellent food but with much more portion wise, you wonder why you left the more expensive place feeling hungry.

Conclusion

If you are in the Leamington Spa area I can thoroughly recommend the Water Margin to fulfil your Chinese food fix. If you’re feeling daring why not nip in on a Sunday afternoon when you can have an all you can eat buffet or just pop in on an evening. They also do take away but as the Warwickshire base is a bit far out our take away meal would be cold by the time we’d got it home. Besides, its such an ace place, you’ll definitely want to go back with your chums.

Score – 87% – A Forbidden Palace of a restaurant worthy of a title such as Emperor. Well worth the visit.

Location and Photos

Bath Place,
Leamington Spa.
Warwickshire.
CV31 3BP.
Tel: 01926 313030 

Review

Tucked away in a quiet unsuspecting part of Leamington Spa I’d not been to before, hides the Emperor’s Restaurant. I’m a big fan of Chinese food and I rarely find a menu without something I like.

As with all international cuisine restaurants, I try to go for the specials or for a dish I’ve not seen before as I believe that is the best way to see the incumbent chef’s talents. Often this works out well and I leave impressed other times I leave thinking “And that was supposed to be special?”

My companion and I decided to take a break from our usual Chinese of choice and venture to unknown territory after reading some rave reviews of the Emperor on Google. We eventually found it and were pleased to also discover another pay and display car park near by that we had no idea about.

On entering, the first thing that we noticed was how well decorated it was. Subdued lighting, a small bar area and a friendly greeting welcomed us. We hadn’t booked as often we decide to go for something to eat on the spur of the moment and, as it was early, we thought we would be likely to get a table. We were ok for a table except we were asked to make sure we had finished by 8.30pm. This was fine as 2 hours dining was more than ample.

We were shown to some seats. At first I thought “Oh no! They really are expecting a coach load” as we seemed to have been seated at a precarious round table with not much elbow room. But we were given a basket of prawn crackers to munch while we perused the menu.

The menu was extensive and slightly expensive too. However we carried on hoping that the prices reflected the good reviews and the plethora of awards adorning the the wall. We opted for a mixed starter, two main courses and some yung chow fried rice. I can’t recall if this was one of the set menus or not but that is what we got.

Before long we were shown into the equally beautifully decorated main part of the restaurant and seated at a proper table. Our first course arrived and was quickly munched. As with most Chinese restaurants I’ve been to in Warwickshire they are a bit stingey on the dipping sauce but I’ve had enough practice at rationing what we get so was able to stretch it further.

The mains arrived. Considering the price of the meals the portions were a bit on the measly side. I’m sorry but Nouvelle Cuisine went the way of the dodo in the mid nineties. None the less, the meals were delicious and we had room for desert, mine consisted of banoffee pie while my companion went for the lemon sorbet.

Conclusion

A delightful little place and a hidden gem in Leamington Spa. In all the meal was delicious but the small portions let the place down. If you’re going to charge upwards of £16 per person you’ve got to provide more than just a light snack. I’m sorry to be so harsh. The staff were wonderful, the surroundings immaculate but all this is nothing if the portions leave me wanting more.

Scoring 68% – Bigger portions please! Even the Plough at Eathorpe does more for less.