The Clog and Billycock, Pleasington

Having stumbled across The Bull near Skipton and being very pleased I tried 'The Clog' as it is somewhat nearer my home in Worsley and belongs to the same group (Ribble Valley Inns). I have now been there twice in as many weeks, first with my daughter and then with a friend who is 'partial to good food' and a 'break from the missus'.

I have had the roast dinner (at The Bull), the Barnsley chops and the burger. I have been very pleased with the quality and the quantity of food served on each occassion. Each time I had the soup 'special' as a starter. Two cauliflower soups and a leek and potato leave me undecided as to which of these excellent dishes I preferred and I will certainly be going back (and to the others in the group) so I can finally answer this question, if only for myself. I have not been able to manage a pudding (or what ever you may wish to call it) on any of the occassions, possibly because the amount served in the starter and the main course was more than enough for my seventeen stone rugby players frame. I am, however, considering cheating and having a main course and sweet so I have a chance to find out how good they really are...they did look delicious.

I find ordering at the bar or at an ordering point to be no hardship, even for such a good restaurant. As we knew more or less what we wanted, having checked the menu on-line, it meant we did not have to wait to give our orders.

The staff are friendly and approachable, knowledgeable, interested and helpful. They have been a credit to each of the establishments tried so far. Value for money is good. There are many cheaper places but there are also many dearer places giving much poorer quality of food and service.

My only complaint is that, in the coloured brochure promoting the chain, and freely available at each of the restaurants, marsh samphire is promoted as a vegetable and gives cooking instructions. Why, Oh why, is this rare and delicious item not on the menu? Perhaps with poached salmon?

Any way, I have no hesitation in recommending this restaurant (and group) to anyone wishing to eat well prepared locally sourced food, in relaxing surroundings and at a good price. I will be back.

Having been to The Three Fishes at Mitton before, I thought of trying the Clog and Billycock for a change. This meal was nowhere near the same quality as the sister establishment. We had to order our own food at the bar which, considering the prices, was a very strange arrangement.

As starters we ordered fish cakes and parsnip fritters. Although the fish cake was tasty the portion was absolutely tiny which was not helped by the lack of an inclusive bread basket. The parsnip fritters were simply deep fried parsnip chunks with what seemed like an off the shelf dip.

For mains we ordered Rib Eye Steak which when presented was a very poor cut of meat for the £20 price. Although the steaks were ordered medium-rare they were grossly undercooked and I cannot believe the resident chief was on duty that night. The steak dish did not include any veg and was simply served with chips and onion rings, the mushroom was missing. The other main course, spinach pancakes again, came with absolutely no veg or even a salad garnish.

On the positive the wine, beers and coffee were all very good as was the service apart from bar ordering, however food of this quality did not match the price that the dinner cost and I would definitely not recommend the Clog and Billycock.

The Clog and Billycock is another in the 3 Fishes/Highwayman 'chain'. Absolutely wonderful food, beautifully presented. This weekend we went for my birthday and I had Butternut squash and apple soup, pork wellington (I know! pork!) with roast potatoes, green beans and madeira sauce, burnt English custard with preserved blackberries and a Lancashire cheeseboard (I think it was creamy lancashire, crumbly lancashire, smoked lancashire, garlic and herb lancashire and Garstang Blue). My partner had the mini-sausages as a 'nibble' followed by ribs of pork on marrowfat peas, Lancashire hot pot with red cabbage and a side order of chips fried in dripping, apple and mince tart with spiced cream for dessert and he helped me polish off the cheese. Everything is delicious here! Even things I don't like because I don't like the ingredients (such as fish pie), I can tell are wonderful if you like the ingredients! I'm tempted to try it anyway and that's saying something!