Anchor Inn

The 17th century Anchor Inn is an established award winning riverside inn full of charm and character. Concentrating on fine, locally fresh yet unpretentious food and serving quality local beer as well as a superb wine list the Anchor is an example of what is good about the independent modern British Gastropub.

Should you fancy a longer stay they have four guest bedrooms, described by Paddy Burt in her Daily Telegraph column as "...a little bit of heaven anchored in Fenland". As a man of the Fens myself I know exactly what she means.

Sensibly, a word that often comes to mind when looking at the Anchor Inn, they have one à la carte menu for lunch and dinner every day except on Sunday during December, when it is replaced by a special celebratory version. At other times an excellent lunch, two courses for £11.95, three for £15.95 is on offer.

A nice touch is provided by the pre-meal arrangements, enabling the menu to be considered over a glass of champagne or a glass of Barbadillo Manzanilla extra dry sherry, with a bowl of olives and roast cashews or sea salt and Balsamic crisps.

Dishes on offer could range from starters like slow roasted pork belly with Sutton apple juice and cider reduction, warm crab brik with harissa and pickled cucumber, or a warm pea and leek tartlet topped with vintage Lincolnshire Poacher cheddar, a cheese that is currently enjoying wide popularity.

The same inspired approach persists into the choice of main courses, with roasted loin of pork and cinnamon poached pear, creamed mash potato, baby carrots and cider sauce. The pan fried duck breast on winter greens with potato rosti, baked fig and a port and fig sauce carries with it a blend of flavours that brings the taste buds smartly to attention. Baked fillets of sea bass are always popular, served here on a bed of warm Niçoise salad.

From a list of six desserts the warm English plum charlotte with crème Anglaise stands supreme, or there's white chocolate and raspberry trifle. For many, a well kept cheeseboard is an essential and Adam Pickup's masterly version does not disappoint.

This is a great spot for Sunday lunch when the menu might contain starters of deep fried breaded whitebait with citrus salt and tartar sauce, roasted plum tomato and basil soup, the traditional roast sirloin of beef with full accompaniments, or rare breed British Sutton pork sausages on creamed potato, with green beans and rich onion gravy. Denham Estate loin of venison also makes an appearance.

For dessert many folk would need a lot of persuasion not to opt for the Cointreau pannacotta with chocolate ice cream. With serving hours now extended to 3pm there is simply no excuse for not taking the family out for a real treat.

A well varied and comfortably priced wine list, with some 60 choices, well described under tantalising headings such as Big Tannic Blockbuster; is in keeping with this well-run yet relaxed and friendly place. Due attention is paid to the needs of those who wish to confine their drinking to by-the-glass.

Menu variations follow the seasons and the markets, and a quick click on their attractive Website will keep you up to scratch.