Apple Tree, The

The Apple Tree has been tastefully restored to become a warm and inviting country pub, offering an upmarket gastronomic experience. Bright and spacious interiors are made from natural materials that show off its contemporary design, while the stone fired ovens, log burning hearths, leather seating and comfortable teak furniture add to its features. Service remains the same - attentive and fast, making for memorable visits.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, Spanish tapas of prosciutto, Manchego, sardines and tortilla, a baked Camembert with rustic bread and onion marmalade, Greek mezze of taramasalata with humus, tzatziki, feta and flatbread, or a pizzette with garlic, rocket and Parmesan.

Amongst the starters, touchingly referred to as 'little dishes', there is freshly made soup, smoked haddock with poached egg, crab cakes with tomato, chilli and coriander salsa, seared tuna carpaccio, or cider braised onion tart. Look, too, for Black Pearl scallops when the market is right.

The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer chicken with chorizo skewers, watercress and minted cucumber raitha, for the seafood fiends some seared salmon Caesar with marinated anchovies and parmesan or buffalo mozzarella with warm roast vine tomatoes and rocket.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic Margherita of tomato, mozzarella and basil, or the challenging diavolo spiced chicken with peppadew peppers, chilli and Tabasco. For those who like to build their own pizzas you can, for a modest sum, add to the basic dish with a choice from chorizo, olives, jalapenos, mushrooms or bacon. Or of course the whole lot if you're feeling that way.

Pastas include fettuccine with salmon, prawns, coconut, spring onions and chilli, chef's choice risotto, or lasagne with chicken, blue cheese and spinach. For the big event there is always a fish of the day on request. The steak burger with Swiss cheese, bacon, relish and fries is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating. The calves' liver with mash, pancetta and baby onions is worth trying too. For hearty eaters there are good fillet steaks with horseradish Chantilly, green beans and frites or rack of lamb with asparagus.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes whipped potato, Belgian frites and mayo, and greens, leeks and peas. For those who have to be lashed to a plank to induce them to eat root vegetables, try them here, honey roasted and totally different from the all too often pallid steamed variety.

For desserts resort to the blackboard, where there is always a good display, often with some of the local cheeses to set the buffs alight.

The Apple Tree stocks a range of continental beers including Leffe, Edelweiss, Birra Moretti, Staropramen and Amstel, as well as English cask ales. To complement the food, there is a well chosen wine list and includes champagnes too. Their service is cheerful, brisk and totally in keeping with the friendly nature of a good English gastropub.

More information, including full menus, is available on their Website. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.