Ivy House, The

As one critic recently remarked, it seems incredible that rural delights of the kind encountered at The Ivy House are to be found at the end of a branch line of the London Tube. It does give an entirely different perspective on that quaint parliamentary custom known as "taking the Chiltern Hundreds".

At The Ivy they see themselves as a Great Pub with Food, and few would dispute that proud claim. The place is jumping with action in the nicest kind of way, their own Wine Club, luxurious b & b accommodation, reams of Awards, and a wonderful spirit about the whole place.

Start with blue swimming crab on a rocket and grape salad with a spicy Thai dressing, and topped with sesame seeds, helpfully labelled 'healthy option' just to remove any lingering doubts, or field mushrooms stuffed with spinach and apples, topped with a rich Stilton and double cream sauce laced with English cider, enough to bring a smile to the face of vegetarians the world over.

A main course of pan-fried premium quality lamb loin is served with a rich redcurrant and mint sauce laced with red wine, whilst from the sea comes a magnificent seafood platter of prawns, mussels and calamari, bound in a sweet chilli sauce, peppers, onions, egg noodles, topped with sesame seeds and served with prawn crackers. Wow!

Amongst the temptations that exist amongst the desserts I can only bring myself to mention The Ivy House special steaming chocolate sponge pudding, with warm chocolate fudge sauce laced with double cream. This is indeed a place where no prisoners are taken.

Well done, Jane and Anthony Mears! In these politically correct times you are holding a beacon for self-expression and genuine freedom of choice. Join them for some fun.