Our companions on this trip Bev and Dave love eating out and so do we but often when it comes to it can’t be bothered to stir out stumps and go but with prompting from Bev and Dave in July we ate out fourteen times times, more time than we would eat out in a year. I have documented on this page the eating places and our thoughts on them.
The Admiral Nelson
Lock 3
Braunston
This is a very popular pub in Braunston, there are others but this seems to be the most popular. The meals were OK and the prices reasonable and the service friendly and pleasant. The food they sell could best be described as “pub grub”
Napton Cidery
Holroyd House Farm,
Napton on the Hill,
Southam,
Warwickshire,
CV47 8NY
Although The Napton Cidery does do some food, when we visited non was available so we had to content ourselves with sampling the cider. The general consensus was that Butterbox was the best and was described as :-
“This cider is rich in tannins with a caramel sweetness. A standout easy-drinker Made from the very best British apples grown in unsprayed orchards.“
All we know is that both Dave and I bought a case and now wish we had bought more. A very refreshing drink on a hot evening (or afternoon).
The Folly Inn
Folly Lane,
Napton on the Hill,
Southam CV47 8NZ
This pub is one of the best known pubs on the system. It is a very popular eating place and often has live music in the building at the side of the main pub.
Our experience at The Folly was not what we expected or hoped. After grabbing a table you went to the bar to get drinks and menus, when ready to order you go back to the bar state your table number, then order and pay for your food which is then delivered to your table in due course. Bev and Dave had eaten there before on a music night and had a good meal, the only thing that could be said about the night we went was that the meals were edible – just!
The staff seemed, in the main, uninterested and some were inappropriately dressed.
None of us plan to revisit.
Villa Capri Ristorante Italiano & Cocktail Lounge
37 Regent Grove,
Royal Leamington Spa,
Leamington Spa
CV32 4AP
This is one of the best Italian restaurants we have been to. The food was excellent with portion sizes to satisfy the greediest diner.
The staff were friendly and very attentive without being obtrusive.
If in the area we would most certainly return.
Highly recommended.
The Hatton Arms
Birmingham Road,
Hatton,
Warwickshire,
CV35 7JJ
This was a very busy pub just a few minutes walk from the canal, indeed we tried to book a 6pm table the night we arrived but all tables were fully booked all night and no wonder, the beer was good the food was excellent and the staff helpful and friendly.
The food was so good Bev and Dave booked a table next lunchtime when they were meeting friends, sadly as they arrived the power went off in the pub so all food sales were cancelled they then went to the Hatton Top Lock Cafe where the power was also out but at least the cafe had cold food available.
Hatton Top Lock Café
Canal Lane,
Hatton,
Warwick,
CV35 7JL
This is a very popular café for gongoozlers and boaters alike Sue and I treated ourselves to breakfast at the Hatton Top Lock Café. The food was very good, the staff pleasant and attentive and the prices reasonable.
Tom O’ The Wood,
Finwood Road,
Rowington,
Warwickshire,
CV35 7DH
This was a country pub in the true sense of the word it is quite isolated with just the canal and a few villages around it, despite which it is a very busy pub.
The quality and portion sizes of the food together with the friendly and helpful staff clear indications of the reasons for its popularity, indeed when we mentioned having Sunday lunch in that pub to the volly lockie we were told in her onion it was by far the best pub for food around. We would not disagree and would most certainly return if in the area.
Wedges Bakery
495 School Rd,
Hockley Heath,
Solihull
B94 6RP
A bakery was first set up on this site in 1850 the oven being erected in the pig shed and the bread etc used to barter for necessities with other local farms and businesses.
Wedges today sells a range of breads, cakes, pies and sandwiches that look and (those we tried) taste delicious. Our breakfast sandwiches were superb, the Cornish pasties (made for them in St Just and baked on the premises) were amongst the best we have ever tasted and the cakes simply stunning.
By road this bakery is not far from home so a visit is highly likely.
The Rose Villa Tavern is a grade 1 listed building in the Jewellery Quarter, both the inside and outside depict a past era of style and comfort with the ornate interior boasting ceramic tiles, wooden floors and stained glass.
I can’t remember what everyone had (too much lunch time beer perhaps?) but I ordered what the pub called a Cod Goujon Spianata. Mr Google says that a spianata is a “unique Italian cured meat, known for its flattened shape and bold, savoury flavour. Originating from Southern Italy“. What I got was a Sourdough Rosemary Fish Finger (cod goujon) Sandwich with a side of fries. It was delicious, as were the (several) beers that accompanied it. The others said all their food was top notch.
Rudy’s Pizza Neapolitan
6 Oozells Square,
Brindley Place,
Birmingham
A pizza was the last thing on our minds when we set off for dinner at the Cosy Club Restaurant until the Cosy Club became the noisy club, live entertainment so loud you could not hear yourself think. We wandered around looking for somewhere quiet and found Rudy’s, pretty noisy inside but with a cool and quiet outside area.
The pizzas were very good, lovely thin crust base and good amounts of toppings. Large enough that one between two would have been sufficient they were so delicious we all managed to eat a whole one each, we did however forgo dessert.
We would certainly return.
The Cosy Club
Eleven Brindley Place,
Unit 9F
The Water’s Edge,
Birmingham
B1 2HL
Breakfast at the Cosy Club is quite an experience, the menu has a wide variety of tempting breakfasts ranging from a Chai Granola Bowl, that Sue chose to the The Cosy Butcher’s Brunch that I enjoyed. The food was extremely good and the service attentive but discreet.
It was so good that we decided to return for breakfast on Sunday before leaving the city centre, on that occasion Sue chose Eggs Benedict, I chose tThe Cosy Butcher’s Brunch – again and Bev and Dave each designed a breakfast from the sides available.
We would have no hesitation in choosing a Cosy Club for breakfast, or lunch or even dinner.
Five Guys
Unit 6, Five Ways Leisure Centre
Board Street
B15 1AY
Birmingham
Five guys is something of an oxymoron in that it is described as a fast food outlet, where cheap food appears almost instantly. Five Guys (compared to the likes of McDonald’s) is neither quick nor cheap.
My basic bacon burger was £11.55, it contained two patties, plenty of bacon and you could choose any or all of 15 toppings at no extra cost, the McDonald’s version of this burger is, apparently under £3.00, not having had a McDonald’s since 2001 I can’t comment on the quality of the McDonald’s offering but the Five Guys burger was very good.
I would certainly go to Five Guys again but still have no desire to visit other fast food outlets.
Bank Restaurant and Bar
4 Brindley Place,
Birmingham,
B1 2JB
Banks is a very pleasant venue in the vibrant centre of Birmingham. We arrived at 5.30 and after very tasty starters Sue and I opted for traditional Sunday roast lunch Bev opted for Crispy Duck Salad and David for Rare Breed Pork Chop. Everyone agreed the mains were excellent, and the portions large.
For pudding Bev chose Lemon Posset while Dave and I chose to share a cheese board which we used as an excuse to order a glass of Tawny Port each.
An excellent end to our stay in Birmingham City Centre.
Mad o Rourke’s Pie Factory
Hurst Lane,
Tipton,
West Midlands
DY4 9AB
A fabulous meal in a quirky venue.
Mad o Rourkes Pie Factory is a Black Country institution, it used to be owned by an eccentric Irish man called Collum O’Rouke who set up a chain of quirky pubs across the west midlands, Mad o Rourkes Pie Factory is the only one that still operated as Collum set it up.
On our visit we wisely, as it turned out, chose to forgo starters and go straight to the mains. Bev had Steak and Kidney Pudding with mash, Sue had Wham Bam Thank You Lamb Pie, I chose a full rack of BBQ Ribs (OK I know it was a pie factory) and Dave had the house speciality a Desperate Dan Cow Pie complete with pastry formed cow horns. The chips that accompany all but Bev’s meal were the strangest chips I have ever come across – battered chips!!!! They are battered with a light tempura type batter and are to die for. Super crispy on the outside soft and fluffy on the inside. Quite easily the best chips ever.
Dave and I washed our meals down with a couple of pints of 5.6% Sledge Hammer – Great!
So good were the mains and so generous the portions that none of us could manage puds.