Crown & Anchor, Stone

The Crown and Anchor pub in Stone is a quaint building, located next to the town's more imposing (and expensive) Granvilles restaurant.

I visited the pub, in the heart of Stone on a Saturday lunchtime and it was busy - with a high proportion of drinkers ordering food.

The standard lunchtime fare is on offer, including sandwiches, jacket potatoes, panini and salads, but with the unusual addition of a comprehensive tapas section.

It was this that caught my eye and, after having the usual problem of wanting to order everything on the menu, I made my selection - garlic mushrooms, cooked in white wine and cream for myself, chicken spears cooked in jerk seasoning with salad for my dining companion and patatas bravas and garlic bread with cheese to share.

It was all lovely. The portions - which can vary dramatically when it comes to tapas - were extremely generous, especially the mushrooms, which I shared as there were so many, and the potatoes, again the perfect size for sharing.

The sauce was piquante and slightly sweet and extremely rich - a deep and delicious flavour.

I am reliably informed that the chicken, served on skewers, was 'extremely pleasant, not overly spicy' and was great value for money.

The garlic bread, always a favourite of mine was a delight, although the portion, which we had ordered to share, was slighter smaller that we would have liked, especially given the 'sauciness' of the other dishes.

All in all the food cost £11.30, with the chicken spears priced at £2.95, potatoes £2.95, garlic mushrooms, £3.45 and garlic bread £1.95.

We enjoyed a pint of Stella and glass of white wine with the food, which were averagely priced, although by no means cheap at £2.80 and £3.30 respectively.

The pub has it's own car park - a major bonus in a town where parking spaces are at a premium, although clamping is in operation - so visitors need to grab a token from the bar to prove they are paying customers.

I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and, although the interior of the Crown & Anchor does not quite live up to the promise of the exterior of wooden beams and a thatched roof, the dining room was pleasant enough.

ADDRESS

1 Station Rd, Stone, ST15 8JP

Tel: 01785 813720

By Sally Walmsley