New Hussey Arms, Brownhills

The bill for six of us came to £100.50. This included a starter and main course each, five ice-cream desserts, five drinks and three side orders.

Diners can choose from a long list of main meals and included in the price is either soup of the day or a salad starter and ice-cream dessert.

There is also a separate "specials" list of starters, mains and puddings and these are individually priced and not included in the deal.

A basket of bread with a dip was served as an appetiser.

My mother and I had minestrone soup, my sister, Michelle, had the salad, my dad and my sister's boyfriend, Tom, had the chicken wings (£4.95 each), and my boyfriend, Ste, had mussels (£4.95), both of which where off the specials menu.

For the main course I went for vegetarian lasagne (£9.25), Ste had sirloin steak (£12.99), Michelle had breast of chicken (£8.99) with a cream and mushroom sauce (£1.50), Tom had lasagne(£9.25) and my parents had pasta with a fish selection (£11.99 each).

Between us we decided to share a portion of garlic bread (£2.50) and savoury roasted potatoes (£2.75) and my dad ordered a second garlic bread during the meal.

After our meals I was full and so were most of the others, although my dad could have eaten more, and we all, except Michelle who did not have pudding, went for chocolate or vanilla ice cream, or a scoop of both.

As I said before this was included in the cost of our main meal, but there were other, more filling options on offer at an additional cost.

We had taken drinks through to the table from the bar but Michelle and Tom ordered two further pints of both Stella and Carlsberg and my dad had half a Worthington, all of which were charged to the bill.

The drivers among us had a couple of glasses of water, which were free.

So that is what we had and what it cost, but what was the verdict?

My mother and I both enjoyed the soup, though I was surprised it was not served with a roll and butter.

Ste loved the mussels and could have eaten the same again, while my dad and Tom enjoyed the chicken wings. Michelle's salad was a large and colourful serving.

For main courses, my vegetable lasagne was good, Ste said his steak was really tasty, and having tried it I agreed, my parents liked their fish dish but both said the portion was small, Tom polished off his lasagne but fancied a bit more meat in it and Michelle said she chose well with her chicken meal.

Neither mine, nor my parents or Tom's meals came with anything but the lasagne/pasta and fish.

Ste's steak and Michelle's chicken came with just savoury potatoes which were very tasty.

The set-up is that the pub and restaurant are housed under the same roof. You walk into the pub and the restaurant part is off to the left.

I was impressed with the waiter who took my booking for the following day.

He was friendly and took me through from the pub into the restaurant to show me the table. He also mentioned the menu was due to be extended shortly, with a number of the "specials" options moving onto the main list.

The restaurant is light and nicely decorated, there are a selection of tables to seat two, four and six people, although six people was a squeeze around the table we had.

The table legs got in the way and where I was sitting was not fantastically comfortable.

Overall, though, it was an enjoyable evening. The waiters were attentive, the food was cooked from scratch and there was a relaxed atmosphere.

There is a large car park located next to the venue.

ADDRESS

The New Hussey Arms, Chester Road North, Brownhills, Walsall

Tel: (01543) 370700

By Lyndsey Hunt