Saracen's Head, Weston

As several-times winner of Staffordshire's Best Kept Village award, Weston has a proud history - its pubs included.

The village was once home to several inns and drinking houses, but now only two remain, one being The Saracen's Head.

The pub's name commemorates the grant of the crest of a saracen's head to Richard Lionheart during the middle ages. And now it prides itself on providing real ales and food to passing trade and regulars.

The restaurant sits at the rear of the building under a large but cosy conservatory and, on the Friday evening when I visited, it was already busy with diners and drinkers.

Diners can choose from starters of crispy potato skins topped with bacon and melted cheese with barbecue dip, £3.95, or black pudding and stilton salad at £4.75. I opted for the beer battered cod goujons, £4.25 - four pieces of mouth-watering white fillet in a light batter and served with a mixed salad, lemon wedge and tartare sauce.

It was delicious, not too heavy and just enough to whet my appetite.

My dining partner chose from the specials board - toasted ciabatta topped with fried onions and cheese, served with a tomato and basil sauce.

For my specials-board main course I chose the game stew, £8.95 - a huge bowl of rich soup packed with chunky potatoes, vegetables and tender meat.

All the meals come with a choice of homemade chips, new potatoes or jacket, plus fresh veg or side salad. But my stew was so filling I struggled to eat my baked potato and veggies. My partner went for the vegetarian gorgonzola and pine nut risotto, priced £7.95. Although rich and creamy, the dish was overladen with white pepper which overpowered the side salad.

But a side order of chips at £1.75 gave a little respite from the heat.

Despite being full, I couldn't resist taking a look at the dessert board, opting for a light choice of melon with raspberry sorbet, at £3.75.

The bill, with a couple of pints each, came to just under £40 and definitely warrants a return visit.

The service was attentive and well timed, despite the busy restaurant.

The Saracen's Head offers an early diners menu, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 12-2pm, and Mondays and Sundays, 6-7pm - two courses for £6.95 or three for £9.50. There's a shortage of vegetarian choices, but for the meat lover there are grills from £9.50, plus side orders from 75p. Only local produce is used in the freshly-prepared meals.

Debbie Bennett

A518 Stafford Road, Weston, near Stafford

Tel: 01889 270286