The Rag at Rawnsley, Cannock

The Rag at Rawnsley

Ironstone Road, Rawnsley, Cannock, WS12 0QD

Phone: 01543 277491

Is it me, or aren't you sick of those television advertisements telling us that Norwich Union is to change its name to Aviva?

And don't you long for the days when the confectionery shelves were stocked with Marathon and Opal Fruits, rather than Starburst and Snickers?

There is something that grates when big organisations try to tell us what we should call things.

Take for instance the old Raglan pub just outside Cannock. Some years ago a pub chain attempted to rename it as the New Inn, but found you can't change the habits of a lifetime, and locals continued to refer to it by its nickname "The Rag." So when present owners Mike and Stephanie Benniston took over in 2003, one of the first things they did was to rename it the Rag at Rawnsley.

The Rag at Rawnsley restaurant. If there were Michelin stars for alliteration, this place would be home and dry. But a snappy name is not enough in today's economic climate, and restaurants like this have to offer something special if they are to survive.

Well, there is no shortage of pedigree. Last year celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli called into the Rag to cook up a special lunch after Mike (Benny to his friends) and his chef Phillip Whittle won a national competition, and the Michelin man spoke in glowing terms about the owner's passion for food.

"I think Mike definitely has an attitude with much positivity, he is very inspiring," said Novelli.

The Rag has come highly recommended by several Express & Star readers. Solvi was the first to suggest it was worth a visit, and another reader from Hednesford compared it to The Ritz. Last, but not least, Lee Davies was so impressed he e-mailed me twice: "You must go and try the food there."