A celebration lunch at The Packhorse Inn, Moulton, near Newmarket, Suffolk : June 2017

Last week I had lunch at the award-winning Packhorse Inn with two friends to celebrate a birthday. It was a glorious summer day and our meal at this five star AA restaurant and hotel owned by the Chestnut Group didn’t disappoint. Moulton is an idyllic village located to the north east of Newmarket, and just beyond “The Gallops” where they exercise the racehorses.

The Packhorse Inn is located on Bridge Street, in the picturesque village of Moulton near Newmarket, the home of horse-racing 

These freshly baked rolls and canapes made an excellent appetiser

A starter of blow-torched mackerel for one of my companions

For my starter I chose Salmon and dill fishcakes with fennel salad

Another starter of Quail with pea mash

Starter of Quail

Salmon and dill fishcakes, fish cream, fennel salad

Starter – Blow-torched mackerell

I chose a hearty-sized main course of veggie risotto 

Another main course – Scampi with fries

My rissotto main course was a hearty portion!

Scampi with fries

Another main course – Sea trout with globe artichokes

Sea trout with globe artichokes was another of our main courses

Two of us chose the blackcurrant soufflé and raspberry sorbet for dessert

Another dessert – Coffee and Chocolate bar with Guinness ice cream

We all enjoyed our splendid three-course meal from the a la carte menu which was beautifully presented. The bill came to £40 per person including drinks which I thought was on the pricey side, but then this was a birthday celebration lunch so it was well worth pushing the boat out!

The picturesque Packhorse Bridge at Moulton, near Newmarket, Suffolk

This pretty four-arched late medieval bridge spans the River Kennett on the old route from Cambridge to Bury St Edmunds

The Packhorse Inn

Bridge Street

Moulton

Newmarket

Suffolk

CB8 8SP

Tel: 01638751818

http://www.thepackhorseinn.com

 

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The Punt Yard bar and kitchen in Cambridge: Easter 2017

On Good Friday Steve and I met up with friends for lunch at The Punt Yard, which was a new place to all of us, but I had high expectations as I’d heard good things about it. This retro-styled bar and kitchen opened last November and is another splendid addition to the portfolio of The City Pub Company, who own the Cambridge Brew House and the Old Bicycle Shop amongst others. It has a distinctive, fun and funky 50’s style, and an eclectic menu of yummy artisan pizzas, ‘posh’ kebabs, superfood salads, crafty cans and quirky cocktails.

New riverside venue The Punt Yard is a perfectly located eatery on picturesque Quayside in Cambridge.

Drinks are all about the cans at The Punt Yard, and with some stacked into a high tower on the bar, they made an unusual but appropriate feature and were something of a talking point.

We chose a half yard of Norfolk and Bad sourdough pizza, with tomato sauce, mozzarella, N’juda sausage, Norfolk oak smoked chorizo, chilli, caper and balsamic onion

A Flat and wild mushroom Posh Kebab with smoked aubergine, hazelnuts and pesto

A quarter yard All about Albert sourdough pizza with rocket, walnut pesto, goats and stilton cheese, pickled pear and truffle oil

We shared two sides of The Punt Yard chips which we all agreed were possibly the best we had ever tasted!

At The Punt Yard their artisan Sourdough Pizzas are ordered by the yard. For smaller appetites quarter, half, and three-quarter yard sizes are available – that is if you can’t go the full yard! Ideal for sharing, with a big choice of unusual toppings.

We chose Sticky Toffee pudding, Chocolate and Hazelnut Brownie and Pistachio Ice Cream for desserts

We enjoyed a selection of drinks including zingy house cocktails, Amstel on draft, Ginger Beer and table water served in a retro milk bottle.

We loved the interior decor and the staff were fun, helpful and very friendly!

The bill was presented in an old-school style medicine bottle and the total cost of our meal with drinks came to a very reasonable £98 for the four of us. The Punt Yard benefits from not being one of a chain and it has a really cool vibe and a great atmosphere. There are lots of veggie and vegan options, and it’s a family friendly, fun place to eat. We will definitely be making a return visit, and it’s an ideal place for both locals and tourists. Highly recommended. Enjoy!

 

The Punt Yard

6-8 QUAYSIDE

CAMBRIDGE

CB5 8AB

Tel: (01223) 855903

http://www.puntyard.com

The Petersfield, a new Cambridge pub and restaurant : March 2017

This week Steve and I visited The Petersfield, as we were curious to try this new pub and restaurant which opened last month in the building which was formerly home to the well-loved Backstreet Bistro, in Sturton Street. We had heard quite a buzz about the place, and were advised to book by friends who had been disappointed not to get a table last weekend. The Petersfield is another addition to the ever-growing City Pub Company group, who own the Cambridge Brew House and The Old Bicycle Shop amongst other popular locals so I had expected a stylish refit, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The Petersfield is located on Sturton Street, Cambridge

The interior was smart and classy, but the tables were too close together for my liking

Service was brisk and attentive and despite being very busy there wasn’t a long wait for food. The atmosphere was lively and fairly loud, but although it’s new this pub should continue to do well in this location at the heart of the neighbourhood.

 

The pub is full of charming design features and I loved the glass bottles ceiling in the bar

The Petersfield has a contemporary retro look with a large L-shaped bar and lots of dining tables. The décor features a rich use of colours with plush furnishings and good lighting, so this impressive refurbishment looks like no expense has been spared with a lot of thought being put into the detail.

The ceramic fish water jug made an interesting gurgling sound when poured!

The Petersfield features an impressive range of local real ales and offers a fairly ambitious menu of British food of the gourmet pub grub variety at restaurant prices.

Steve had Potted Goose and Sourdough for his starter

The Petersfield had a good range of craft beers, so we tried several!

For his main course Steve chose Pork Belly, roasted sweet potato, crispy black pudding, savoy cabbage, and apple sauce….

and to finish his meal the British Cheese selection with pickle, celery and fancy crackers

 

I had Cider-battered Haddock, chips, peas and tartare sauce, and Chocolate Fondant for my dessert

We ended our evening with a nightcap in the bar

My general impression was that the food I had was only average and slightly over-priced. We paid £44.25 for our meal without drinks, but it’s an attractive pub and a welcome addition to the area.

 

The attractive outdoor seating area made a great use of the space

The Petersfield

2 STURTON STREET

CB1 2QA

TEL: 01223 306 306

http://www.thepetersfield.co.uk