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Sunday Lunch Report – March 29th - The Axe & Compasses, Aythorpe Roding |
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The Axe & Compasses was the first of
our new pubs on the Sunday Lunch list for 2009 and what a trauma
to get everyone in! As Linda & I were on holiday in Minehead the week of the Area 33 Monday Club night I had left the task of getting numbers for this Sunday Lunch run to the very able Tina. (I haven’t said “unfortunately we were away” as we had a great time in Minehead with one of the best spring weather weeks to date; so there!) |
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a list of seven names, Tina & Bernie; Tony & Anthea; Peter &
Brenda and Larry, plus Linda & me making nine. I also had an
email from Everett confirming his place and I duly booked
ten with the pub. Then Terry & Trish (T&T) emailed me, followed by Reg and Ronnie (R&R) on the phone, followed by another email saying John was now coming, making fifteen. To make matters worse on Saturday I found a £10 note in my file and realised that this was given to me in February from Terry & Veronica (T&V) who said they wouldn’t be at the March club night but would I put them down for the Lunch Run! Oh no, now it was seventeen places required! I had already phoned the Axe to see if I could fit T&T in but was told they were fully booked; I subsequently phoned again to fit R&R in but again was told fully booked; remember, this is the winner of Best Traditional Pub for 2008 which no doubt most of the other lunchers were aware! Having to decline T&T and R&R was most unfortunate and I only wished I’d taken a hedge on original numbers! As it was I’d booked ten but that meant T&V didn’t have a seat! Sunday was a beautiful day as we drove through Essex to the Axe & Compasses and who was first there and parked up, yep, Terry & Veronica! Oh well I thought, am I worried; Linda & I will sit outside. Then Reg & Ronnie, looking radiant, arrived and that was it! I strode into the pub at 5 minutes to twelve wondering how I was gong to seat fourteen+ on ten seats; fortunately the Manager Kyle, was very understanding (it was extra dosh of course!) and he completely rearranged the seating area to enable two tables seating fourteen in total; unfortunately his assistant manager had not thought of this when I had phoned twice before; sorry T&T, and John never arrived fortunately. |
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The moral is book early, e-email me, phone
me, or if all else fails, just turn up! The food was excellent, fully confirming its Traditional Pub award; I must say my starter of belly pork, black pudding & bean cassoulet was great, but those who had Leigh-on-Sea cockles said theirs was better! The usual Mains of roast Beef, Turkey, Lamb and Pork followed, but with oodles of well cooked, varied vegetables, including bacon laced cabbage, all at £8.95 the value was far above “usual”. |
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Those who could manage homemade rice pud & raspberry jam; sticky toffee pud, butterscotch sauce and ice cream or white chocolate cheesecake & ice cream were in the minority whilst the rest enjoyed a black coffee to complete a truly excellent meal. Finally, my thanks to the Axe & Compasses for fitting us all in and providing a very satisfying Sunday Lunch. See you next time. |