I must admit, Tavern Fayre is one of those places I've driven past on multiple occasions, believing it to be one of those chain type food pubs, mainly due to its name and the style of its signage, but after reading wonderful things about it over on my friend DollyBakes' blog, I was eager to give it a try!


The first impression as you walk in is that you're not walking into one of those pubs where everyone's sat around looking at you as you step inside. I hate that. Instead, the décor inside is warm, friendly and welcoming, with roaring open fireplaces and colours and designs separating the large space into different areas without using big intrusive walls. This gave the place an eclectic and sprawling feel, and made you want to look around. In particular, the main restaurant area is two floors in height, but has beams where I assume the second floor would have been, which gives a very dramatic and interesting look!


When we first entered the above area, we stood at the 'wait here to be seated' podium for a few minutes, as nobody seemed to be available, but there was a lot of staff movement bringing out food and working behind counters, so it was forgiveable. The only thing is that on the podium was a notice, saying how smoking isn't allowed, but also nor was the use of electronic cigarettes. I've not seen this sort of problem before, so I can only assume they have their reasons. The entire restaurant is also wheelchair friendly, which is nice, and has free WiFi, you just need to ask someone for the password.

Before long, a member of staff appeared and took us to a nice little section in the middle of the restaurant, which felt like it was in its own little room due to the use of colours, flooring types, and fabric/curtain dividers. At this point, although it was forgotten with us, it seems as people are lead to their tables, they're also given a jug of water, which is a pleasant touch. I didn't realise this until later on, even though we had water glasses on the table. We didn't mind though, as we ordered some soft drinks straight away anyway.

There are a few things about this venue which don't quite marry together for me though. The general décor and furnishings are lovely, and quite traditional, but there is the occasional 'chef's special' chalkboard or sign which is done in a very modern style, looking like the sort of thing you'd see in a service station, and didn't quite fit in with the rest of the design. Sadly, the menus fell under this category too. I don't mean the content, but the menus themselves were a large two-sided piece of laminated paper, with the odd bit of cheap clip-art dotted around on it. A shame really as it was quite a cheap look, and the plastic was bending and splitting at the edges. Some nice properly made card menus would be a lot nicer.


The good thing though was the selection of offerings on the menus, which were very enticing, and good value too! Both my dining partner, Phil, and I at some point had decided on three separate meals each before we settled on a choice, but we made it clear to our friendly and helpful waitress that we'd be trying the other options next time! We also decided that we were going to opt for a main and dessert, rather than chancing a starter and having no room afterwards! The starters did sound very nice though.



Phil settled on the steak pie, which he said was very tasty with very tender meat. His chosen potato option of mash was a superb accompaniment, as it was creamy and buttery. No insta-mash here, folks! It came with a side of cabbage and carrots.



I however took Dolly's recommendation of the hand-salted gammon! I have to say that she was NOT wrong... this is quite probably the best gammon I have ever had! Bursting with flavour without tasting like a mouth of salty seawater! It was juicy and tender. I cut a bit of fat off the edge, but Phil then pointed out that it wasn't fat, it was just a gooooood cut of meat, and was delicious meat right to the edge! Superb! I chose to have roast potatoes for the potato option, which were nice. It also came with the cabbage and carrots. The carrots were cooked nicely, but they sadly didn't have much flavour to them. I had ordered some pork gravy on the side in case I wanted to try it on the gammon, as I prefer gravy rather than an egg or pineapple, but after tasting the gammon, the gravy did not touch a single bit of it! You really must try this gammon!

The meals were filling, but we were determined to have one of the amazing desserts we'd seen in the dessert cabinet as we walked in, as they looked wonderful! So we had a 'breather' as it were, and sat and chatted for a bit, letting our food go down. During this point I decided to pop to the Gents toilets, which were clean and modern, but had 9 urinals, two toilets, and two sinks... which seems a little odd to me. The only problem with the toilets was that the taps were those horrific single push button taps that tend to stay on for 4 seconds, and then shut off. Was it going to splash forcefully into the sink and spray all over me? Gladly not, but it was however a very weak stream of water. The hand dryers were 1980s looking monstrosities too. There was another one of those "electronic cigarette" notices in here too. Also I can't speak for the Ladies toilets, but the gents only had a single mirror, and it wasn't by the sinks, but was in fact on the other side of the room.
The toilets were fine, but just need a bit of a glamming up, stick in a couple of Dyson airblades, some proper taps, and you'd be laughing. 

Right! Dessert time! Phil had his eye on a big chocolate fudge cake he saw sitting in the counter, but when we went back, it seemed to have gone. However the waitress behind the counter pulled it out from underneath, and Phil's face lit up!


He was asked if he'd like it hot or cold, to which he chose hot, and chose cream as its accompaniment. He said that the chocolate fudge cake itself was deliciously chocolatey, without being a really heavy cake as is often the case. Other options in the dessert cabinet included a strawberry pavlova, LumpyBumpy, a fruit cheesecake, and a caramel creamy concoction I didn't catch the name of. Aside the desserts on show, they offer a range of hot desserts and ice creams. I opted for the "Hot Sticky Pudding", which didn't fully explain what it was, or how big it was, but I was told it was essentially a sticky toffee pudding, but with butterscotch. I love butterscotch. The girl showed me the pudding itself, which was in a little pot she brought out from under the chiller, so I was slightly worried that it was going to be microwaved, but for the time it took to come out, I don't think it was, I imagine it was popped into an oven again for a little while.



What turned up was a wonderful smelling steaming hot sponge, sitting in a pool of hot custard, drizzled with butterscotch. The sponge was piping hot, moist, wonderfully rich, and delicious! I'm glad I opted for it! Next time I might try it with ice cream instead, but the custard was heavenly, it has to be said!

So now it was time for the bill. Uh oh. You know when you've had a great meal out and you think, "this is going to be a pricy one, but it's a one off!"? Well that's how we were feeling as we went to pay... however, we found that our bill was a total of just £33.54! £33.54!! If this restaurant was in Manchester City Centre or one of the trendy suburbs, they could charge double that! We were thrilled, and told the staff we'd be back again soon, which we damn well will be, and probably with the parents!

Go and give it a try, it's a fantastic place for dinner! They serve food until 10:00pm Monday - Saturday, and 9:00pm on a Sunday. They also have a very large and spacious car park.


Two mains, two pints of soft drinks and two desserts came to £33.54


Tavern Fayre
Wigan Rd,
Hunger Hill, Bolton
(01204) 62861

www.tavernfayre.net


Tavern Fayre on Urbanspoon

Tavern Fayre

by on 11:22
I must admit, Tavern Fayre is one of those places I've driven past on multiple occasions, believing it to be one of those chain typ...
PLEASE NOTE: This venue has since CLOSED, but may be reopening elsewhere in the future.



I'm thrilled to say that Delicieux is one of the best places I've known to open in Bolton for YEARS! Standing where the former "Zest" once stood, Delicieux has really breathed new life into the place, the blank white outside now has strong pastel stripes down the side, and stylish new signage and decals.

Walking into Delicieux feels very different to when it was Zest. It's much more homely and the new soft furnishings, novelty cushions, and even blankets for those wishing to use them during winter months add a little comfort to what was previously quite a formal feeling and unwelcoming dining room. Solid wooden tables with a mix of chairs, armchairs and stools make it a place very easy to settle into comfortably with a pot of tea! It also has an outdoor seating area for warmer days, with a lovely view. It has one toilet, but it's modern, clean, and of a good enough size to be able to be used as a disabled toilet too.
It makes sense that it calls itself "deli and dining" as their deli section complete with both sweet and savoury offerings is well stocked and nice to see, as is their lovely local produce such as local jams, local butter, and local artisan breads are a wonder to behold, a real treat... but they also excel in both the "tea room" aspect, complete with its fantastic array of pastries, cakes and tarts, even offering some great afternoon teas, at a fraction of the cost of the places in the city centre, but with all of the quality, if not a little more; they're even looking into offering a "chocaholics afternoon tea" replacing tea with hot chocolate, and cakes with chocolates which look mind-blowingly like cakes! It must also be stated that the hot chocolate served at Delicieux is the best I've ever tasted, made with real melted chocolate! You should go there for that alone if anything! 


The juicy Delicieux burger
As well as the deli/tea room aspects, they also offer some truly great dining options with superb quality food and produce. They offer everything from a simple jam and toast, to a great big juicy Delicieux Burger! Their triple-cooked chips are some of the best I've ever tasted, especially with the "Mojo Mayo", a creation by the owner herself, who is often trying new things for the deli, baking fresh cakes, puddings, and daily specials, as well as offering special platters using the current deli offerings, so it's always nice to be asked which type of mayo you want from the three types they offer when you ask for some! When I went today she had freshly made some sticky toffee pudding pies... which frankly were so sublime they could make a grown man weep!




Their main gimmick is that they serve a fresh, home cooked, locally produced breakfast platter... and serve it at the table, in the pan! It works remarkably well, and is a superb breakfast! 


Don't even TRY to resist the cake counter!
The service at Delicieux is some of the best I've experienced in the entire country. The owner, Debbie, and her staff are friendly, engaging, and take a genuine interest in the customers. They give a really warm welcome, are incredibly professional, and manage to exceed expectations every time I've gone in! Today for example I wanted to try the sticky toffee pudding pie mentioned earlier, but instead of just giving it to me in a box to take away, she asked if I wanted to stay in, and said she could warm it up a little in the oven, and serve it with some clotted cream if I so wanted... I very much did! (Yum!) She brought it over herself, as she is very much a hands-on owner, happy to engage with the customers, work behind the counter, in the kitchen, and bringing the food out herself.

It should be noted that as it's become so popular, the parking outside the venue gets busy quite quickly, but there is also additional parking down a slope to the left of the deli itself, which is specifically for the deli's customers. The sign says "20 cars" parking down there, but I would suggest it's closer to 10 spaces. That really is the only thing I could criticise, and even then it's only because they're doing such tremendous trade that they're always so busy! However it should also be noted that they offer a fabulous "Grab and Go!" section immediately as you walk inside, so you can grab a sandwich and head out, or sit on one of the stools by the grab and go bar, and just have a quick salad and a brew before dashing off.

This is definitely an up and coming place here in Bolton, and they've obviously tried to do something different to other local establishments, and it works incredibly well.

They're open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, but even at 5:10pm when we were leaving, a customer walked in, and instead of the owner saying "sorry we're closed" etc, she put on her big smile and said "Hello there! What can I do for you?" . That's service, right there!

Delicieux is quickly becoming the place to be in Bolton, and certainly becoming my favourite haunt! Go now! I'll see you there!

Delicieux
889 Moss Bank Way
Smithills, Bolton
(01204) 492 300


Delicieux on Urbanspoon

Delicieux [CLOSED]

by on 20:34
PLEASE NOTE: This venue has since CLOSED, but may be reopening elsewhere in the future. I'm thrilled to say that Delicieux is o...


Nexus is a pleasant and quirky little sanctuary in the middle of Manchester City Centre. You wouldn't know you were in the city once you're in there, as it feels very bohemian, arty and friendly, without feeling "hipster",  and above all, it's relaxing and cosy.

The furniture is made up of mismatched sofas and chairs, cushions and even the occasional beanbag, but the place feels like a little nest. You can cosy down with a hot drink and maybe a lunch of something from their delicious seasonal menu, and completely unwind. There is a little 'garden' outside area where you can sit on sunny days, and the main seating area in the café itself is split into two levels across three areas, as well as a smaller sepertatable area which can be hired for private use. There initially doesn't appear to have disabled access as to enter the café you have to descend two sets of steep stairs, and although I didn't see any disabled access toilets, I believe that there is a lift via an adjoining unit, but it'd be best to contact the venue themselves to check.
They have a good menu available, with everything from hearty pies, to sausage butties, little cakes, and big fresh salads. They offer both hot and cold drinks, from organic pop to hot Vimto, and from builders tea to Teapigs tea.
One of the things that makes me smile about Nexus is the sign near the till that says that if you can donate a chair for the venue, they'll give you a free coffee, and will be very grateful. There's something about that humble and down to earth feel which I like.
As you can imagine by the name, the venue has frequently changing art installations throughout the café and the entering corridor and staircase, and cute little arts and crafts for sale, as well as hosting frequent special events, spiritual meetings, live music, and group meetings. Given this, the interior décor of the venue is constantly changing. It's likely if you go every couple of months, it'll look different than when you were last there!

Nexus is a very casual and welcoming place where friends of all ages meet. The food and drinks are good, and although not "greasy spoon" prices, they're on a par with most of the rest of the city centre, except you know you're supporting an independent, and that it's good quality.

Nexus Art Café
2 Dale Street, Manchester City Centre
(0161) 236 0100

www.nexusartcafe.com

Nexus Art Café

by on 12:16
Nexus is a pleasant and quirky little sanctuary in the middle of Manchester City Centre. You wouldn't know you were in the city on...


Being British, I've had my fair share of fish and chips both here at home, and all over the world, and sitting in Bolton town centre is Olympus, which is by far one of the best I've ever experienced!

I don't say this just because of the very high quality (and very decently priced) food, and their tongue tingling home-made tartare sauce, but because of their really top notch customer service. All of the staff seem genuinely happy to talk to you and help you, and even go as far as little things like helping you put your coat on when they see that you're ready to leave. 

The owners themselves often are seen helping in the restaurant, properly hands on, and often sit with and chat to the customers, which is pleasant to see and hear. 

The venue itself is very pleasant. It's more "restaurant" than "chippy" or "café", (but they do have a take-away shop connected next door). The restaurant is decorated in a modern but comfortable style, so it's bright and airy with nice modern furniture, and has a sun room dubbed "the orangery" towards the back of the restaurant. Little details make this place; for example you see the waiters dusting the feet of the tables, and even the doors to the (very clean) toilets are modern designer style doors. The restaurant itself has a lovely atmosphere, often playing pleasant music, and regularly employing a pianist to play on the restaurant's own grand piano, which is very pleasant when enjoying your lunch!



Olympus Fish & Chip Restaurant
Olympus's menu has a good variety of fish varieties and both large and small meals of all varieties, as well as some delicious home made desserts. The prices are very good considering the size of the portions and the quality of the food. They offer things such as pensioners specials, and occasionally run promotions and special events, such as staging a "1940's weekend" with 40's décor, and staff wearing historical costumes. 

What Olympus does is tick the main boxes which you want to see in somewhere to eat; it's friendly, welcoming, clean, good value, and serves tasty food. The difference is that it does it with style and a degree of quality that most other places lack, and which Harry Ramsden himself would envy.

Olympus Fish & Chip Restaurant
35-39 Great Moor Street, Bolton
(01204) 523 887
www.olympusfishandchips.co.uk
Olympus Fish & Chip Restaurant on Urbanspoon


My first blog entry may well as be one of my favourite places in Bolton to have something to eat, or just a cup of tea on a cold day, or even do a little shopping!

Thyme Deli is located on Winter Hey Lane in Horwich, Bolton, and as well as being a deli, with a superb array of local produce, cheeses, jams, chutneys, drinks, ice cream and cakes etc, it's also a great coffee shop with a great variety of teas, and high quality coffees, cold drinks, and an incredibly tempting range of cakes (I particularly recommend the Victoria Sponge!), and on top of that, they also have a big "cook shop" selling all sorts of kitchen based delights from pretty aprons to hefty cake tins.

Thyme's range of hot and cold foods for breakfast and lunch are both "light bites" and proper sized meals, not just coffee shop snacks. The food is usually home made or organic, and fresh, even freshly baked bread, which is wonderful! Owner Amanda Biggs is a friendly and welcoming host, managing a competent and pleasant staff, whose focus on customer service mean that they often remember customers names, and even their orders.
Thyme Deli

Amanda  presents some tasty daily specials, often announcing them on Twitter, thus keeping the food options fresh and varied whenever you should choose to visit, and cleverly tempting her Twitter followers to visit again to try the new specials, whilst already knowing the warm welcome and pleasant time they will have if they go down and visit.

The venue itself is warm and welcoming, decorated in pastel shades, with traditional parquet flooring and high ceilings. The furniture comprises of two and four person wooden tables, mismatched reclaimed wooden chairs, armchairs, and couches in separated into several areas, but due to the layout of the rooms, it can be possible to miss some of the areas if you haven't been before. For example, the initial room you walk into is the main dining area, displaying shelves of products, and the main deli counter, but at the counter if you turn right, you will find a doorway, through which you will find three additional areas.

To the left is a corridor leading to the toilets. There are two self contained toilets and a changing table. The toilets are a little on the shabby side, but clean and functional, which is fine by me. There doesn't appear to be a disabled access toilet, but due to the age of the building, it doesn't appear to have disabled access generally, due to several steep steps at the front, (but a grab-bar is provided for the lesser able), and the layout of the furniture inside, as it would make wheelchair access tricky. That said, there is a "Pram Park" located back at the start of the corridor where you first walked in. Directly ahead in the corridor (from the main dining area) is the "cook shop" room displaying the kitchen wares you can buy (and hire!), and through the cook shop is the "lounge", which is often quieter than the main dining area, as it's often missed by people due to the layout mentioned earlier. The lounge is occasionally used by various groups/clubs, or for special occasions.

Table 11 in the lounge
The food and drinks at Thyme are of a high quality, fresh, and locally sourced where possible, including some of their own brand items, such as Thyme Deli Coffee. Prices aren't as cheap as some of the local greasy spoons, but for the quality and the amount you get, it's worth every penny (try the Thyme Ploughman's to see precisely what I mean!). They have an extensive tea menu, as well as selling Teapigs Tea by the bag, so that you can try their various flavours per cup instead of having to commit to an entire box before you know how it tastes (however, they sell boxes of the bags too!), and their basic tea is Lancashire Tea, which has been met with great approval. The coffee served is Lavazza, and the soft drinks primarily by Fentimans. My personal recommendation for lunch here is the "Melted Crumbly Lancashire Cheese and Sticky Sausage served on a Toasted Wholegrain Baguette" (seen below).

Sticky sausage and melted crumbly Lancashire cheese on a toasted wholegrain baguette. Yum!


Thyme also sell small gifts, greetings cards, local ice creams, and offer a bespoke gift hamper service as well as cake tin hire, but Amanda's ethos seems to be "if you want it, and we can get it, we will". Really, it's worth visiting just to have a look around if anything! (but grab a slice of cake while you're there, you'll thank me!)

Since this review, Thyme has celebrated its 10th birthday!

Thyme Deli
4-6 Winter Hey Lane, Horwich, Bolton
(01204) 692 555
thymedeli.blogspot.co.uk

Thyme Deli on Urbanspoon

Thyme Deli

by on 01:05
My first blog entry may well as be one of my favourite places in Bolton to have something to eat, or just a cup of tea on a cold day,...