By Tom Pegden

I like The Wheatsheaf. I’ve been for a drink there a couple of times in the past, and I’m sure I’ll go back again.

I like the traditional setting – half way down a tree-lined country lane in pretty Woodhouse Eaves, in the pretty Charnwood Forest.

And I like the pub – a higgledy-piggledy country inn, bustling with character, with a traditional bar, friendly staff, traditional ales, and lots of locals enjoying a pint with friends.

It’s even fun looking at the posh Range Rovers, Porsches and Audis – personalised number plates included – parked out back (the credit crunch hasn’t hit everyone, it seems).

But, I’m afraid to say, there is a ‘but’.

Because I can’t honestly put my hand on my heart and say we really enjoyed the meal we had there the other Thursday night.

Maybe it was just me. Maybe I was tired and hoping things would be a bit more straightforward.

Maybe it was the price – too expensive for pub grub in my opinion. Or maybe it was simply the quality of the food.

Whatever it was, it didn’t hit the mark.

First there was my momentary bemusement at trying to find somewhere to sit. The restaurant bit upstairs was full, so we found a table downstairs, then had to go back up again to order.

We ended up sitting in a pleasant corner of the bar, busy with couples enjoying a meal, villagers in for a quiet pint while walking the dog, and groups sharing a drink after an evening at the local sport club.

It felt like the sort of place you’d like to call your regular. A good thing, by anybody’s standards.

But that ‘but’ reared it's ugly head again when we ordered a starter of tempura vegetables with wasabi mayonnaise (£5.95).

Now anything deep fried is always tasty, and the veggies – carrots, baby sweetcorn and, I think, green beans – were lovely and crisp.

But it was just a bit boring.

Next up I had a 6oz fillet steak, with mushrooms, salad, onion rings and chips. Now the steak was actually very good, but for £19.95 (and £2 for bernaise sauce) you would have hoped so. The chips, unfortunately, were overdone.

The big disappointment were my girlfriend’s lamb noisettes (£13.95 from the specials board). Expecting something juicy, brown and tender, they were just grey and dull. The gravy was oily too, she said.

We would have shared a pudding, but gave up after waiting almost quarter of an hour for someone to serve us. Hopefully, we were just unlucky that night.

It was very busy which, I guess, could be an excuse. But, with a couple of pints , the £48.65 bill was steep, to say the least.

Info

The Wheatsheaf Inn, Brand Hill, Woodhouse Eaves

Phone 01509 890320

Rating: 3/5