Early birthday celebration back at the Clog

It’s a couple of days before my birthday but this year for a change it falls on a working day (often I’m lucky and it falls on the bank holiday weekend) . So this year we thought about a family Sunday lunch and as I get to choose the venue (within reason – my Dad and Carole’s Mum don’t do “foreign” food…) I opted to go back to the Clog & Billycock, fast becoming our favourite local pub.

The Clog serves traditional, indeed mainly local, food exceptionally well and today was no exception – between us we selected a range of starters and mains including smoked salmon, fish pie, cheese and onion pie and a traditional Lancashire hotpot - delicious!

I can remember the Clog being a local pub, a bit scruffy and not really a place you'd go out of your way to. A few years ago though chef Nigel Haworth from nearby Northcote Manor took it over and turned it into a refined yet relaxed 'gastro-pub' with locally sourced ingredients and a traditionally-inspired menu.

Back at home and as if by magic a birthday cake appeared, thankfully with just the one candle (not sure I'd have had the puff to blow out the other 40 that were missing as well!), a nice way to finish a great afternoon.