Coach & Horses

Bargain lunch and desserts

3 31/08/2009 by Angella

Ember Inn's usual great deals. (See my review and pictures of food at Ye Olde Greene Manne in Batchworth Lane, Rickmansworth, Herts). The chicken with a baked potato in its jacket with butter and vegetables was a treat for me as I am fed up with proper restaurants which serve no potatoes, only rice or pasta, or chips and not a sensible baked potato.You might not think of stopping here as you drive past. It's near Ickenham station on the Met line Uxbridge branch and Piccadilly lines.Best things its the decor. Despite the traditional looking exterior, the intrior is bright and clean-looking and much bigger than you'd think from the outside.Inside are lots of modern freshly decorated rooms leading off each other, with pleasing pictures - a couple with Chinese writing - and statuettes.Music was muted. Music could be heard in the toilets. One cubicle had a broken seat.One piece of cutlery was dirty and was imediately replaces with an apology. Bar staff, I was told, looked at my friend and walked away.Nobody smiled.If we'd had a great welcome and chat and smile like we had at Ye Olde Greene Manne we might have stayed for the trio of desserts. Instead we went off shopping and stopped at a coffee bar for coffee and a so-called cheese cake. Then I thought longingly of the Ember Inn's trio of desserts.My friend said this place is heaving at night. Despite the competition from Wetherspoons which serves cheaper beer so you might expect a smarter crowd here at the Ember.The garden at the back was pleasant. I'll try the other three pubs, including my friend's favourite, The Titch (Titchenham Inn) in 'the village'. Yes, it is a village, or was. It has the old village pump and pond. Apparently some kind old lady left money in her will for a pump so the ladies of the village did not have to haul the water up. It must be on an Ickenham website somewhere. So there you are - mocern inside and history outside to provide a topic of conversation.