Simon’s Suppers
The Dog Inn has seen a truly amazing transformation from ugly duckling to a super-stylish restaurant with rooms. Photography: Robin Lyndon
The Dog Inn stands proudly overlooking the historic town of Longridge, for many years it was a renowned hostelry and sporting venue. In the late 90s the inn moved from one tenant to another and eventually fell into disuse and disrepair and it became the town’s ugly duckling!
After a period of being empty, the inspiration and dedication of new owner Ben Lee has transformed the Dog Inn to a beautiful swan again! It has been lovingly refurbished and restored into a magnificent pub and restaurant with superb rooms to let on the first floor.
We were excited to sample the fare on offer and a cold Friday evening saw us being welcomed by a lovely warm and inviting atmosphere, log fires and that lovely buzz of people enjoying themselves.
Jonny the manager happily showed us to our table and provided us with a couple of gin and tonics and pints of traditional ale to quench our thirst, whilst we perused the very interesting menu.
The menu covers a great spectrum of tastes from traditional proper pub favourites such as fish and chips, Cumberland sausage and pies to great steaks and then there are some dishes with an Asian twist – apparently chef spent some time in the Far East and this has influenced many of his ‘specials’.
We started with grilled halloumi cheese and deep-fried mushroom scrumpets dressed with rocket, pine nuts and beetroot jam. These were superb. Our other starters were Asian influenced, steamed dumplings filled with slow cooked duck served with a tasty rice wine dipping sauce and crispy Katsu brisket with wasabi mayo – these were really tasty and left us wanting more!
If you love the best steak around and like sharing, our foray into a 1kg dry aged wing rib steak from award-winning local butcher Brendan Anderton, was quite something – it is an immense sirloin on the bone. Cooked to your liking and served with all the trimmings, this is a tremendous dish. The marbled beef was tender and oozing flavour. It was a meal for two and more besides – Tedd and I were not left hungry.
Liz chose Thai fisherman’s stew, with shell on prawns and seasonal fish in a fantastic hot and sour crab broth that made your eyes water and your heart sing. It was fresh and clean with exotic flavours – a great dish complemented by lovely sesame noodles.
Judith was feeling traditional and opted for a classic Lancashire cheese and onion pie, with light puff pastry, crispy salad and pickled beetroot – a true pub classic and delicious too.
Jonny recommended a lovely crisp white wine to complement our food from an inexpensive but varied wine list.
Desserts were really a step too far but we managed, sharing a Manchester tart and homemade sticky toffee pudding between us. A delicious way to finish a lovely meal.
At last, this pub is once again in its well-deserved place right at the top of its game – it’s top dog!
The Dog Inn
Market Place, Longridge PR3 3RR
01772 780800
www.thedoginnlongridge.co.uk
