A real gastropub
It heralded the coldest period in 500 years, which lasted for three months and saw 24,000 Parisians die.
On a happier note just three years earlier in 1706 saw the creation of a wonderful countryside pub of the kind in which the UK specialises – The Gray Ox at Hartshead, Liversedge.
It has long been renowned as the perfect place in which to unwind and enjoy its fantastic roaring log fires, top notch real ales and sumptuous fare.
It also has, to my mind, an important romantic aspect in that it is just a few minutes’ drive from the Church of St Peter where the Rev Patrick Bronte, father of the famous writing sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne, was parson.
For good measure Robin Hood is supposed to have been buried here, too.
Earlier in the day I had met
Peter Roberts, the newlyappointed head teacher of Heckmondwike Grammar School, and chuffed at his success, I invited him for a spot of lunch at a pub/ restaurant I had always wanted to visit but, somehow, never got round to.
Peter readily accepted, and as an esteemed regular, got a table within minutes despite not having booked beforehand and I looked forward to an enjoyable lunchtime with relish.
I’d never met him before, but we got on well and the conversation flowed freely abetted by a few pints of an excellent 18th century brew from Oxfordshire called Brakspear Bitter for me and a lemonade or two for Peter.
There was a decent selection of starters and I opted for the sauteed king prawns in a spicy tomato & garlic sauce with cheesy toast while Peter enjoyed a smoked salmon.
I thought pairing prawns with cheesy toast was a somewhat unusual combination.
It’s almost impossible to go wrong, however, with smoked salmon. It was served with potato and crab salad along with a dill & lemon dressing.
For mains there’s an excellent choice of dishes, from braised belly of pork to spinach & ricotta cannelloni as well as slow braised lamb henry to confit duck leg with Toulouse sausage along with an enticing-looking Gray Ox fish pie and a 10oz ribeye steak.
But eventually, after much agonising, I played safe and went for the large line-caught haddock, chips and mushy peas – as a family we always had fish and chips on a Saturday for several decades – while Peter had a very modest open chicken & bacon sandwich and fries.
By this time Peter was starting to look very slightly anxious as this “light lunch” threatened to spill over into an even more convivial afternoon and his wife might be wondering what had become of him.
Peter couldn’t stay for dessert. I, meanwhile, settled down to enjoy a superb vanilla cheesecake, berry compote and salted caramel ice cream, while I waited for my lift home to arrive. A French liqueur coffee, also went down very well.
This true gastro-pub is an absolute gem, and it is fortunately in very good hands. The vast number of richly deserved awards on its walls says it all.
It will be even better when I hopefully return with friends in the summer to sit out in its wonderful beer garden and enjoy the fantastic views across Huddersfield and beyond.