Pub of the week

ANNE ARMS INN, SUTTON, SOUTH YORKSHIRE

So many pubs will proudly proclaim that they offer a beer garden for their customers, and the definition of that space has, in recent months, been pretty flexible.

The Anne Arms, however, can go rather better – it doesn’t have so much of a garden as a large paddock. Almost a meadow. The turf is lush and green, but (warning) a little uneven, so it might prove a difficult negotiation for wheelchairs.

Indoors there’s a happy mix of snugs and bar areas. A later addition forms the popular conservatory. There are open fires in winter, and all that exterior space for sunnier days – there’s also a well-equipped children’s play section to the rear of the garden.

The menu is an interesting mixture of traditionally familiar “pub grub”, and some specialities – the chef originally hails from Malta, and some of his dishes sound rather tempting and give a little Mediterranean flavour. The pork steaks looked delicious. It’s all great value, with (for example) the Sunday lunches coming in at £9 for a large portion, and on Tuesdays through to the Friday, between five and seven in the evening, there’s an offer on two dishes for a bargain £14. There are takeaway and delivery options, and a blackboard of daily specials.

The bar staff are friendly and informative, and those pints of Landlord went down a treat as our little party chatted in the open air.

There’s a good-sized car park, and the views from the garden stretch out over the fields.

■ Anne Arms Inn, Suttonfield Road, Sutton, DN6 9JX. Tel 01302 708782. info@annearms.co.uk.