The Horse and Jockey, Curbridge

20th December 2009 I wrote on here welcoming Mike and Fiona as new tenants at the pub - and as my wife says we couldn't have had a better Christmas present!

The pub has done a total turn-around in the 9 weeks they have been here - it is once again a lovely country pub - with good beer and happy, friendly owners! Yippee!!

To the food - we went here on Valentine's Night and had smoked haddock and crayfish tails gruyere ramekin - totally delicious - followed by fillet steak with a brandy and mushroom sauce - I have my steak cooked blue (well not really cooked at all) it honestly melted in the mouth - small roast potatoes that had been marinaded in wine, paprika etc and 5 perfectly done veggies. This was then followed by a proper creme brulee - and I mean proper creme brulee - brilliant. All for just �17.99 a head! It wasn't nouvelle cuisine - the portions were generous and even my healthy appetite was satiated!! Service was good and not intrusive.

I cannot recommend the food highly enough - and I am quite demanding about quality.

So if you foodies out there want something delicious, cooked to order and that is not pretentious book a table at the H&J!

My rating 10/10 not just because I am a villager and it is my local - but because it actually deserves it!

20 Feb 2010 14:20

The Horse and Jockey, Curbridge

As of 18 December the Pub changed hands and new (proper) tenants came in - Mike and Fiona - Mike is an experienced chef of many years with a good local reputation and is doing good, proper home cooked food. The pub has had a mini-refurbishment but still retains its charm and cosy feeling.

As a villager this is welcome news after the last management, who obviously didn't have a clue or any interest...we have actually gone back to the pub after almost 5 months of self-enforced absence and are very happy with it.

The pub will be open all day from January, with food at lunchtime and in the evenings during the week and all day at weekends - no food this Christmas Day, but open as usual for food Boxing Day onwards.

Raise a glass to interested and competent people who like running traditional country pubs!

20 Dec 2009 14:26