The Noah's Ark, Lurgashall

I had to dash home last minute at the weekend to do a bit of house- and cat-sitting. The mad dash for a seat on the train home is worth it the second you step off the other end and are whisked home through beautiful tunnels of orange and red leaves. I hadn't been back since the summer - which in itself is always glorious back home - but the countryside is so much better in the autumn. Those crisp mornings, those freezing nights and wait a second, are those actually stars? I grew up outside a sleepy village in the middle of nowhere so spent most of those angsty teenage years surrounded by fields and clawing together money to escape by working in the various local pubs.

One of the places that I didn't work was the Noah's Ark, in Lurgashall. Sitting pretty on one of the most picturesque greens, this gastropub is hugely popular in the summer - and so too it seems, on a Friday lunchtime in October. This may have something to do with how gorgeous a day it was - perfect blue skies and so warm we just had to start with a bottle of wine outside.

Moving inside for lunch, we were both swayed by the daily special of scallops with pancetta. The sweet honeyed meat of the scallops was perfectly countered by the accompanying saltiness and crispiness. Expertly grilled, they were so moreish that my only gripe (which is always my only gripe when it comes to scallops) is that there weren't more. But I think my bank balance is thankful for this.

From there, I was torn between the seabass (told you I'm a safe bet) and the tempura battered haddock and chips (a pub staple) but went for the (unimaginative) baked camembert that was oozing with melting goodness and studded with garlic and rosemary. I devoured this with lashings of bread and a rocket and parmesan salad whilst dad chose the burger: a huge patty that was still perfectly pink, accompanied by bacon and cheese as standard and the added bonus of a grilled portobello mushroom all wrapped up in a toasted bun with plenty of chunky chips to keep him busy. Typical pub fare maybe but done well. 

Finished off with a latte for dad, an affogato for me and plenty of reminiscing from the both of us. The Noah's Ark is one of those places that reminds me so much of my younger years and being both sides of bars, the slow pace of life and how everyone knows your name (sometimes good, sometimes definitely not). Worth a visit if you're in the area. Or even if you're not. Just go.