Catherine Whyte enjoys a lunch of garden glories at The Anchor in Ripley. This charming pub is owned by the same team behind Michelin-starred Drake's
I’ve been meaning to dine at The Anchor, Ripley for a long while now. After all, it is owned by the team behind Michelin-starred Drake’s, just across the road (and has been since 2013).
Not that you’ll find Steve (Drake) in the kitchen. That honour belongs to Mike Wall-Palmer, who is scaling new culinary heights at this lovely 16th century pub.
And so to lunch: a happy affair in the company of Nikki Ackerley, Editor of The Guildford Magazine. Mike has drawn great inspiration for the lunch menu dishes from the gardens around Ripley, and my starter of goats cheese panna cotta, smoked beetroot, watercress, lemon and pine nuts – a triumph of taste and presentation – amply vindicated this approach.
My roast pollock main sat on top of braised chicory, a dash of broad bean purée, the season’s first asparagus and pomegranate. Nikki had the wood pigeon, potato terrine, spring greens served with pickled rose petals and English rose sauce. The gorgeous spring flavours and colours were bursting onto the plate.
Such splendours left little room for pudding, but I couldn’t resist giving the warm ginger rice pudding served with rhubarb jam a go. Nikki chose the vanilla parfait with peach, almond praline and raspberry.
All in all, it was tremendous value for such a delightful meal. A two-course lunch costs just £15, with three courses at £19. There’s also a peachy à la carte menu and I have heard that the Sunday roast is cracking.
The cosy restaurant sits within the main body of the pub, but there’s also a snug with a table of eight that can be hired privately, as well as an outside courtyard for those sunnier days.
For more information and bookings you can visit the website ripleyanchor.co.uk or call on 01483 211 866
Why not check out another one of our Food and Drink articles? Like our expert advice on what wine to take on a lovely summer picnic