Here’s the second instalment on our quest for the best in local pub food. In case you didn’t know, we have set ourselves the arduous task of finding the perfect pie, the #1 sausages and mash and the pinnacle of pub grub. In fact, round here, you’re spoilt for choice!
A traditional style British pub!
Having heard about the fantastic food at the Red Hart in Blaisdon from various sources, this was our next stop. So, we paid landlady Sharon a visit, where we received a warm welcome at this welcoming traditional style English pub.
A dog friendly establishment…
The Red Hart Inn is a lovely old building which is full of character and this dog-friendly establishment even has a jar of dog biscuits for patrons who have visited with man’s best friend! It’s little touches like this that add to a pub’s atmosphere and make the difference between one of those sterile plastic chain pubs and an authentic experience!
It’s interesting to note that although we went on a Monday lunch time, the Red Hart was pretty packed. This lively local draws people in with its friendly atmosphere, variety of ales and good wholesome food. In fact, Sharon proudly displays their CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014 award and their Runner up Restaurant of the Year Award from the Forester.
The Red Hart: making the most of local produce
Sharon is a born and bred Forester and is proud of her truly local business! All her staff live close by and her husband also happens to own Simply Desserts, a business based in Mitcheldean that makes, well, deserts. He also makes the most of local businesses, with his eggs coming from Westbury on Severn and he gets his cream from Bartonsham Farm in Herefordshire. Naturally, his fab range of pastries and homemade puddings feature on the Red Hart’s menu!
Meet Princess and Tyson!
Now, one of the things that impressed us the most were the pigs. Yes, the Red Hart has its own pigs which also end up on the menu! Their resident sow, Princess, was having a visit from Tyson in the hope of producing some piglets when we happened to visit. This is a great touch and the kind of thing that we love at WyeDean Deli Confidential!
It was cold when we visited, but the garden is lovely, as you would expect in a picturesque Gloucestershire village such as Blaisdon. The pheasants hanging outside the pub were a lovely touch, adding to the rustic charm! The Red Hart also holds summer BBQs, which sound well worth checking out!
Now, on to the food!
Bex had sausages, chips and egg. The sausages were made from Sharon’s own pork, reared just a stone’s throw from the pub. So, what was the verdict on the sausages? Well, they got five stars! Meaty, well-seasoned, no hint of gristle and they were a good size!
The chips were well cooked, the oil seemed fresh and they were nice and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The fried egg was perfectly cooked.
As you can see from the pictures, Dave’s meal was an absolute monster! This steak and ale pie was replete with a suet crust and served up with vegetables and potatoes. The meat was tender and tasty, the gravy was to die for and the suet crust was extremely satisfying and moreish!
The side dishes of cooked veg and new potatoes were generous, making it a formidable lunch time meal!
So, what about the rest of the menu?
Well, There’s a good selection of starters such as homemade soup and pear and stilton tart. The mains feature their own home reared pork, chicken, fish and there are a couple of vegetarian options. We also spotted a good range of grilled offerings including steak, lamb and a mixed grill.
As you would expect, there’s a good range of deserts on offer! It’s also worth checking out the board to see what the specials are.
So, all in all we were extremely satisfied with the food and service at the Red Hart – and also enjoyed the atmosphere. There were also books (including the Good Pub Guide), cards and dominos on one of the windowsills, which is lovely to see in a pub!
If you haven’t visited the Red Hart yet, we can recommend it as serving high quality, tasty and filling British food.