Curley's Dining Rooms, Horwich

Curley's Dining Rooms is just a few minutes from where I live, yet I had never been before this week. It sits on the site of a picturesque fishery overlooking Rivington on one side, and the Fylde Coast to the other. It's gone through an extensive transformation over the last few years, but seems to have settled nicely at its present state.

In all honesty, I presumed that it was still a bit of a fisherman's cafe like the old site was. It was my brother and sister in law who started going a while back, mainly because it was somewhere they could take their pooch, Beau. Apparently it's one of his favourite places...

The staff are quite happy for dogs to come for lunch, even cheeky little Jack Russells like our Beau! This makes it the perfect place to visit before a walk up Rivington, which is literally just on the doorstep.

We decided to go and sample the menu one night after work. It was nice and quiet so we got the chance to take in a bit of the scenery too.

The building itself in in keeping with the stone cottages on neighbouring Wallsuches, and has a similar feel to Nigel Haworth's Ribble Valley Inns. The dining room is small, yet quite smart considering it's based at the side of a fishery.

They had a fire lit and the low hanging shades made the room feel nice and cosy.

My husband was pleased to see a decent selection of real ales, including this Dark Mild from local favourite, Bank Top.

Most of the evening menu is centred around fish, which I'm not a huge fan of, however there were plenty of other options for fish-fearing folk such as I. It was absolutely brass outside, so I thought the most prudent option would be the pie of the day. This was a choice of beef or cheese and onion.

Cheese and onion pie with chips, mushy peas and gravy: If this doesn't warm you up, you are destined to freeze. A good slab of home made plate cheese pie accompanied by the type of chips my grandma makes. Absolutely delicious.

Cumberland sausage, chips, mushy peas and gravy: Comfort food at its best. This is simple food done exceedingly well.

Ginger pudding with custard: Another winter warmer. A sticky ginger pudding with lumps of sweet stem ginger, in a lake of custard and ginger sauce. 

Boltoners love their British fayre, and Curley's Dining Rooms are pitching to the perfect audience. This is the sort of food that my dad, grandad and my friend Sally (honorary 75 year old chap when it comes to food) will adore. The staff are friendly, portions are generous, pies are home made and chips come from actual potatoes, not a bag. However, the chances of me going for a hike up the hills after this? Zero.

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