Farrington Inn

Having chosen to spend a night in Farrington Gurney, my girlfriend and I were not presented a vast range of choice in dining establishments. So, in visiting Farrington Gurney we had no choice but to visit the Farrington Inn. We were unable to sit in the so-​called ‘separate’ dining area, as a large and loud group were occupying the space, so we chose a table near to the quiet end of the bar and next to the kitchen. Although we were made to feel welcome, the atmosphere definitely lent itself to a locals pub.
On browsing the menu we were presented with a rather limited choice, and with an over-​emphasis on mashed potato. My girlfriend chose the 8oz rump steak and I decided upon the cod and chips. Despite requesting that the steak not come with peas, it arrived at our table (in fairly good time) with a heaped pile of the offending vegetables. The steak itself was generous in size, although it was definitely not cooked medium-​rare as requested. Combined with the accompanying Stilton sauce lacking any actual stilton flavour, the steak went mostly uneaten. The cod was of a decent size, although the batter was what I can only describe as damp and uninspiring, and the cod itself was somewhat suspicious in quality. The chips were reminiscent of school canteen offerings and the peas were bland. The tartar sauce was clearly home-​made and was satisfyingly chunky. Our side order of garlic bread with cheese came with a very generous helping of rich cheddar, although this was not melted all the way through and was clearly done quickly under a hot grill: the garlic butter beneath the cheese was still cold and the edges of the bread were scorched black.
Despite the setbacks of the main course we decided to try a dessert each. We ordered the summer fruit pudding and the profiteroles. After placing the order at the bar and taking my seat, we were informed by a cook that the summer fruit pudding was not in stock. We were not offered an alternative, only a rushed apology. I requested to cancel the profiteroles as by this stage the entire experience had become one of contention.
Throughout our visit the service was fast and accommodating, and it is a pity that the food was not up to a similar level. Based on quality alone, the menu was significantly overpriced. The worst part of the stay for me personally was awaking in the early hours of the morning with stomach cramps and having to endure a sustained period of illness throughout the night, thanks to the previously-​mentioned suspicious cod