Haworth and beyond

As our original blog has been taken over by JD and his maps I have decided to start again. This will be random thoughts, I have a lot, meals out and theatre reviews. Lots of random thoughts on our Bronte Way walk and Ben will be pleased to know that we visited the original Ponden Mill at Ponden!! Needless to say I didn't believe JD when he told me that was what it was, I thought it was just a random mill at Ponden - nice cream teas though!
We had some good Yorkshire food including the Old White Lion where we stayed, J had game salmis (casserole by any other name) which seemed to be mainly rabbit and I had a disappointing roll mop herring in an excellent seafood salad. We also tested out the Weavers Restaurant in Haworth which came highly recommended and we were lucky to get a table at 9 pm 3 nights ahead! Interesting antiquey decor and started off well with smoked trout pate for me and smoked venison salad for J. Both rather disappointing and bland. Followed by my chicken stuffed with aubergine and peppers with grilled sea trout and prawn mash for J. OK but not over impressed - perhaps we expected too much. Service left a lot to be desired.
The find of the week had to be the White Horse Inn at Thornton. We came across it one damp lunchtime when it really wasn't time to stop but I was in need of the ladies and J fancied a pint! It didn't look much from the outside but inside was an array of comfortable leather chairs and settees with Timothy Taylor Landlord beer and excellent roast beef and horseradish sandwiches with chips and salad. The toilets were wonderful and it was very tempting to stay there for another drink and a snooze but the drizzly moors were calling!
We vowed to return for an evening meal later in the week and J had a delicious steak and Stilton pie with suet pastry (all homemade) and I finished off with cheese and biscuits. Probably the nicest C&B I have had and I am quite a connoisseur of C&B!
We hoped for some good National Trust fare when we arrived at Gawthorpe Hall at the end of the Bronte Way. No such luck - they didn't take cards so we just about had enough for an ice cream and went to Tesco for sandwiches!!
The Swan at Aughton has reopened as a tapas and wine bar and does good starters - wooden plates of fresh bread, olives, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, nuts etc and the chicken paella together with a fresh salad was more than enough. J had kebabs which were also good. Wed we went to the depths of Huyton for shopping and called in at the Royal Oak on the A580 on the way home. Do you remember Neil's birthday party there in the Wacky Warehouse Ben?? Two meals for under £10 and good value for money. Chicken and bacon pie for J (there seems to be a pie trend) and smoked haddock and mozzarella fishcakes with salad for me - not quite as exciting as it sounds!
Well that is the end of our recent gastronomic delights, no theatre at the moment but the new season is all booked up from September.