Rating: **** Last year the Shropshire Star sponsored the Deliciously Shropshire awards. They are aimed at recognising a number of strengths and most importantly the use and promotion of local produce and goods.
One of the categories was for a pub and if the Blue Boar had been trading then as it does now it would have been very high up the placings.
That’s because the Blue Boar really does use local produce and isn’t shy about letting you know that.
On the front of the printed menu the pub welcomes you with the tag line “Shropshire food for Shropshire people”. And it then goes on: “Welcome to the Blue Boar where we aim to bring you the very finest of Ludlow’s famous local produce, at prices everyone can afford.”
It then goes on to say that all the food comes from local suppliers who have a passion for their produce. Meat comes from award-winning Carters of Ludlow, who only buy from farm-assured local farms, bread from another award winner, Price’s, whose shop is slap bang in the middle of the town, and vegetables are sourced from local specialist farmers. The only food not sourced locally, and quite understandably, is the fresh fish!
Dishes on the menu also emphasise that local sourcing with their names and descriptions.
Now it is years since I have been in the Blue Boar - back to the days when Tony Banks was the landlord and ran an excellent ship, one often frequented by the cast of the centrepiece Shakespearean production during the town’s annual festival. The walls were then covered in signed photographs of the stars who had appeared.
I had heard mixed stories about how it has fared since he left and had been intending to pop in and see for myself.
In the end I visited quite by chance. I was running late and needed lunch last Saturday but it was past 3pm and most places had long since stopped serving, but not the Blue Boar which currently offers food between midday and 7pm - although there are plans to extend into the later evening in the next few weeks.
Serendipity can play a very good hand at times and it did with the Blue Boar.
The barman was friendly and polite and made us feel very welcome, as did the pleasant waitress who took our order and brought us our food. Both returned to the table from time to time to check if everything was OK.
I am afraid we both had the same starter because it just leapt out of the menu at us - belly pork (£3.75). This was a slice of free range belly pork cooked until crispy and served with a scrumpy apple dipping sauce, deliciously crisp salad garnish with a good dressing and two pieces of French bread. Excellent.
Next I had the lamb cutlets (£9.25) - three local lamb chops, grilled until crispy but still faintly pink in the middle (perfect) and served on a hot sizzle platter. They came with grilled tomato, whole mushrooms, onion rings, crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, chips and a dish of shredded sauteed leek with carrots. And I had my own dish of mint sauce. Good quality plain food not messed about. Just what a pub should serve up.
Across the table the choice was Shropshire faggots (£7.50) - locally made from minced lamb, onions and secret spices (well you wouldn’t want the opposition making them!). They were served with fluffy mashed potato, onion gravy and mushy peas. A triumph again of good quality plain food.
We were too full to even look at the home made puddings list.
There are six mains costing under £7 and if you fancy something a little lighter (although I suspect the portions are large) try a Price’s crunchy French stick filled with home cooked local ham, salad and garnish for under £4.
If you want a decent, no nonsense, good value meal this is the place to eat in Ludlow at the moment.
ADDRESS:
The Blue Boar, 52 Mill Street, Ludlow, SY8 1BB
01584 872630.
MENU SAMPLE
Starters
Hot Avocado and Shropshire Blue - slices of ripe avocado, cream and cheese served hot with crusty bread (£3.95); Fillet of Smoked Trout - trout from Chirk smokehouse served with horseradish cream and salad garnish (£4.25).
Main courses
Ludlow Chicken - free range local chicken with a rich sauce of mushrooms, smoked bacon, cheese and cream (£7.25); Blue Boar - Mr Carter’s award-winning sausages served with Shropshire Blue cheese, mash and onion gravy (£6.95).
Desserts
Lemon Cheesecake (£3.95); Bread and Butter Pudding (£3.95).
ATMOSPHERE
Typical English pub.
SERVICE
Friendly, efficient and attentive.
DISABLED FACILITIES
There are no disabled facilities.
SMOKING POLICY
There is no smoking area and a smoking area.
By Sharon Walters
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