Countess’s Arms, near Newport

Star rating: **** Deborah Collins celebrates receiving the news of an impending birth by booking a lunch date with family and friends.Days out with the girls seem to be an all too rare occurrence these days, with busy lifestyles and hectic social lives.

I love spending time with my mum and “Our” Carole, mum’s best mate and an honorary member of our family.

But recently, we have been like ships that pass in the night so we planned a day together, intending to spoil ourselves with lunch out and a little retail therapy.

On this particular day we decided to go out to celebrate the news that I was to have a little niece or nephew and mum was to become a grandma for the first time.

We wanted to go somewhere a little bit special and wanted to tie in some window shopping for the new arrival.

Our window browsing morning turned into a bit of a spending spree and we had worked up an appetite so we headed to the Countess’s Arms, a particular favourite lunchtime haunt of mum’s and Carole’s.

Slightly disappointed that we were unable to sit in the main dining room - which always makes us feel a bit posh - because it was being prepared for the evening, we settled for a table in the fireside area.

But the area we sat in still had a lovely feel, with the light and airy space accentuated by a high ceiling and large windows.

To start, I opted for the sauteed mushrooms in a garlic cream sauce, served with ciabatta bread.

The sauce was bursting with flavour and the little mushrooms were sauteed to perfection.

The ciabatta bread was a nice option for mopping up the delicious sauce.

Mum and Carole went for the home-made leek and potato soup, with both of them praising its rustic home-cooked flavour and fresh, organic and unspoiled taste.

It arrived with an abundance of fresh bread, far too much for them to manage.

For my main course, I went for the baked goats cheese and roasted pepper gnocchi with rocket and parmesan.

Forgetting that I can never finish off a dish of gnocchi, I was probably being a bit optimistic but the dish was so delicious I tried my best to devour all I could.

I was a little overpowered by all the cheese, but it was nicely counterbalanced by the flavour of the roasted peppers and onions.

Always a fan of rocket. I was impressed with its inclusion in the dish. I ordered a side order of garlic bread, which was delightfully sprinkled with garlic and bursting with flavour.

And we shared a plate of moreish chips, which had been fried to a crisp golden brown on the outside and were fluffy and white on the inside.

Mum opted for the smoked haddock and spring onion fishcakes which, like the chips, were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy and flavoursome on the inside.

Carole went for the fish of the day option - a swordfish offering. Having never tried swordfish before she decided to be adventurous. And she was glad she had.

She polished off almost the whole fillet, declaring how glad she was she had decided to try something a little out of the ordinary as she sliced through the firm white flesh.

Although it was served with a dish of steaming delicate vegetables, she could not manage them, large as her portion of fish was.

The girls couldn’t manage pudding but I saved room to sample the profiteroles. Of course, when they saw it they both managed a taste.

Made of light pastry and filled with fluffy cream, the profiteroles were covered in a rich chocolate sauce.

We spent hours in the relaxed fireside area after our meal, sitting and chatting, unrushed and uninterrupted by the staff.

We were able to take our time and enjoy a peaceful period, as were the many other visitors who came and went as we whiled away the afternoon.

I loved the rustic fireplace, with an oversized mirror above it and supplies of logs decoratively stacked up along the walls either side.

A comic portrait of the countess with heavy eyelids and with a cigarette and drink added to the light and relaxed mood of the place.

Also, I could quite happily have taken some of the cosy informal chairs home and transplanted them into my own house.

An impressive array of drinks - of both the alcoholic and soft varieties - adorned the bar area.

I opted for a cranberry juice, Carole a fresh orange option and mum a tomato juice.

Situated in the heart of the Shropshire countryside, the Countess’s Arms is nestled in a sea of greenery. It provides a refreshing and relaxing change of scenery from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Although the mood is relaxed, the service is quick, efficient and faultless.

The soon-to-be grandma - a stickler for hygiene - was impressed with the cleanliness of the place and we were all impressed by the speed with which the food arrived and the courtesy and professionalism of the staff we met.

The Countess’s Arms is such a warm, friendly and accommodating place that you feel as comfortable as you would like to feel in your own dining room.MENU SAMPLE

Starters

Pan-fried tiger prawn salad, roasted garlic aioli (£6.50)

Chicken liver parfait, onion marmalade & French stick (£5.50)

Main courses

Honey roasted duck breast, baby vegetables & pomegranate sauce (£15.95)

Tempura battered shitake mushrooms & spring onions, couscous & sweet & sour dipping sauce (£9.95)

Sides

Rocket and parmesan salad (£2.50)

Desserts

Baked maraschino cherry cheesecake (£4.95)

Tia Maria creme brulee (£4.95)

ATMOSPHERE

Relaxed

SERVICE

Very good. Waiting staff are very polite and attentive.

DISABLED FACILITIES

Disabled access, parking and toilet.

smoking policy

Smoking area in the bar.contact details

Countess’s Arms, Weston Heath, Newport

Telephone 01952 691123