The Anderton, Northwich (From Northwich Guardian)

The Anderton, Northwich

12:47pm Wednesday 26th September 2007 in Leisure By Frances Kindon

How it rated

Quality of service friendly and helpful

Value for money briliant

Ambience relaxing

Speed of service moderate

Quality of food you get what you pay for

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CHEAP and cheerful was the order of the day when I called in to The Anderton, on Witton Street, Northwich, for some after-work pub grub.

In fact, the prawns were very juicy and tender, as were the spicy chicken strips. The garlic bread was nice and moist and nothing was over cooked.

The pub is spaciously laid out with a typical modern interior of brown leather chairs and wooden floors. Booths line the perimeter of the seating area and large, comfy sofas are dotted around here and there.

Seeing as it was a Friday, my companions and I ordered a Stella, which was pleasantly fizzy and fresh.

We found ourselves a seat, had a quick look at the menu then headed back to the bar to place our order. We were allowed to keep a tab open which was quite helpful.

We plumped for a sharing platter to start, which featured generous helpings of garlic bread, battered prawns, breaded mushrooms, spicy chicken, spring rolls and dips.

Between the three of us it was the perfect amount of food to get our appetites going without leaving us too full.

The combination of deep-friend snacks was a little sickly but that was down to my personal taste rather than the food being of a poor quality.

In fact, the prawns were very juicy and tender, as were the spicy chicken strips. The garlic bread was nice and moist and nothing was over cooked.

For the main course, my friend went for Rocky Mountain chicken but was disappointed to learn they had run out. However, the surf and turf with chips and veg for no extra cost soon placated him.

I plumped for the tuna melt with curly fries and the third member of our group decided to splash out on the lamb shanks with mashed potato and root vegetables.

My melt was lovely for what it was, the bread was fresh, the cheese nicely browned and the tuna was not too heavily laden with mayonnaise.

My curly fries were nicely done but I could not eat that many due to the huge portions.

My friend's lamb shanks were not the finest you have ever seen but that is the point of the Anderton - nice food and a low price.

They do not pretend to sell haute cuisine, so do not expect it.

Our companion's surf and turf featured tender breaded scampi and a medium-cooked sirloin steak, which came slightly overcooked, but everyone knows that when eating in pubs, you always order your steak one step rarer than you would normally have it.

Overall, the meal was very pleasant, the surroundings were clean and relaxing and I left feeling absolutely stuffed and with change in my pocket.

The Anderton offers a special two-meals for £5.95 menu making dining out easily affordable.

Starters hover around the £3 mark and mains around the £7 mark. Sandwiches and melts are priced around £4.