Review: Spring Inn

Date visited: Thursday 16 February 2012. Lunchtime.

This pub-restaurant is situated on Broad Lane and is owned by J.W Lees brewery. It was once a farm and its days as a pub started early in the last century when its enterprising owner started selling jugs of home made ale to passing carters and walkers.

Over the past fifteen years it has undergone a rebirth as a pub-restaurant though it retains an old-fashioned tap room frequented by locals. In addition to the restaurant it has a beer garden and outdoor play area. It is very popular with families at weekends and very child friendly for kids of most ages.

Large car park with disabled spaces.

Scores:

Food - Quite good and reasonably priced. A meal for four including a round of drinks came to £24. Reasonable menu with daily specials. Between the four of us we had sausage and mash, gammon and chips, ham, egg and chips and a chicken with Caesar salad. Starters at £3 - £5. Mains £7 - £12 although you can have two mains for £10 from the specials menu. Good, wholesome, well-presented food rather than fine dining. On the downside, the ketchup and sauces are of the type presented in sachets. Score 3/5

Drinks - Good bar area and traditional tap room. Not an extensive wine list but ok on the whole. Real ales via hand pump from JW Lees range in good condition. As JW Lees is brewed in Middleton, you are supporting a local brewery. Score 3/5

Service - Friendly and welcoming Score 4/5

Cleanliness - Clean, well presented. Score 4/5

Decor/Ambience - Quite nice; particularly in conservatory. Comfortable, well carpeted and decorated. Good pictures on walls and wide choice of seating with high chairs for young children. Aimed at families rather than couples. Score 4/5

Loos - Clean, well-appointed and checked regularly Score 5/5

Disabled Access - Good parking and accessibility for those with mobility issues. Ramps, separate, disabled loo. Score 4/5

Value for money - This place won’t break the bank. A bit more expensive than the cheap-end carveries but the choice and quality and the service are much better if you have children. Score 4/5

Overall/Additional comments - A good local choice if you are with the family and want somewhere to have a reasonable meal with a decent play area to occupy the kids. Service friendly and personal. Can get busy at weekends, particularly when the sun is out so I would book in advance, especially on Bank Holiday weekends.. Function room can be hired and it is in a nice leafy spot. Better than the larger chain equivalents. Overall score 4/5

Recommend? Yes, if you are looking for a reasonably priced family pub where you don’t have to queue up for a third-rate carvery meal.