We fancied going out for a meal, but my husband and I were at that point where we could not be bothered to make the effort to get dressed up.

Before you get the wrong idea, I'm talking jeans, not grotty gardening clothes.

A few days earlier, a friend had recommended the Stubbing Wharf pub but had warned we should book a table at busy times like this particular Friday evening. They also said it was free and easy as far as dressing up was concerned. Perfect.

Our friends were right on both the points they had made. Some were like us, dressed down, others had come in their finery. There really was an eclectic mix and we would have struggled to get a table had we not phoned first.

The Stubbing Wharf occupies a popular spot between the River Calder and the Rochdale Canal off the Burnley Road between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. It is a pleasant setting and I imagine the sort of place you could wile away a warm summer's afternoon watching the canal barges pass by.

In fact you can take a barge ride from outside the pub, and get a meal on it too. The pub's website has the details.

So to the food. We skipped starters though I was tempted by the black pudding and goat's cheese that had arrived at a nearby table and looked particularly appetising. It is a good job I did. My main course was fish and chips and to call it a whopper would be a gross understatement. We are talking whale proportions. And it was gorgeous. Lovely tasting haddock and a thin crispy batter. And not forgetting the chunky chips and mushy peas. Far too much for me, and a portion accompanied us home later.

My husband chose the gammon, which came with fresh pineapple, which was a nice touch and just made it that bit more special. It was well cooked and served with grilled tomato, fried egg and chunky chips.

I had looked longingly at the desserts passing by while wrestling with my record breaker. The sticky toffee pudding, looked fabulous. Sadly my eyes had been too big for my tummy and all I could manage was a cup of coffee. The service had matched the food too.

It had been a good decision to go to the Stubbing Wharf and it hardly broke the bank at around £20 and I would have no hesitation recommending it. You only had to look round at the volume of diners to realise that this was a place at the top of its game.

As an aside, the Stubbing Wharf has a fabulous selection of real ales and ciders too.

Details
Name: Stubbing Wharf
Address: King Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 6LU
Telephone: 01422 844107

Courier reviews conducted without the prior knowledge of the restaurant