The Windmill Inn

The food and the whole visit were above average, and the prices were only slightly higher than average. It felt closer to restaurant quality than a gastro pub. Inside, the decor made for a relaxing atmosphere, and the thatched roof and local stone give it a lovely country pub feel. A husband and wife team run the place and give guests personal attention. A quality visit.

The staff were lovely and the pub itself is nice, but the meal was dire for the price. The meat was dry and tasteless, a couple of potatoes were rock hard, and the vegetables were barely warm. Water from the veg ran into the gravy on the plate. Pudding arrived on a huge plate, with a tiny, flat, burnt brandy snap basket in the middle, a spoonful of what was supposedly chocolate orange mousse, and a strawberry chopped into little pieces. Vastly overpriced.

The staff are lovely, and it’s a decent pub and B&B that suits my trips to Daventry better than the big local hotels I’d got tired of. Neither the food nor the accommodation is spectacular, but I think the current owners have only been there a short time. I can imagine some interesting changes ahead. I’ll definitely be back, and if they improve a couple of things even a little, it could easily be four or five stars.

As a chef, pub meals often leave me disappointed, but not this one. The portions and quality are good value, and the ingredients are clearly top quality and homemade. Excellent food. We’ll be back.