Dear Richard & Cameron

I’m not in the habit of writing complimentary letters to businesses (its usually the opposite, to be honest) – however I could not let our visit to your establishment yesterday go without comment after being extremely impressed by the standards of cuisine, service and décor.

I wont waffle on – because you’ll only blush in embarrassing fashion, but basically my wife and I came on out on a motorbike run and used Ashbourne as a stop off point. So we only intended to have the usual ‘bog standard’ pub baguette and chips.

We decided on The Horns because it seemed well appointed, the menu seemed varied but not confusing, and the prices were competitive in comparison to the nearby hostelries. So, two carvery cobs and home made wedges were ordered with two plain coffees.

Firstly, the staff attitude and efficiency throughout was impeccable. Polite, smart and keen to help at all times. The coffees were served in synchronisation with the meals, cutlery and comestibles all accompanying – nothing was too much trouble for anyone . All this for two mid day snacks on a budget?. There had to be a catch!.

But it got better. The carvery cobs were the best we’d tasted in years and the chips were more like a meal in themselves – each being about half a potato’s worth – we’d never seen or eaten anything like it before. Delicious .I commented to the other half that this was more like a high end evening restaurant meal standard than what was initially intended to be just a quick bit to eat.

I could go on about the overall cleanliness of the place, the understated (yet thoughtfully appointed) natural wood furnished decoration and the overall sense of natural welcoming geniality we received that day. A very well balanced combination.

Ok. I may seem to be singing your praises to the rafters here– but its all deserved, Yet despite what folks might think, I am NOT on your payroll or have ever visited your premises in the past – but as far as I am concerned, any individual or company that goes out of their way to be a bit ‘above the average’, without extra cost to the clientele (in other words, are doing it for want as well as need) – then praise should be due where deserved – and you lot certainly qualify for that.

To summarise: You’ve found the winning formula the majority of British pubs sadly, have not yet managed to do. So. You can either sell on the secret, keep it to yourselves or write a book on the subject. Just DON’T change anything!.  Well done to all concerned and thanks once again!.

Yours Impressedly,

We also visited the George too where I thought I had tasted the best steak pie, however, I have to say freda’s home made pie recipie at the horns topped it, absolutely fabulous.

Janet stook to her guns and ordered the roast dinner which has to be her favourite all time meal.

No doubt will be calling back early next year and hoefully the Horns will be just the same.

A big thankyou to Richard, Joanne and Cameron and Shannon, we hope to see you soon

Steve

We have visited Parwich a couple of times now and I must admit we always go to the horns on sunday, in fact we go there for about 3-4 meals during a 1 week stay. Richard (the chef) knows how to cook not bad for a hetton lad !!! We are due in the summer again and no doubt will be poppping in several times working our way through the menu.

Cant wait for the summer

cheers

All very healthy…that should please…..AWT