A RUMOUR did the rounds a while ago that the then-closed Jolly Drovers at Leadgate was being bought and done up by The Hairy Bikers.

That would be a coup for the area, I thought.

Having driven past when it was open, I had never been tempted to pay a visit. But when it was closed, and had metal shutters over the windows there was something tragic about a pub standing alone, empty and unloved.

Despite making a few enquiries nothing ever came of the rumour and then, out of the blue, I heard that it was being reopened.

The pub, which is owned by Punch Taverns, had been taken over by licensees Michelle and Brian Proud, who run the Kings Head in Lanchester and over £450,000 was being invested, restoring it to its former glory, and then some.

Pat Glass MP officially reopened it and having eaten at the King’s Head I was pretty confident it would be worth a visit.

It was absolutely tipping it down with rain when I eventually got there with my mam and two toddlers in tow.

Despite it being Wednesday lunchtime, the car park was packed, so just over a fortnight after reopening it looked to be doing a roaring trade.

It was. We had to wait a couple of minutes to be seated and the dining area on the left was packed with happy eaters.

To the right, there is a comfortable bar area and the decor of the whole place says ‘smart, modern and stylish’.

There is a nod to the area’s industrial past with photographs of the Consett steelworks and tools from the plant adorning the walls.

But one of the most eye-catching things is the giant coast to coast cycle map that charts distances from the east to west coast of the country for cyclists, appropriate as the pub sits on the route.

Before long we were seated in a comfortable booth and offered menus, but told we were just too late for the daily carvery, which had finished at 2.30pm.

Instead, I ordered the southern fried chicken goujons (£3.95) which came with a garlic mayo dip and salad and were ideal to share with the kids along with their chips.

There were about five pieces of tasty tender chicken with lovely white meat in a crispy batter and some decent salad, which got things underway nicely.

Mam, meanwhile, ordered the chicken liver and brandy pate (£3.95).

She was presented with a smooth pate with a port and sherry Cumberland sauce, salad garnish and warm toasted ciabatta.

It was delicious and even my fussy three-year-old tried a bit and it seemed to go down well, although she did refuse ‘seconds’.

For the main, I chose the 10oz gammon steak (£8.45) topped with a fried egg, homemade chef’s onion rings, baked tomato, served with chips and peas.

While I enjoyed it very much, there was a big too much fat around the gammon and the egg had been cooked on too high a heat.

But these are fairly minor quibbles, it was very good and the onion rings were a tour de force.

Mam’s prawn salad (£7.95) which came served with Marie Rose sauce was equally well received and summed up as ‘fresh, crisp, tasty and plentiful’.

As we lurched towards desserts, all available at £3.95, we were mildly disappointed to learn the Millionaires shortbread ice cream cake was off and had to settle for our second choice of sticky toffee pudding with ice cream.

Delicious as it was, a word of warning for those taking children: the topping is red hot, as young Tilda learned to her cost after burning her hand.

A few tears and bribes of extra chocolate from the Cadbury’s flake sundae we also ordered later and she was okay and staff did what they could to provide us with an ice pack to sooth her poor wrist.

Service throughout was friendly, but a little slow at times, given how busy it was, and we did on occasion struggle to get the attention of staff.

All in all, though this is a welcome addition to the area’s eating out options and sure to be a big hit with those who choose to ride 140 miles from Whitehaven to Tynemouth.

Come to think of it, the influx of obsessive cyclists is probably how that rumour I mentioned earlier started.

Someone probably saw the giant map they were planning for the wall and said the place would soon be taken over by scary bikers.

Food Facts

The Jolly Drovers
Leadgate
Consett
County Durham
DH8 6RR
01207-500-999
info@jollydroversleadgate.com

Ratings

Food: 8
Service: 8
Value: 9
Surroundings: 9

Open: Monday to Saturday, 7.30am to 10.30am; Monday to Thursday, noon to 8.30pm; Friday to Saturday, noon to 9.30pm; Sunday, noon to 8.30pm