I'm feeling a bit guilty. Two visits to the Blacksmiths Arms in the space of eight days. Why so, I hear you cry?
The first time we fancied a walk, a pint and something to eat. But where to go?
“What about the Blacksmiths?” suggested my partner Sian. “We drive past it every day and it looks really nice. And they serve food on a Monday night.”
Mondays tend to be short on choice when it comes to eating out, so we had a wander up the road – the best part of a mile I reckon – and stopped off at the Blacksmiths.
As first-timers we had a warm welcome at the bar and the choice on the menu was extensive. Traditional pub grub this is not.
I opted for the locally-made Cumberland sausage (huge) on a bed of cheesy mash and Sian had the homemade giant Yorkshire pudding filled with sausages and mash.
And, erm, all mains also come with chips and veg. I was slightly puzzled by the chips with mash combination but the chunky homemade chips were to die for. Cooked in the skins they were so tasty I shunned the ketchup, my usual dressing of choice.
We were amazed. Why haven’t we been here before?
So, slightly over-faced by the generous portions, we took a menu away and vowed to return to sample all three courses.
Hence we returned eight days later – on a Tuesday night – to find the place packed out. Yes, on a Tuesday.
We ordered drinks and secured the last table. Apparently they had a couple of parties in and two tables were reserved. A few minutes after we arrived yet more diners turned up and had to wait. Good sign.
We gave our order at the bar and were told the food might take a little longer than usual as they were so busy. Not a bother.
As it turned out the starter took around 25 minutes to arrive but after that the service was quick and efficient.
Sian had earmarked the Chinese duck pancakes with dipping sauces (£6.95) but when it came to ordering changed her mind and chose the Norwegian prawn timbale, with a Marie Rose sauce and salad (£5.95) instead.
Good decision (for me). That meant I could go for the pancakes. The duck was superb and I dipped the pancakes to my heart’s content, dribbling slightly but not caring. Hopefully the other diners were too busy to notice. Apologies if not.
Sian had a bad case of food envy. She enjoyed her prawns but would rather have had the pancakes. 1-0 to me!
Sian hit back with a choice from the wok; stir-fried steak in blackbean sauce served with fluffy boiled rice (£9.95). It was a variation on my starter and her envy began to subside.
“The steak is so tender,” she said.
Knowing how filling some of the dishes would be I opted for something a little different, baked swordfish topped with Palma ham and prawns (£14.95).
It came superbly presented, topped with a king prawn, and surrounded by roast vegetables and a lovely balsamic dressing. Oh, and as with all mains, yet more veg and those magic chips.
The fish was light and moist and I loved every mouthful. I downed the veg too but, sadly, even with two of us, the chips – brilliant as they are – were just one notch on my belt too far.
Loving my desserts I needed some room left for a choice which included just about anything you’d care to imagine, from ginger pudding, crumble or apple pie to chocolate gateaux, cheesecake, trifle and ice cream.
I was sat next to the dessert board and I was spoiled for choice.
Sian had the Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake with vanilla ice cream (£3.95). She couldn’t taste much Bailey’s but it was a deliciously creamy cheesecake. Good choice.
Mine was less successful. I went for the homemade sherry trifle (£3.95) thinking about what my mum used to make when I was a kid. The sherry would knock you over.
Unfortunately, I was left disappointed. It didn’t compare to mum’s but I struggled to believe it was homemade either.
Underneath the distinctly average cream topping the texture of the rest of the trifle was “foamy” and I couldn’t detect much hint of sherry.
Everyone’s mum makes it differently, I guess, and nostalgia sometimes ain’t what it used to be.
Still I love my desserts so a third visit to the Blacksmiths very soon might be called for to test out the rest.
Overall a great meal with massive portions, the best chips around and definite value for money.
Highly recommended even though my belly was busting for the second time in just over a week, hence the guilt trip. Good job there’s a decent hike home at the end of it.
Heaton Moor Road, Kirkheaton, HD5 0PH
Tel: 01484 422529
Website: No
Opening hours: Food – Mon-Sat noon-9pm. Sun noon-8pm.
Children: Welcome
Disabled access: Please ring. No disabled toilets.
The bill: £57.50 (including drinks)
Would you go back? Definitely
