BACK in the days when the Last of The Summer Wine was first being consumed in copious quantities by millions on screen on Sunday evenings putting Holmfirth firmly on the map, the real ale revolution was in full swing and The Farmers Arms, at Burnlee, on the outskirts of the town, was building up an enviable reputation for the quality of its beers.

Set among a hamlet of traditional stone built cottages, accessed by steep, narrow winding roads, the Farmers became a must for ale connoisseurs who flocked there in great numbers.

The pub was small, cosy and intimate and the atmosphere was always convivial.

It had been more years than I care to remember since I was last in the place, but on Thursday last week I called in to see what had become of it.

It was an impressive reunion.

We were greeted by Stephanie who served us drinks and gave us the menu. The pub was bustling with activity; a party from the local bowling club had booked a room for the evening and meals were also being served in the bar area and ‘snug’ room. It was ‘Steak Night’ and a lot of people were taking advantage of the once-a-week offer of two sirloin steaks and a bottle of wine for £22 and several of the tables carried a ‘reserved’ sign. We hadn’t booked, but they found us a table in the bar area where we could relax and browse the menu.

The Farmers was extended around four years ago and additional space has been created in the area once used as the beer cellar. The car park has also been extended.

Time to order: the ‘Nibbles’ were tempting – marinated olives, bread, spicy cashew nuts and sunblushed tomatoes – and the starters included homemade beef and red wine ravioli with garlic and chilli butter and a parmesan crisp, chicken liver pate with homemade bread and port and shallot jam, cajun spiced chicken goujons with sweet chilli sauce and aioli, smoked haddock and mature cheddar fishcake with a roast tomato salsa. They all sounded interesting, but instead the two of us opted for the ‘VIP’ mushrooms on toast.

It was an inspired choice: mushrooms on deliciously warm homemade bread in a piquant sauce topped with an elaborately presented mixed salad. This was a delight and the servings were hugely generous. We had toyed with idea of sharing a plate of Nibbles, but realised by the size of the starters that we would have been over-faced had we done so.

For the main course I opted for fillet of salmon with new potatoes, a crayfish and samphire sauce and mixed salad and Carol chose the polenta basket of baby spinach, roast pepper, feta cheese, tomato and pine nuts served up with the chef’s special homemade bread and a lightly spiced salsa.

Due to the popularity of the place there was a delay between courses, for which we received sincere apologies from the personable, efficient team of young ladies serving the meals, but under the circumstances this was understandable and did not detract from our enjoyment of the meal.

Again the presentation of both our chosen dishes was as attractive as it was tasteful. My salmon was served up on top of a rosti-type round of potatoes drizzled with the delicately piquant-flavoured crayfish sauce. The salmon was just to my liking, almost crisp on the outside, moist and succulent inside. Again the portions were most generous and it was served with a side salad.

Carol’s polenta basket featured a colourful culinary array of Mediterranean shades – a decoratively displayed combination of reds, greens, orange and white – and she assured me that it tasted just as good as it looked.