Out Lane Social

The Good Food Guide — Good

Equally popular with locals and urban day trippers out for a ‘run in the country’, this substantial red-brick pub is a model of comfortable low-key sophistication, decorated in warm colours with contemporary ceramic plates, leather seating and sepia pictures of old Croston. With the term ‘Social’ in the name, socialising has to be the order of the day, so expect anything from pizza-van parties to weekend breakfasts and alfresco lunches; the place is also home to the Croston jazz club. ‘A real local gem that we’re so lucky to have in our village,’ declared one fan. Grass-fed British beef and other meats come from Farrell’s, an artisan local butcher, while fish is sustainably sourced from Cornwall thanks to the owners' West Country connections: our grilled megrim sole was a sparklingly fresh treat, served on the bone just 12 hours after being landed in Newlyn. It arrived on the plate in company with some buttered sea greens and herbs, tartare sauce and hefty triple-cooked chips. To start, pressed ham hock was richly savoury and carefully crafted, although the extra ‘bits’ such as burnt apple pickles, puffed potatoes, Burford cheese and pickled walnut ketchup were largely unnecessary (there's a tendency to gild the lily in the kitchen). For dessert, the house favourite is ‘Nana’s trifle’ with raspberries, strawberry jelly, crème Chantilly, charcoal and pink-peppercorn meringue. Alongside the carte, there are small plates and ‘grazing’ options including Cornish oysters, ham-hock croquettes and deli boards. Cooked breakfasts deliver the full works, while Sunday roasts are consistently praised. Beer drinkers have a rotating choice of ales, the wine list offers plenty of choice, and there's even a gin club for aficionados.

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