The Plough, Milton Keynes

A traditional pub that was in the village of Simpson before it was swallowed up by Milton Keynes, this has a beer garden adjacent to the canal and is thus a popular spot for walkers in the warmer weather. It’s a good sized pub divided in to separate eating and drinking areas. Service at the bar was somewhat slow with just one barman serving who was friendly enough but seemed somewhat ineffectual at actually achieving anything. The main bar area as an L-shape room at the front of the pub and this has a strip wood floor, a few insubstantial black beams on the ceiling and wood panelling on the lower part of the walls. The colour scheme was predominantly cream with some maroon detailing. A couple of fruit machines were opposite the bar, as well as a community notice and photo board and there was a small TV up in the corner although this was not in use. Many of the locals were sat up on high stools at the bar. There is also a snug off of here which had a salmon and mustard colour scheme and a mixture of black and red leather armchairs along with a wood burning stove in the fire-place. This didn’t seem particular cosy though, perhaps just because it was reasonably big or the lack of carpet on the floor. At the back of the pub was a much more contemporary room used as a restaurant. I didn’t inspect this closely, but it looked to have vibrant lime green paintwork and some colourful murals of the countryside on the walls. Menu wise, the theme seemed to have something of an Italian influence and there were several pasta and pizza dishes available as well as a few more regular pub dishes. The pizzas were mostly in the £8 - £10 price range, with the pasta dishes being a pound or two less and the other dishes a pound or two more. My Sundried Tomato and Haddock Fishcake was a decent enough dish and appeared to be homemade. Puddings offered a very temping selection and I would like to have tried nearly all of them. Fortunately you could opt for a trio of miniatures consisting of the Chocolate Nemesis, Limoncello Cheesecake and homemade Tiramisu and these were all very good. According to a chalk board next to the bar, the beer choice consisted the regular Bombardier and Eagle IPA along with a couple of guests which were the seasonal Bateman’s Autumn Fall and Golden Cauldron. Unfortunately all but one of these had run out which doesn’t say much for their stock-keeping, unless they had a particular busy weekend perhaps. Ciders were a somewhat uninspiring Strongbow and Aspall’s Suffolk.

A Charles Wells tied house that is one of the older buildings among the modern housing in this outpost of MK.The Grand Union Canal skirts on an embankment above the sloping garden and car park from which there is a side entrance.If approaching from the front door there is a pool room to the right with a few gaming machines switched off and an unused fireplace while to the left is the main bar room with a wooden floor.This is a popular spot with locals and the square tables and wooden seats are also suitable to have a meal at.The large rear room is now a restaurant area with modern wooden furniture and fish tank.We were in for a meal and the menu was described as Italian/British and so no surprise to see pizza and pasta besides monkfish,scallops and haddock and lots of meat options.Pricing was reasonable with starters £4-£6,mains £8-£19 and deserts around £5.A real chef at work here,no microwaved foodservice dross and overall the quality was good for a pub dining experience. There were four handpumps with CW Eagle IPA,Bombardier,"Young's " Winter Warmer and the sole guest Thwaites Good Elf,a decent festive ale with cinnamon and spices. The pub is essentially a family eating venue and has lost any earthy boozer feel.I would call again for a meal,but would have to rely on the guest if popping in for anything other than a quick quaff.