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Last night I accompanied Wes on a work dinner to the Old Blackfriar’s pub on Castlegate. It’s a really quaint little venue, split over two small levels, with a bit of an old man’s bar in between the two seating areas. After a cuffaffle with getting a table (who’d think you need to book on a random Tuesday? – turns out it’s graduation week and there were three tables of 10 there to celebrate). Traditional British pub menu, well priced fish and chips, burgers, etc. Wes made a good choice with the chicken fillet burger. I was eyeing off the Friar Tuck burger (with chilli and cheese), until the last minute when I changed my mind (on the waitress’s suggestion mind) and went for the steak’n'ale pie. Big mistake. Although the beefy chunks were marinated tender bites of goodness, the gravy they sat in was a watery mess. The chunky chips couldn’t even soak it up, it just slid straight off.

My mind drifted back to the amazing lamb, mint and apricot pie I had at my farewell work lunch in London at the Counting House. Tender lamb, fruity chunks, not too sweet, thick gravy that sticks to the chunks, heavenly. If anyone in London or visiting London wants to know where to find a great pie, this place is the go! The room itself actually used to be a counting house in its previous life, so the bar has old banking memorabillia (tastefully done), and the mezzanine floor dining area looks down over it and the punters. Pies on offer include the aforementioned lamb, fish pie, steak and Fullers ESB, stilton mushroom and broccoli, chicken ham and spinach and the favourite for my colleagues, the Counting House Special.

Snapping brutally out of dreamland, and I’m back to the Old Blackfriars, wishing desperately for a soup spoon to drink the gravy with, then thinking just as quickly, maybe not. At least the company of Wes’ work colleagues made up for the pie mess. Great night, and I’d recommend the Blackfriars, just don’t order the pie.