I’d been wanting to try The Bull Inn at Sonning ever since I read Jerome K. Jerome’s description in his comic masterpiece Three Men in A Boat – Not to mention the dog (1889): “If you stay at Sonning,” he advised, “put up at ‘The Bull’.”
Built in the 16th century, it is still owned by the neighbouring St Andrew’s Church (which rents it to Fullers).
Sonning, by the way, has long been famous for boasting the picturesque perfection of the quintessential English village, and currently for being the home of illustrious personages such as Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Paige, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, and George Clooney and his wife, Amal, who bought Mill House at Sonning Eye just a couple of years ago.
The green courtyard described in Three Men in a Boat is now a car park – one that we didn’t have to use, having puttered the 25 minutes downstream from Thames & Kennet Marina on our cute new dinghy. Our mooring spot, just before Sonning lock, featured a handy tree trunk for looping ropes around.
We’d both fancied the Cornish Orchard Trout Salad (£14.50), which came with still-warm, minted new potatoes. Don’t be too impressed by our healthy choice; immediately afterwards, we indulged in a post-prandial cake-fest at Sonning Lock Tea Rooms: fat slices of Victorian sponge washed down with a pot of Earl Grey in a sunny alfresco area with self-service.
Also try
* Another worthwhile Sonning eatery is the Coppa Club at The Great House (mentioned in my 15 July post)
* I’m still keen on trying the fabulous-looking French Horn, and we would have gone there earlier this week with Roy’s cousin Anthony and his wife Jeannette, if she hadn’t done one too many business lunches there in the past
* Instead, after sunset drinks on board Karanja, we went to Bel & The Dragon, located in an old biscuit factory at nearby Blake’s Lock, just up the Kennet & Avon canal – lovely décor and ambience, enthusiastic service and good food. Thanks for doing the driving, Jeannette!
You were “today’s lunch special”?!