I’ll let you into a secret, this wasn’t my first visit to the Cross Foxes in Erbistock. In fact, it’s a bit of a family favourite.

So it was no surprise when it booked for a catch up one Friday night and I was looking forward to it all week.

Due to the time of year, an evening visit means you can truly appreciate the setting of this cosy 18th century pub, which is part of the Brunning & Price chain. But for those who don’t know, it is set on the banks of the River Dee with stunning views. But even on a cold winter’s night, it is still idyllic and welcoming to patrons.

We went straight to our table in the dining room, which was decorate for Christmas, and were soon ordering our drinks and food.

All four of us decided to skip starters in favour of satisfying our collective sweet tooth. But the options were certainly mouthwatering with homemade black pudding, chicken liver pate, and deep-fried Cornish brie on offer, alongside nibbles such as olives and pigs in blankets with gravy!

My choice for main was ham, egg and chips, which as with most of the mains is offered as either a large or small serving. I went with the small but they certainly didn’t skimp on the portion size with two large slices of cold ham, a fried egg and chunky chips that you felt a little bit guilty eating but not enough to stop! It also came with a side salad and a fried tomato – and yes, I cleared the plate. It might sounds like a standard pub meal, but once again the Cross Foxes team leave you wanting to return to enjoy it all over again.

The others in our group enjoyed the deep-fried cod in beer batter with chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce (the cod filled the plate and was coated in a lovely, light batter); the smoked haddock and salmon fishcakes with tomato and spring onion salad (no need for any sides here as these were filling by themselves); and the seafood linguine with mussels, cockles and king prawns in a lemon and white wine cream sauce which was cooked to perfection.

It is worth mentioning that the latter was on the light bites menu but again there was no skimping on the portion size and it was “just right” as Goldilocks would say.

We were given just the right length of time to digest our tasty meals (there were clean plates all round) before our waitress returned and asked if we would like puddings.

Now I always check out the puddings before I give my starter and main choices, so I knew straight away what I wanted – something from the coffee and small puddings menu. For me it is the perfect combination, just enough to satisfy that sweet craving at the end of a meal and a comforting hot drink to go with it.

It is worth noting you can have tea as well as coffee and the former was my choice, plus a perfectly-sized slice of sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. Other options included triple chocolate brownie, and a mince pie with Bailey’s ice cream which one of our group opted for and thoroughly enjoyed.

Those who read last week’s review with realise sticky toffee pudding is a favourite of mine, and this serving lived up to my expectations and came with ice cream which is a personal must!

There was a long list of other puddings, but the only other that was chosen by our group was creme brulee served in a thin dish with a big sugar-covered slither on top. There was only one disappointment that it didn’t ‘crack’ as you would have hoped, but it was still enjoyable, if maybe a little bit too much and shamefully almost half went to waste.

So all in all it was another great visit to the Cross Foxes and one that I have no doubt will be repeated again in the future.

The bill:

Honey roasted ham (served cold) with eggs and chips 12.75/9.45

Deep-fried cod in beer batter with chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce 13.95/9.95

Smoked haddock and salmon fishcakes with tomato and spring onion salad 12.95/8.95

Seafood linguine with mussels, cockles and king prawns in a lemon and white wine cream sauce 11.95

Crème brûlée with shortbread biscuits 5.95

Coffee and Small Puddings £6.95 each