Monday in Masham was quiet. We could only find one cafe open and it was full. The alternative, The Kings Head, combines accommodation, a restaurant and a bar.

We selected the bar. Although it was a beautiful spring day, there was a fire burning. In different weather this would have been a welcome sight.

The menu was extensive.

Orders are taken at the bar and in due course delivered to tables.

We would have to choose carefully. Most of the main courses were beyond our budget.

Soup with a baguette and butter (£3.25) would be a possibility. Jacket potatoes were priced from £3.95 to £4.95 and sandwiches ranged up to £5.65.

We could have tried the garlic bread with cheese (£2.45) or added chips to a sandwich (£1.75).

The chicken and bacon club sandwich (£5.45) was Ann's choice, in brown bread as an alternative to a baguette. I selected a Scottish salmon and egg crostini (£4.65).

While our food was being prepared, a pot of tea (£2.90) arrived. Ann managed to retrieve three tea bags from the pot before the brew became too strong.

A customer at the next table was enjoying three 'outdoor reared' pork sausages with mashed potato, roasted red onion and gravy (£6.75). It looked delicious.

Our food appeared. Oh dear, Ann was presented with a baguette instead of bread.

Profuse apologies and the error was soon rectified.

Soft, thick brown bread, chicken, bacon, tomato, sliced egg, leaves, strands of sweet beetroot and mayonnaise. This was quite a plateful but entirely to Ann's liking.

My choice consisted of crisp slices of baguette with smoked salmon and free-range egg drizzled with olive oil. I found the sweet beetroot in the garnish especially appetising.

A pudding might have spoilt what had gone before, so matter how appealing the apple pie with currants, cinnamon and custard (£3.95), we called it a day.

Despite it being busy, there was no attempt to hurry us away from the table.

One drawback. At the moment, half of the bar area is set aside for smokers.