UNTIL recently these premises were part of a national chain. Now in private ownership and refurbished, fish and seafood are specialities.

From the menu, some items were outside our budget, but enough were within our price range. Many items were fried with chips.

The specials board offered seafood platter (£4.95), smoked haddock and poached egg with hollandaise (£4.95) and plaice goujons (£4.25). The plaice would suit me but there was 'none left'. Chef offered to make some more if I could wait. I couldn't, so this gave me the excuse to try the famous fish, chips, bread, butter and tea (£4.95).

Ann chose fishcakes and chips which I thought would cost £5.50 but including tea came to £5.95. This was the first time Ann could remember fishcakes in batter. However she was pleased with her choice. The fishcakes were hot and moist with the chips freshly cooked. Tomato ketchup came in a bowl and not in those dreadful sachets.

My verdict matched Ann's. My fish was excellent, chips just right, as were the two thin slices of bread.

Other customers were enjoying a variety of dishes. Bacon or sausage baps priced at £2.20 seemed to include tea. The Full Monty at £4.95 is Graveley's version of the usual English breakfast.

Ann was tempted to conclude her lunch with a pudding, especially the lemon posset. Fortunately (or otherwise) it was 'off'. All the puddings cost £3.50, a bit expensive to my mind. She wasn't persuaded to have cheese or passion cake, ginger or sticky toffee pudding, treacle sponge or bread and butter pudding. Nor was I.

Staff were attentive. It was particularly pleasing to see that when tables were wiped, cruets and vases of fresh flowers were moved aside. How often we have watched a cursory wipe around anything that happened to be on the table.

Updated: 08:39 Saturday, March 08, 2003