We all know that the early bird catches the worm. But what does the early bird catch in the evening? The answer is a pretty impressive supper if he flies over Tadcaster way to the Swan at Wighill. And what's more, he doesn't need to be weighed down with more than a fiver to do it!

The Swan is a welcoming, traditional-style multi-roomed pub in an attractive village on the road from Tadcaster to Thorp Arch. The dining room has an air of being un-changed for years, with comfy settles and well-polished old tables and chairs.

Adding to the higgledy-piggledy feel of the pub is the situation of the bar, the main part is in one of the front rooms, with a serving hatch tucked under the stairs in the middle of the pub to serve the other rooms.

What attracted us to the place was the incredibly cheap early bird menu, available at varying times (see below) during the normally less busy time of the evening.

We arrived on a Thursday night and things were surprisingly quiet given the value on offer. We settled back with a very drinkable pint and a half of Theakstons best bitter to peruse the menu.

Now the menu is not extensive, but there is a pretty good choice of six or seven dishes which cover most tastes. And the real eye opener is the price - just £4.95 for two courses (starter and a main, or main and pudding) and £7.70 for three courses if you are feeling really peckish. Children under ten can have two courses for £3.50. The big surprise was the two specials on offer - rabbit in mustard sauce or pheasant in game sauce. You don't often see those on offer at that price!

Even so, I'm not a great fan of either, so I considered the poached salmon or the chicken supreme in Stilton sauce, but finally settled for the 8oz rib-eye steak, with homemade leek and potato soup as a starter. Lynne was more adventurous and went for the pheasant like a shot, and pate for openers.

My soup was very savoury and satisfying, with cubes of potato and was served with a chunk of warm French bread. Lynne's chicken-liver pate came with generous amounts of buttered toast and salad and was pronounced delicious.

We had time to top up our drinks before the main courses arrived. My rib-eye steak was very tasty, if slightly dry, and it came with thick crispy chips, peas, tomato, mushrooms and salad garnish.

Lynne, fearing having to spend ages picking meat off bones, was pleased to see a plump filleted breast of pheasant on her plate. She said the game sauce was rich but not overpowering - and wondered how did they do it for the money?

Fresh new potatoes, carrots and broccoli completed the dish. The portions were not huge, but we were both full and declined the offer of sweets, although crme brulee, pavlova, cheesecake or hot pudding of the day were on offer.

The bill for our food was just £9.90, with the £4.86 for our two rounds of drinks bringing our total outlay to just £14.76.

Now that's pretty impressive for a meal out in anyone's language. But don't just take my word for it, go and try it...oh, and the other good news is that the same early bird deal is available at the Sun Inn at Colton as well. See you there!

The Swan is in Main Street, Wighill (tel 01937 832217). The early bird menu is available from 5pm-8pm on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, from 5pm-7pm on Tuesday and 7pm-9pm on Sunday.

Times may vary at the Sun Inn.

Restaurant: The Swan

Address: Main Street, Wighill

Telephone: 01937 832217

Reviewed: February 12 2000

Food: **** good pub grub

Value: ***** excellent

Service: **** very good

Ambience: *** quiet

PICTURE:Catch the early bird offer at the Swan at Wighill