Food costs when it comes to quality

JOURNALIST and author John Sturgis thought twice before going for lunch at the Dew Drop Inn at Hurley on Sunday.

He had a look at the menu in advance and thought that the pub, which made the Michelin Guide for the first time this year, seemed a bit pricy.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “Pub lunch today. Nice spot in fine country location and meant to be good but two mains both just shy of £40 is the kind of pricing that has me thinking about late cancellation.”

While some of his followers also questioned the cost, several defended it and praised the pub’s chef Simon Bonwick.  

One said: “I wouldn’t cancel that if I was you. Serious, serious chef there in Simon Bonwick. Had a star in his last place, arguably could have had two. Uses really high quality ingredients, hence cost.”

Another said: “Doesn’t seem unreasonably priced for good food, wages, rent, gas and electricity, insurance and more besides. Probably isn’t making much on each dish.”

John went ahead with his booking and while he said the advertised venison pie “turned out to be rabbit”, it was “exemplary” and the pumpkin gnocchi was “solidly very good”.

His total bill, including drinks, came to £40 per head. Result!