Christmas is Coming.....!

Crikey - November is nearly gone and the weather is still so mild. We are delighted that there are still so many of you who can sit in the garden to eat, drink and be merry. We really have been blessed with the weather this month; we've tried twice to light the Peppercorn logburner, but we had, on both occasions to let it go out before guests and staff alike expired!
Lisa is half way through her month off; she's spent two weeks in Cyprus and is sharing the remainder of her winter holiday between her family and friends. We all miss her a lot!
It seems an age since my trip to Spain, even though it was only two weeks ago that we came home. I shan't bore you with endless stories - suffice to say that Graham and I walked 500 kilometres of the Camino de Santiago. It was tough, exciting, relaxing, beautiful, hot and dry, snowy (yes, really!) and I'd do it all again tomorrow! I will post a couple of pictures on the blog eventually - if they look half decent!
One learns a lot on such a trip - and one of the most important lessons for me was that - generally- people are innately generous, kind and helpful. But then we already know that from the wonderfully loyal local trade which we enjoy at Peppercorn. Thanks to you all for enabling us to stay open throughout the year - we really do love to see you, cook for you and catch up with your news.

It won't be long until colleges and universities break up for Christmas and we can't wait to see Lauren, Jack and Emily back at work with us - where they really belong!

The menu is really changing now - to reflect the season. This week we have Rich Beef Stew with red wine and dumplings, Spiced Roasted Parsnip Soup, Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Bacon, Local Sausage and Mash with Red Onion Gravy, Aromatic Chicken Casserole and Sweet Potato Cakes with a soured cream and coriander dressing. On the pudding front we have offered a scrummy Apple, Cinnamon and Raisin Crumble and we are currently serving a fantastic Apricot, Sultana and Honey  Bread and Butter Pudding, made by the fair hand of Becca Buckland - no less! The meringues seem to be getting even bigger this month - maybe it's something in the water that those free range chickens are drinking?

We are open every day except Christmas Day - but we are reducing the hours of Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to 11am until 3pm. Other than that it's 10am until 4pm as usual and we look forward to seeing you over the festive season.