The Halfway House — Restaurant in North West Leicestershire

If you've reached this point, don't stop because I am so passionate about what I write as my reviews are my personal experiences of where I go. We visit many places and talk to other people about places of interest, especially when it comes to pubs and food, and our visit today was to the Halfway House in Donisthorpe not far from Conkers, Moira Furnace Museum near Swadlincote. Donisthorpe had a working pit, which started in 1871, and the Halfway House pays tribute to this mining village with photos of its history. When you arrive in the village, the pub is on the corner with the adequate car park area at the rear where you'll also find a spacious garden area. When you stand at the front of the pub, it has a decked area with tables and generous heating for outdoor socialising on a cool evening. This is a very dog friendly pub along with Tess with me there were other dogs that, along with their owners, had been walking the many walks around the beautiful countryside, which connect to many other villages nearby. When inside the newly refurbished interior has been desinged to be very welcoming with it beamed celings decored walls that fit this village pub/restaurant. The bar area has two sides, and in the front bar to the left, there is a seating area for dining, and around the bar area, there are areas to relax with a beautiful Chesterfield settee. The rear of the bar area has further dining and drinking tabled areas where our furry friends can also relax with treats in jars and shelves within the pub for them to dine on. It has a very good selection of cask ales, again Bass one of my favourites which was perfect. Three largers, Worthington creamflow and ciders, along with a wine list that will compliment any fine dining experience anywhere. We decided on a traditional Sunday lunch, I've attached the menu, but not on the menu was lamb as a special. I had a starter, which if you like black pudding and Stilton croquet on a tomato relish the tast of the Stilton that ran through the pudding, and the sweetness of the relish was just so delicious. So we ordered the lamb and a beef dinner. They came with the meat on a bed of beautiful mash potato with roasted beetroot, parsnips, and the best roasted potatoes, which had such a beautiful taste inside the crunchy outer. A separate bowl of carrots, broccoli, and new potatoes, along with a bowl of creamy garlic leeks, which again were fresh and sourced locally like the roasts from a local butcher. The beef which I had was cooked to perfection as was the lamb, which I also tried. You could not mistake what you were eating by its taste they were cooked to perfection. We then came to the deserts , and you will not be disappointed and all homemade, and the cheesecake was so delicious. If I had had room, i would have had another. To the waiting staff, wow, they were on point pleasent and very helpful to the point when ordering they asked not just us but otheres that were dining if they had and dietary requirements and the bar staff who also were very helpful describing differnt Gins and the cask ales and worked very hard but to the person behind the scenes Mitch who my hats off to as a young Chef and with Bradley and the team what an absolutely amazing experience you provide well done to you all. This is truly beautiful food that you would find in a well established restaurant in any city, let alone in Donisthorpe, and would be worthy of an accreditation, in my opinion. So don't just take my word for it go on, try it. Honestly, you won't be...

Great place to go for country drink and bite to eat. Mitch and brad are smashing it with this venue. The food is so good and the mix it up with regular themed nights that always go down well. Bright friendly staff that are always cheerful and on it. I must say the Sunday lunch is the best place you can go from your own kitchen, seriously good and I have a high standard when it comes to my Sunday lunch. Great venue for the summer that offers a lovely garden area to catch those rare sunny days and out door play area to keep the little people happy. Dog friendly being a country pub so if you're on a walk it's a great spot to pin on your route as stopping and refueling point. Get yourself down and grab a great ale and cheeky...

Came for mums 70th as a big group of 16, sensibly they asked us to pre order and nothing was mixed up or left out. Everything was lovely bistro quality food (not pub grub) without being pretentious. The only minor niggle... I'm veggie so had the hot pot which had potatoes in it, cheesy potatoes on it and came with chips. A bit less potato please and something like green beans as a side... but think I'd have probably been given a choice had we been ordering a la carte. I'd recommend the Lemoncello desert cleansing and huge!!! Finally... you won't find better staff than at this pub... You can't fake liking your job and being a natural people person. Either you have it or you don't.. and all the staff have it. Thanks for a...