The Three Horse Shoes, Pit Lane, Leamside (From Durham Times)

The Three Horse Shoes, Pit Lane, Leamside

1:55pm Friday 21st March 2008

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The back road to the Back Room

THE Leamside Line has been back in the news recently with the latest talk of the disused old rail link being brought back into use.

It has prompted more than one or two queries from the uninitiated: "Where's Leamside?"

Those familiar with the area will be aware it's the tiny hamlet tagging on the bottom end of West Rainton, just off Pit House Lane, better known as the back road to Woodstone Village and Fencehouses.

Regular users of the road will be aware of what appears to be very much the archetypal village local - the Three Horse Shoes.

But fewer may be aware of a recent development at the premises with an extension to the Back Room restaurant.

Apparently, it only opened in December, and on our recent visit it still appeared to have that justopened feel.

The restaurant is, as the name suggests, tucked away at the back.

But, Tardis-like, it features an expansive main room, with an attractive lobby approach plus outdoor seating for when the weather warms later in the year.

A walk through the connecting door is like taking a step back in time, as the front room retains the old world charm of a village hostelry, apart from the large screen TV above the open fireplace.

Back in the restaurant, customers are greeted on arrival and the staff are warm and friendly, appearing to be genuinely pleased to see you.

There is a regular menu or, for the Sabbath only, the Back Room Sunday lunch list.

The range of starters includes black pudding and peppered sauce, Caesar salad with crispy bacon lardons or gravalax and potato salad, all priced at £3.75.

Our options of minestrone soup and baked garlic mushrooms in crispy cheddar crumb were both excellent. The only downside was from my better half, who did not believe her portion of mushrooms was big enough, but only because those that she had were so tasty.

Traditional roasts were the choice of main course, beef and pork, both served with a very crispy, large Yorkshire pudding.

An accompanying plate of mixed vegetables features very tasty carrot and cheesy cauliflower, plus warmly received mushy peas.

Other Sunday main courses included deep fried haddock, chips and mushy peas, kleftiko - slowcooked lamb with Mediterranean seasoning - or leek, cheddar and mushroom tart, all priced at £7.50.

Desserts of mixed dairy icecream, passion fruit cheesecake, profiteroles, chocolate tart and sticky toffee pudding are all priced at £3.75. The passion fruit cheesecake took the honours, closely followed by the sticky toffee pudding.

Our drinks included a very passable house white wine and, from the impressive range of no less than seven cask ales, Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

It was worth an extra pint, and we left with favourable comments all round, with the final bill an acceptable £48.75.

While the Leamside Line may never get out of the sidings, it appears to be full steam ahead for the Three Horse Shoes and its new restaurant.

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