Crofters, Barrow

Our three year old daughter is witty and articulate, knows how to use cutlery and a toilet - the height of sophistication. 

Our six week old son on the other hand is inclined to random outbursts of screaming, and requires regular trips to the nearest changing facilities due to certain volcanic eruptions. We let him off of course, due to his age, but it does mean when dining out we really do need to find somewhere which is "family friendly".

I'd heard Crofters in Barrow was one such place, and as it has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment it seemed the ideal time to give it a try.

We booked Sunday lunch at 1pm and were glad we did, as when we arrived the pub was heaving.

Diners ranged in age from six weeks to 80 years old - I know this because the woman sat across us from with her family us had a birthday balloon displaying her age.

A waitress swiftly took our drinks order at our table - a pint of Wainwright, diet Coke and an orange squash.

Crofters is a Thwaites pub so choice is limited at the pump to ales from its own brewery, but as Wainwright is a fine, easy-drinking session ale which goes down well with food my husband had little complaint.

The menu is stuffed with pub classics. I opted for the fish and homemade chips with mushy peas. Mike decided to try the roast beef, and our daughter fancied the child's pizza, chips and beans.

The waitress warned us there was a bit of a wait, but we had come equipped with a colouring book and newspaper so we were quite happy to relax over our drinks.

The landlady was busy dashing from table to table, making sure everyone was well looked after, and she even gave us a countdown to our meal appearing, which it did after around 30 minutes.

It was well worth the wait. Mike's roast was sumptuous and more than worth £6.95. A huge slice of tender roast beef was accompanied by cauliflower cheese, a heavenly Yorkshire pudding, broccoli with plenty of bite and a generous serving of potatoes. The huge jug of rich, dark gravy was perfect company for this hearty dish.

My beer-battered fish was cooked to perfection. The batter was soft and golden rather than crispy, and the fish melted in the mouth. The homemade chips were ridiculously moreish - I finished all mine and scooped up Rowan's leftovers. The generous serving of creamy mushy peas elevated this pub classic to restaurant standard.

The child's portion of pizza, chips and beans was good value at £3.25, although the pizza looked like it was of the microwave variety rather than made in the kitchen. This didn't stop Rowan hoovering it all up, however.

Part way through our meal, with that sixth sense all babies seem to posses, Will stirred from his sleep and began bellowing to let us know it was time for a feed. Luckily the packed pub was so noisy his cries could barely be heard above the general merriment.

And of course we had to try out the changing facilities fairly soon after he'd had his fill. Unfortunately they didn't quite live up to the high standard of decor throughout the rest of the pub - the room was quite chilly, and with a bit of patchy plasterwork it looked as if the refurbishment hadn't quite made it that far yet.

But overall Crofters was the ideal venue for a family lunch. We enjoyed the warm friendly welcome and great value food - the total bill was £26.45 including two pints and two soft drinks.

And as the sun finally starts to break through the clouds it's worth mentioning the beer garden, which has plenty of tables and a play area. The swings were out of action on our visit, but hopefully this will be rectified once spring comes round.

Food 4 

Atmosphere 4 

Service 4 

Value 5

Pros

Friendly and welcoming staff 

Great food and well-kept ale 

Plenty of tables - but book at busy times

Cons

Changing facilities and play area need a bit of TLC