WE sidled sheepishly past signs.

The unequivocally declared only well-behaved children were welcome and only in the dining and garden areas.

Even then, they had to be out of the pub by 7.30pm and were not allowed in the bar area at all. Pushchairs were completely banned.

It was noticeable that, even on a Sunday lunchtime, there were no kids in sight at The Coach Inn, Lesbury.

On a glorious October day, all the tables outside were taken by the time we arrived at 1pm.

So we ran the gauntlet and sat ourselves down inside at a table to the right of the bar area, waiting to be either moved on, thrown out or simply warned.

But we received nothing but a warm welcome from the waiting staff. It may be a different story during the evening but the children were more than just tolerated.

The Coach is a strange place.

An incredible effort has obviously been made to smarten up the outside with baskets and tubs overflowing with flowers. The splash of cheering colour continues even in the winter months.

The Hawaiian-style straw umbrellas may be taking it a bit far for a north Northumberland pub, but the whole effect is spectacular.
However, the interior did not live up to the build-up.

It's like a beautifully-wrapped Christmas present with a second-hand gift inside.

The walls were yellow and black in places thanks to numerous candles and presumably smoke from the days when cigarettes were allowed in public places.

The ceilings, dark, mustard-coloured woodchip, were claustrophobically low and the space tight. If only the same attention had been given to inside as out, it would be a paradise.

Sunday lunch is served from noon to 5pm, the menu having an air of authority and authenticity.

Starters numbered five: Home-made soup and fresh crusty bread, £3.60; crispy vegetable parcels and chilli dip, £4.60; succulent prawn cocktail, £5.60; crispy camembert and raspberry coulis, £5.10.

We leap-frogged straight to the main course. A choice of four Sunday roasts awaited us: Slow-roast Northumbrian beef, slow-roast mini-joint of Northumbrian lamb, chicken breast or loin of pork, each at £7.95.
Vegetarian options were from the main menu: Fresh pasta and roast Mediterranean vegetables and goats' cheese (£9.40); cheese, leek and spinach crispbake (£9.70); or warm Thai vegetable and noodle salad (£7.60).

Service was prompt and cheery. The children were offered half-portions and both plumped for the beef, while my wife and I chose lamb.
Portions were generous and extra gravy, rich and full of flavour, was appreciated.

Two roast and two boiled potatoes accompanied a fair lump of lamb and a Yorkshire pudding on our plates, with a separate dish of cauliflower, broccoli, a carrot and swede mash and small peas.

Too much salt had been sprinkled on the roast potatoes and added to the carrot mash and the broccoli was over-cooked, but apart from that, the meals were sound, wholesome and tasty.

The slow-roast lamb fell off the bone and the children's beef barely required a knife.

It was a general thumbs up from everyone!

On to the sweets – and quite a good selection at £3.80 each: Baked Alaska, bread and butter pudding, fresh strawberry brulee, chocolate fudge cake, sticky toffee pudding, home-made lime mousse and fresh raspberries, Dutch apple pie or fresh strawberries and cream.

Between us, we had two sticky toffee puddings, a chocolate fudge cake and a lime mousse.

The sauce was soaked into the individually-made puddings, making them more gooey toffee puddings. I prefer mine firmer with a drizzle of sauce.

But each dessert was well-presented on oblong plates and a nice way to round off the meal.

Filter coffee from Pumphreys of Newcastle was £1.50 with free top-ups – a generous touch.

The main menu looked appetising and we pledged to return for an evening meal (perhaps without the children!).

I liked the note on the bottom – this menu is only a guide, special requests welcome – another nice touch.

The food bill was a reasonable £41.30.

STAR RATINGS (out of five)
Quality of food 3.5
Choice 3
Vegetarian choice 3
Value for money 3.5
Atmosphere 3
Service 4
Children catered for 3
Disabled access 3
Disabled toilet No but access to toilet is good
Overall experience 3.5
Verdict: Decent Sunday offering.

Contact details: The Coach Inn, Lesbury, Alnwick, NE66 3PP. Tel: 01665 830865