Having added a large extension in November 2014, the Sutherland Arms feels slightly schizophrenic - half historic country pub, half modern hotel restaurant. Moreover, the fresh and fancy decor is a bit incoherent - wooden slats are mixed with arts and crafts swirly wallpaper, glitzy chandeliers and tiled floors. The Sutherland Arms, which claims to be able to sit 60 people for dinner, certainly isn't very cosy. If you are a large party, you might be offered a three course menu featuring three choices per course - the options tend to be old-fashioned and unimaginative pub fare. To start, the prawn cocktail can be poor, but the soup is better. Among the main courses, the steak and ale pie is not bad. Although the accompanying chunky
chips can be a bit greasy, they are tasty all the same and you get a pile of nicely-cooked vegetables. For desert, the apple pie can be a little lame. Moreover, on a busy evening, the waiting and kitchen staff seem extremely stretched and the service can slow almost to a halt. Fortunately, the Cumberland beer on tap is very smooth and goes down a treat. 6/10
