Sam’s call the Samaritans

A few months ago I wrote about Samuel Smiths’ committing culinary suicide by introducing a menu consisting overwhelmingly of stodgy microwaved pies to their pubs in prosperous Cheshire. The company is not exactly renowned for responding to customer complaints, but it seems they have now relented. A visit today to the Vine at Dunham Woodhouses revealed an expanded menu that still included the pies, but also featured steaks, fish and chips, burgers and sandwiches. Good to see common sense prevailing. The Vine, incidentally, is a very pleasant multi-roomed pub that has a spacious beer garden and also seems to retain a core clientèle of regular drinkers as well as the diners.