OVERLOOKING the sweep of Great Totham Cricket Club’s lush green, The Bull and Willow is the sort of village gastro pub which gets brighter and more inviting as you walk up to it.
Its pale blue exterior compliments the landscape while the famous willow whispers along the right-hand side, lending a touch of countryside charm.
The small, slightly tucked-away entrance hints at the age of the site and invites diners to duck inside and explore.
Step through the door and you’re greeted first by the bar area to the left, with relaxed seating, gleaming glasses along the back wall, and a television for those who like their pint with a side of sport.
The restaurant area to the right is where the eatery really shows its hand. Warm lighting brushes a bright white ceiling, giving the room a soft, flattering glow.
Plush booths line one side of the space, with cosier tables running along the other. Leather sofas face the main counter, ideal for a pre-dinner drink, while another booth fills the light-soaked bay window overlooking the green.
Tables are properly dressed with two sets of cutlery, thick white napkins and polished glassware, reinforcing the venue’s elegance.
Menus full of crowd-pleasing dishes arrive swiftly.
Starters such as goats’ cheese and pickled beetroot tart or salt and pepper squid set the tone, before classic mains like beef lasagne, a choice of chicken, vegan or “bull” burgers, sausages and mash, beer battered haddock and chips and steak and ale pie step up, all at reassuringly affordable prices.
Desserts include Biscoff cheesecake, sticky toffee pudding and chocolate brownie, each served with ice cream for a proper finish.
The plates don’t disappoint. Sausages and mash are tastefully lain across the plate, with bright leeks and broccoli framing a warm pool of rich gravy.
Firm, herby sausages burst on the tongue alongside smooth, flavour-packed mash which is also sprinkled with herbs.
The chicken burger (in this instance, ordered plain) is perfectly tender meat nestled in a voluptuous bun, with fries in their own metal pot striking exactly the right balance between crisp and soft.
With portion sizes pitched just right, attentive service and the ever-present view of the green, The Bull and Willow delivers the kind of comforting, quietly polished experience that keeps people coming back for more.
Share