IT'S probably three or more years since we last dined at the Plough Inn at Wigglesworth, so we were looking forward to renewing the pleasant experiences of a typical Sunday lunch we remembered in the past.

We knew things wouldn't be exactly the same as we were aware that the previous owners, the Goodalls, had retired and were now "ploughing a different furrow altogether".

Our recollections of the Plough from that time were of a well run house with good food, the highlight of which was a groaning table full of delightful delicacies known as "Sylvia's sumptuous sweets".

First question on entering, therefore, was: "Is Sylvia still here?"

Reply: "No, she's gone to Skipton Building Society." What a waste! Mortgages could never be as interesting as her meringues.

Our first impression of the pub was that the decor looked a little "tired" compared to what we remembered, but the conservatory dining room had had a more than a colourful splash of paint (albeit not always well aimed) and was re-born as the Harlequin restaurant.

Sunday lunch at the Plough is available at £12.95 for three courses and £10.95 if you miss out the dessert.

For starters my wife chose the stilton and broccoli soup which she enjoyed. I opted for the bacon and mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce which for me was too much sauce and insufficient bacon.

Also on offer was grilled goat's cheese, a prawn kebab and a cheese and fruit concoction.

For mains, my wife's selection was traditional roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. The thick cut beef, she reported, was tasty, but expressed some disappointment with the accompanying vegetables which were a bit uninspiring and were served in halting fashion.

It was obviously not going to be my day, as my poached haddock was fine in itself but appeared to be "bottom feeding" below a lake of parsley sauce.

Roast pork, chicken supreme and a vegetable stir-fry were the other choices For desserts you could select from quite a comprehensive menu and my wife chose a lime and lemon charlotte but I just thought about Sylvia.

The bill in total came to £33 including a couple of glasses of house wine.

I certainly wouldn't pretend to be an authority on fine dining. I'm like most people I know what I like.

I am conscious of the fact that the Plough, according to its publicity leaflet, has been reviewed before by other(s) from the Craven Herald and their comments were apparently more favourable than ours.

I just can't help feeling that I had enjoyed it more last time.

Reviewed by: Gerry Allsopp