The Old Red Cow

Wednesday, August 03, 2011 - New owners haven't mucked about with The Cow's exterior, and the decor inside comes from the modern beer bar school of austerity, which is no bad thing: vintage European advertising plates liven up the plain walls, and there's a lot of worn-in wood...We had a couple of top-notch Sunday roasts on our visit, with free-range chicken and well-hung beef bought from just over the road. The rest of the menu is solid British pub grub - potted ham with piccalilli, beef burger, steak and oyster pie - with a few more interesting-looking specials. On a blackboard, an Inspiral Carpets-style cow proclaims: 'I love beer'; whoever puts the drinks menu together clearly does too.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009 - A cosy two-floor space with homely touches (rugs on the floor, an upright piano) offset against quirky modernities like a free jukebox, funky light fittings and a shiny gas fire. There are two ales on tap with occasional guests like Wadworth, plus brilliantly cheap cocktails that nod to the pub’s bovine name: Mooojito, Cosmooopolitan and Moscow Muuuule. The owners insist “this is not a gastropub”, but you’ll recognise it as such, with stripped wooden tables and a menu that includes Welsh rarebit and Lancashire hotpot.