Cantley – Cantley Cock (All You Can Eat Ribs and Chicken Wings)
I noticed this pub from their Facebook advertising and after some checking with CAMRA friends it appears to have something of a positive reputation. That was evident when we arrived and their car park was nearly at capacity, something is driving (literally) people to this countryside pub which following normal logic of the trade would have seen it closed and turned into housing.
I’m not quite sure I can articulate why, but this is the most perfect looking of entrances for a country pub. I think it’s the homeliness and cosiness they’ve delivered here, although equally it could be just that they didn’t know where to put the stuff they’ve dumped here. That I can’t tell the difference is what makes it work for me.
I’m not sure that I’ll ever own a country pub, but if I did, I’m not sure that I’d dare hang dangerous agricultural implements from the ceiling. I can imagine I’d get in the local press not because of the wonderful selection of Polish craft beers that I was offering, but because a cart wheel had fallen on an elderly woman as she was eating a slice of Bakewell tart. And although my friend Liam is a civil engineer, I’m not sure I’d entirely trust his hammer skills or however it is they hang things from the ceiling.
Back to the cosiness theme here. And, indeed, the agricultural implements theme. I took these photos as we were leaving as the pub was nearly at capacity. Reserving a table is highly recommended here judging from just how busy it was.
The selection of real ales was strong, Legacy from Lacon’s Brewery, London Pride from Fuller’s, Origins from Lacon’s Brewery, Little Sharpie from Humpty Dumpty and Old Speckled Hen from Greene King. I took this photo as a reminder of the beers they had, but I quite like the colours here.
Page one of the menu.
Page two of the menu. It was the bottom left offer that I had come for, the all you can eat ribs and wings for £18.95. Although rather decadently priced for me, I hadn’t eaten all day (I went to a lunchtime talk at Norfolk Record Office on King Street in Norwich) so I felt that I deserved it. I’d also had the most ridiculous situation with Wordle for the second time in a few days, but I’m only mentioning that in passing as nearly no-one would believe it if I told them, so that needed a private celebration.
I must admit that I was getting nervous about the arrangement as it’s offered from 17:00 until 21:00 and my order hadn’t arrived been taken until just before 20:00 so I was worried about getting my money’s worth. The service was just a little sluggish at first, but was always friendly and helpful. As a spoiler, I needn’t have worried.
Then this arrived. I’m not sure that this photo really shows the amount of food here, the ribs are on the left, the chicken wings and burnt ends on the right, with coleslaw in the middle and a mostly hidden mound of fries underneath. I started off going through this thinking that I could maybe cope with another trough of food, to thinking I’ll just ask for more chicken wings and chips, to thinking I’ll just ask for chips and then deciding I could only just finish what they had given me.
On the quality, this was exceptional, it wasn’t just a quantity thing. The ribs were tender and fell off the bone, the chicken wings were moist and covered in a thick and crispy coating. It was all very moreish and indeed quite messy to eat, but I’m not sure that eating ribs can authentically be done in any other manner. The helpful staff member did ask if I wanted another one, but I thought that would be reckless.
The beer was also decent, I went for the Little Sharpie from Humpty Dumpty that I hadn’t had before and this was well kept, at the appropriate temperature and had a pleasant taste. It was a much better selection of real ales than I had expected, but the popularity of the venue must allow them to get through a fair amount of beer.
Richard, who celebrated another big milestone birthday last weekend (he’s not yet 65, so anyone who knows him can work that one out), ordered the whitebait for starter and the Hunter’s Chicken for main course. He didn’t get close to finishing his main, such was the quantity of food that they served him. He approved of the quality too, but apologies I couldn’t take a photo as I had a fifth of a litre of BBQ sauce on my hands at that time.
It isn’t all about all you can eat of course, but I am tempted to return on a Monday for their unlimited curries as they sound most delightful. This is a venue that doing an excellent job of bringing people into their countryside location and I can see why it’s so busy, the service is friendly, the environment clean, the food keenly priced and the quality of the food high. I’m slightly wondering why this isn’t in the Good Beer Guide, but CAMRA note that it was taken over by new owners in July 2021 so maybe the situation will change as its reputation continues to grow. All really rather lovely, this is a proper country pub.
