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I am a big fan of Rick Stein, I dined at the Seafood Restaurant some 13 years ago and traveled 4 hours just to get there. It was nice! Would I go back, No. What would be the point? He wasn’t even in the kitchen 13 years ago, the chances of him cooking anything now are non-existent.

I am not a Gordon Ramsey fan. Have I ever wanted to eat at one of his many restaurants, not really.

Jamie Oliver, no thanks. Personally I want to know the creator of my meal is at least in the same kitchen and not somewhere in Asia up to his elbows in birds eye chillis or eating BBQ in Cowboy country up to his ankles in cow shit.

Looking for somewhere to have Sunday Lunch this weekend I chanced upon Anthony Worrall Thompson’s The Greyhound in Oxfordshire where he has fully advertised himself head chef.

I rang at 10.45 on Saturday and to my surprise, it was the distinctive voice of “Wozza” himself who answered the phone. When I enquired for a table for Sunday lunch he informed me that he had “nothing for dinner only lunch.” Great, lunch is what I had asked for so we agreed on a table for 5 at 1 o clock.

Arriving at the pub the following day my family was pleasantly surprised at the charm of the Oldie World Pub poised in a quiet lane and bathed in the spring Sunshine.

The grounds were well kept and the garden was busy with people eating and drinking.

Inside Anthony’s wife Jay greeted us and told us there was no booking for us, they have 2 lunch sittings at 12.30 and 2.30 only and as our booking was at 1 o clock “it must be the other Greyhound near here”.

I told her that I had spoken with Anthony and he personally took my booking. Jay then went to the kitchen where Anthony confirmed this, only he had booked us in on Saturday.

We were informed we were a “no show” and the pub was fully booked and there was nothing they could do for us.

With this my wife Clarissa had had enough. “but we’ve just traveled to get here!” she interjected in an indignant manner which only she can carry off. I clearly wasn’t the only one who could sense her heels boring into the flagstones. With tension in the air, we were then given free drinks and asked to sit in the garden, and Jay would see if there was anything she could do.

After 5 minutes or so Jay returned after a clientele shuffle and told us she could squeeze us on to a table for 5. We ordered our food from the garden and then went through to our table.

I had roast loin and belly of middle white pork and Clarissa had the combo which was pork, lamb, and beef. They were both delicious and the portions were very healthy. The vegetables came in mini Le Creuset's to share and it was more than enough. The gravy was rich with a depth of flavour, but a little extra in a small pot would have been appreciated.

The only thing that marred my meal was the disappointing goose fat roasties, these were overcooked and hard (as you can see in the picture). If I wore dentures I’m sure they would have been non-negotiable.

The children all seemed to enjoy their burgers.

We vacated the table for the next sitting and retired to the garden for our desert. The children had ice creams and Clarissa had the tasting dessert which consisted of Eton mess, creme brulee, caramel meringue, and chocolate brownie, she said it was delicious.

Would I go again? Quite frankly if I knew The Greyhound had sittings I probably wouldn’t have booked in the first place and especially if I was going with friends. I know pubs with food of equal quality where I don’t need to watch the clock.

rick stein the greyhound anthony worrall thompson oxfordshire the great food company