The Eagle and Child ~ Ramsbottom's revamped staple pub deserves to be celebrated

Another slight foray into the world of food/restaurant critiquing here. Anyone who has lived in and around the area of Ramsbottom in Lancashire (which in itself is rapidly becoming established as a quite a name in the world of North West culinary achievement) will tell you that The Eagle and Child has been going for donkeys. A staple watering hole for regulars for generations, it has also gone through various iterations of providing "a bit of grub" under the helm of various guvnors over the years. Recently however, I sampled a slice of the latest Eagle and Child incarnation, and was pleasantly surprised.

Apparently, the new regime "opened" the Eagle and Child (or their version of it) in October 2011, led by a man simply known as "Glen", and it has since gone from strength to strength. A new interactive and edible beer garden, an intuitive and apparently highly successful youth training scheme, and a whole host of awards from the likes of Thwaites, The Great British Pub Awards, and the Observer.
All this of course, I have since found out with a bit of research. However on Saturday I spent a little while in the Eagle and Child and found the whole experience very enjoyable, on the whole, and what's more, all the work the staff claim to be doing was easily visible to the eye of the humble customer.

The place was packed, they struggled to fit walk-ins in and they obviously had great call for their services, so whatever they're doing seems to be working, even over two years on. Their front of house staff seemed decisive, organised, and welcoming, despite being quite rushed it would seem. With regards to their youth training scheme - despite one or two  (one young boy walking around and speaking with a constant dazed and bemused expression and who also didn't seem to know the difference between a lemonade and a latte - which was slightly off-putting) they seemed to be doing quite well. Also, for simply trying hard to train these young people and openly advertising the fact that they are; I cannot help but admire the Eagle and Child for that.
Though I was only there for a spot of lunch, their culinary hospitality still leapt out at me. My honey roasted ham hock sandwich, served with some remarkable 'pastry-tortilla chips' that I'd never seen before, was most enjoyable. Not only that, but I did read the full menu (which can currently be found on their website) and almost every dish sounded deliciously intriguing. Well worth a look I think.

So yes, overall I feel that the new minds behind the regenerated Eagle and Child are doing very well, and I am quite impressed with what they have produced. I reccomend it to anyone who has not been, and I for one would welcome another visit.