SWITHLAND.

The Griffin Inn is not far from Bradgate park and can get busy in the summer, despite the large size. It has a dedicated restaurant that serves good pub restaurant food (served seven days a week) for about £8 a head/course and range from monk fish to steak. There are also two or three choices for vegetarians. The restaurant has a higher ceiling than the rest of the pub, but retains the beams and the atmosphere. There is also a small bar here which can serve the full range of drinks. Down the corridor is the bar area (see picture) where you can sit as the round tables with their brass tops. Seating is a choice of stools or the bench seats around the wall. There is the main bar here ('L' shaped) with its wooden overhang, note the metal foot support. The ales on offer were Adnams, Ruddles and two or three others from national brands like Fullers and Marston's. Ask for the beers to be served without sparklers and you will get a full pint, if you like that of course. Decor here is dark, even when the lights are on as the dark carpet and beamed ceiling reduce ambient lighting to a minimum. The walls are covered with old pictures of all sorts. Through a doorway to the left of the now defunct fireplace there is another room on the way to the toilets. This is the other small part of the bar, with its larger tables and chairs. It can get cold here as the extension which houses the toilets is draughty. Decor is much the same as the main bar area. Toilets are accessible for the disabled and so is the main bar and restaurant. For the summer there is a beer garden come patio and skittle alley. Children are welcome for eating and until 9pm.