The Joiner’s Arms

Tucked away in the pretty south-Leicestershire village of Bruntingthorpe, the Joiner’s Arms is an attractive, whitewashed old building that has built a good reputation for food. It is a Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning pub that has had plenty of love lavished on it by owners Stephen and Tracey Fitzpatrick.

Inside, the flagstone floor, exposed oak beams and church-pew benches with designer cushions look the part. It’s all very Country Living and thoroughly pleasant. Understated modern touches bring things up to date. The loos are clean and beautifully decorated.

Great Food Club has eaten here several times and has generally been very impressed. The Joiner’s is invariably full and the atmosphere is warm, happy and content; service is swift  and polite; cask ale is available and the wine list is extensive.

Our experience of the food has been good. When we had the soup it was fresh, warming and wholesome. A Sunday lunch of rump of roast beef with Yorkshires and seasonal veg was a delight. The mature Scottish beef was thick, tender and well-cooked; the roast salmon with leeks, peas and mustard-grain sauce tasted fantastic. Expect reasonably priced, good-quality, simple, well-cooked ingredients in lovely surroundings.