have to have bread and cheese.’
Max threw her a mock look of horror then smiled. ‘Best adjourn to the pub then. They do Sunday roasts there and it’s stopped raining so the walk will do us both good.’
The Beckleston Inn was a rambling fifteenth century building, too large for such a village but built in the days when Beckleston was on one of the main routes to London and when the village held a large market, attracting both vendors and purchasers, from miles around.
Those days were long gone; the railway had put paid to the market because better prices could be obtained by transporting goods to London and years later, the building of the motorway network meant that no one need ever pass through Beckleston, except by choice.
Terry and Trisha Walter inherited The Beckleston Inn from Trisha’s parents in 2001 and, after winning several thousand pounds on the National Lottery, they were able, not only to keep the place going but also to renovate it and hire a chef to improve the restaurant menu from standard pub fare, to gourmet dining. They sectioned off part of the Inn as an A La Carte restaurant whilst still serving traditional favourites like Ploughman’s Lunch and sausage and chips in the newly renovated “Bistro and Carvery Bar”. They also sold bar snacks such as crisps and sandwiches in the main public bar area as Trisha had decided, she would cater for all her patrons taste requirements.
Becky, Jess and Susie were seated at a table to one side of the large inglenook fireplace in the “Bistro and Carvery Bar” and were scanning the dessert menu when Max and Margaret Bedford strolled in.
Jess glanced up. ‘Speaking of something tasty, Max Bedford’s just walked in.’
Becky was facing towards the fire but she swivelled in her seat, blushed crimson then buried her head in the menu.
Susie let out a deep and meaningful sigh. ‘I know I said you could have him Becky but I’m beginning to regret it. I think I can honestly say that he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.’
‘I don’t want him! You’re welcome to him as far as I’m concerned,’ Becky said trying to force her eyes to focus on the menu. Somehow though, she seemed to be looking in the direction of the bar – and Max Bedford.
Max scanned the crowded room for a vacant seat, after buying drinks. He spotted Becky, Jess and Susie – who all seemed to be staring in his direction – and a smile formed at the corner of his mouth as he saw them hastily turn away.
As luck would have it, the couple sitting at the table on the opposite side of the inglenook, were just putting their coats on to leave.
He strolled over to the, now vacant, table and put the drinks down then glanced over to his mother who was studying a poster about a Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance. It was pinned to the wall near the front door and Max wondered why on earth she should be so mesmerised by it. He hoped she wasn’t thinking of finding herself a new man in Beckleston to go with the new house and new business venture then he realised, with a feeling of some dread, she was more likely thinking of finding him a new woman.
‘Good afternoon ladies,’ he said, turning his attention towards the opposite table and looking directly at Becky.
‘Hi,’ Jess said, ‘it’s nice to see you again.’
Susie just grinned and Becky threw him a brief smile then buried her head in the menu again.
Margaret spotted Max and made her way towards him.
‘May I introduce my mother to you,’ he said, when she reached the table. ‘Mum, I’d like you to meet Becky, Jess and Susie.’
Margaret beamed at them. ‘How lovely to meet you all. I’m Margaret Bedford. Do you all live in the village?’
She glanced from one to another, quickly appraising them and wondering whether one of them might be the, “something interesting” her son had mentioned. If she had to guess, she would say the one with the long blond hair and the large bust; definitely Max’s
Max threw her a mock look of horror then smiled. ‘Best adjourn to the pub then. They do Sunday roasts there and it’s stopped raining so the walk will do us both good.’
The Beckleston Inn was a rambling fifteenth century building, too large for such a village but built in the days when Beckleston was on one of the main routes to London and when the village held a large market, attracting both vendors and purchasers, from miles around.
Those days were long gone; the railway had put paid to the market because better prices could be obtained by transporting goods to London and years later, the building of the motorway network meant that no one need ever pass through Beckleston, except by choice.
Terry and Trisha Walter inherited The Beckleston Inn from Trisha’s parents in 2001 and, after winning several thousand pounds on the National Lottery, they were able, not only to keep the place going but also to renovate it and hire a chef to improve the restaurant menu from standard pub fare, to gourmet dining. They sectioned off part of the Inn as an A La Carte restaurant whilst still serving traditional favourites like Ploughman’s Lunch and sausage and chips in the newly renovated “Bistro and Carvery Bar”. They also sold bar snacks such as crisps and sandwiches in the main public bar area as Trisha had decided, she would cater for all her patrons taste requirements.
Becky, Jess and Susie were seated at a table to one side of the large inglenook fireplace in the “Bistro and Carvery Bar” and were scanning the dessert menu when Max and Margaret Bedford strolled in.
Jess glanced up. ‘Speaking of something tasty, Max Bedford’s just walked in.’
Becky was facing towards the fire but she swivelled in her seat, blushed crimson then buried her head in the menu.
Susie let out a deep and meaningful sigh. ‘I know I said you could have him Becky but I’m beginning to regret it. I think I can honestly say that he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.’
‘I don’t want him! You’re welcome to him as far as I’m concerned,’ Becky said trying to force her eyes to focus on the menu. Somehow though, she seemed to be looking in the direction of the bar – and Max Bedford.
Max scanned the crowded room for a vacant seat, after buying drinks. He spotted Becky, Jess and Susie – who all seemed to be staring in his direction – and a smile formed at the corner of his mouth as he saw them hastily turn away.
As luck would have it, the couple sitting at the table on the opposite side of the inglenook, were just putting their coats on to leave.
He strolled over to the, now vacant, table and put the drinks down then glanced over to his mother who was studying a poster about a Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance. It was pinned to the wall near the front door and Max wondered why on earth she should be so mesmerised by it. He hoped she wasn’t thinking of finding herself a new man in Beckleston to go with the new house and new business venture then he realised, with a feeling of some dread, she was more likely thinking of finding him a new woman.
‘Good afternoon ladies,’ he said, turning his attention towards the opposite table and looking directly at Becky.
‘Hi,’ Jess said, ‘it’s nice to see you again.’
Susie just grinned and Becky threw him a brief smile then buried her head in the menu again.
Margaret spotted Max and made her way towards him.
‘May I introduce my mother to you,’ he said, when she reached the table. ‘Mum, I’d like you to meet Becky, Jess and Susie.’
Margaret beamed at them. ‘How lovely to meet you all. I’m Margaret Bedford. Do you all live in the village?’
She glanced from one to another, quickly appraising them and wondering whether one of them might be the, “something interesting” her son had mentioned. If she had to guess, she would say the one with the long blond hair and the large bust; definitely Max’s
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