I went for Sunday lunch at village pub owned by TV legend – there was 1 thing missing

There’s nothing quite like a at a cosy pub. It offers the chance to enjoy a hearty meal with loved ones, without the hassle of cleaning up afterwards. But does a celebrity-owned offer the same experience?

Dianne Bourne of the visited The Plume of Feathers in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, owned by film and TV star Neil Morrissey. She noted that the establishment doesn’t shy away from promoting its famous owner. She wrote: “As you drive up, his name is there on all of the pub signs outside which trill: “Plume of Feathers… With Neil Morrissey”.

“When you walk through the door there are old family photos of the star and a fascinating full biography of Neil Anthony Morrissey from his early years in Stoke through to national film and TV success. All the menus bear a silhouette of Mr Morrissey’s face, while at the bar you can order a pint of his very own Morrissey Blonde pale ale.”

For admirers of the actor, the pub appears to be a treasure trove of memorabilia from his extensive career. Dianne discovered numerous photos of Neil adorning the walls, and even a copy of his Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) from 2009 when the actor faced financial difficulties.

Fans of Neil’s hit sitcom, Men Behaving Badly, will be delighted to spot a wooden plaque on the wall honouring the friendship between characters Gary and Tony. The playful spirit is also evident in the loo signs, one of which reads: “men to the left because women are always right”.

But does this fun-filled theme and decor detract from the important elements of a pub lunch – good food and drink?

Dianne had high praise for the establishment: “It’s a credit to the man, and his team of non-Morrissey themed staff, that when it comes to the food and drink here there’s no gimmick – it’s classic pub grub and ambiance and it’s done really, really well.”

“When we arrive on a Sunday afternoon to the village of Barlaston in Staffordshire, the pub is packed – which tends to be a sign that we’re on to something good here.

“It’s a pretty large space inside and I’m very glad I booked in advance because we were shown to the one vacant table in the entire place which overlooks a bowling green at the back.”

Even the tables follow a theme, with Dianne and her family seated at a table named the “HMS Bounty – Matthew Quintal”. This pays homage to a role Neil played in the 1984 film The Bounty, where he starred alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson and reportedly said he was Mel’s brother in an attempt to woo the ladies.

But it was another role that got the younger generation excited, Dianne said: “To make my kids’ eyes light up and gasp in wonder I instead say: ‘Guess what, the man who owns this pub is Bob the Builder!'”

“The pub’s website is similarly proud of its association with its showbiz owner. It says: ‘Welcome to the Plume of Feathers, a fantastic new pub venture in association with Neil Morrissey. When you visit you have to sample some of Neil’s own beers and ales.’

“Which naturally I did and they were excellent, a pint of the refreshing Morrissey Blonde ale priced at a very reasonable £4.30 as well.”

While Bruce Mackie holds the position of Head Chef at the Plume, their website suggests that Neil Morrisey occasionally puts in a shift. Unfortunately, Dianne didn’t spot the man himself during her visit.

However, she was impressed by the culinary offerings, saying: “Being in Morrissey’s home turf of Stoke-on-Trent here, there just had to be some oatcakes on the menu, but with a quirky spin here served as a starter with shredded duck (£8).I was pleased to see it was one of those classic old school Stokie oatcakes that’s like a giant floppy spotty tongue, and it worked really well rolled up with the crispy duck tucked inside and a drizzle of plum sauce.

“I also tried the Biscoff halloumi nuggets (£8) which were quite the taste sensation as I have to admit I’d never have thought about pairing a sweet slick of biscoff with a savoury dish like this but it really worked.”

She then described the mains they sampled: “For mains, there was naturally a big move for the beef and pork roast dinners (£17 each) around the table, but I preferred to give the Morrissey Blonde Ale Pie (£17) a go.

“The pie was an excellent mound of slow-cooked beef brisket encased in a wonderfully light pastry, served with a pile of bubble and squeak and the excellent addition of crispy kale, which is a personal favourite.

“The older folks around the table looked slightly stunned at the sheer size of the portions for the Sunday roasts when they arrived. They were all served with large crispy roast potatoes, giant Yorkshire pudding and a decent swill of thick gravy.

“You then get a huge plate of vegetables to share around the table as well.”

The younger guests also enjoyed their meals: “Meanwhile my nine-year-old devoured his kids’ sausage and chips (£10) in record time and gave a verdict of ’10/10′ for it all. Indeed there could be no complaint from us on the quality and value of food here.”

And Dianne also gave the thumbs up to the dessert offerings: “By now we were all stuffed, but ploughed on with desserts regardless. I particularly enjoyed the chocamocca (£7.50) while elsewhere the raspberry ruffle (£7.50) was wolfed down and ice creams all round for the kids (£5 for two scoops).”

Dianne wasn’t too disappointed by the lack of celebrity sightings, saying: “Did it matter that Neil himself wasn’t there? Well, I don’t suppose you really go to Gino D’Acampo’s Italian or Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat restaurant and expect to see them serving you up do you?”

Overall, she was happy with her experience, finishing her review by saying: “Neil can count himself lucky that with a great team working on his venture here, the pub and its grub is the real star.”