Butcher Kevin Berkins is no stranger to winning awards, for his sausages as well as his first pub, the Fence Gate Inn. But you never know with that difficult second pub. Since opening at the end of last year though, the Eagle at Barrow has proved itself a worthy winner in its own right.
Berkins used to frequent the Eagle, on the main road between Blackburn and Clitheroe, as a teenager, and he's invested heavily in the site, expanding it and transforming it into a relaxed, spacious, upmarket venue that still retains pub values with an offer that attracts customers from across the social spectrum.
For the Sunday luncher, it's a great place to while away an afternoon and definitely a special experience.
The 'wow' factor comes with the open theatre kitchen flanked by two glass-fronted cabinets, one displaying home-smoked products the other a unique, custom-made temperature and humidity-controlled cabinet for aging beef. Anyone ordering the 35-day-aged beef for their roast can watch future joints coming to age while they eat!
Other traditional roasts are available too, of course - leg of Bowland spring lamb and loin of Salmesbury pork - plus more unusual dishes on a Sunday menu that changes weekly, such as the wild boar loin with plum compote and sloe gin jus, trio of game, home-smoked haddock and monkfish, as well as vegetable options.
Good food requires the right setting to be enjoyed in, and the Eagle creates a warm and friendly atmosphere with well-trained staff putting customers at ease as soon as they arrive.
Many customers enjoy a pint of local ale at the bar before sitting down to eat. They might extend their visit in the pub's champagne bar, taking coffee or something stronger to the tinkling of a grand piano.
The extensive grounds that came with the pub give the Eagle a chance to take the Sunday experience outside and last summer saw the pub host hog roasts, barbecues, al fresco buffets and live jazz. There is also a giant outdoor chess set and Connect4, an astroturf croquet lawn and quoits rink, making the pub an all-round entertainment destination. A winter sports day has been programmed for a Sunday in the future.
Word has spread fast and the Eagle has quickly built up a following among locals. It is already the hub of the community, with regulars giving vital feedback on how they'd like to enjoy their Sundays, all contributing to making the pub a weekend destination for families from miles around.
Kevin Berkins wanted the Eagle to set new standards for the Sunday pub lunch experience and the signs are he's succeeding.