Actually Tasted Quite Like Boot

Bootleggers Bar

Set during the Flavour Prohibition

My partner came home late after meeting a friend down from Manchester and asked if I'd been to a new bar called 'Bootleggers', a speakeasy-themed place previously called the Workhouse on the Wellingborough Road. He'd popped in for a couple of beers and there had been live music and a good atmosphere, he'd not sampled the food but the thought that a lively bar offering pulled pork sliders and ribs to name a few dishes had opened up had to be worth a visit.

We went early one evening during the week, perhaps a little unfair to judge but the website promised 2 for 1 cocktails so it would have been churlish to pass this by. The pub is large and although money has obviously been lavished on the theme, it has a massive identity crisis with wide screen large plasma screens displaying rolling news visible whereever you choose to sit and indefensible modern pop music blaring in competition for your senses, surely a trick missed in terms of the theme there where a laid back vibe would be more in order.

The menu was pretty extensive, I would say there were poor offerings for vegetarians as meat was most definitely key. The prices are very reasonable, on a par with many lower end chain pubs but we ordered in hopeful anticipation the 'Bootleggers Platter' and the 'Pulled Pork Sliders'.

The sliders arrived first, three mini burgers with what I can only describe as something that may have at one point been pork drenched in a sweeter than I thought possible to make... barbeque-ish sauce. To fully comprehend this taste sensation, think meat paste from a jar doused in a sugary liquid, slightly warm. I'm sure that's enough for now.

The platter arrived. The delights that awaited us as shown in the picture made the sliders seem at least edible. I shall briefly elaborate as I shudder with the memory. Breaded chicken drumsticks, such as those 'Mum might get' from a well known freezer shop. The crumb was dry and flavourless while it was difficult to locate chicken flesh due to the amount of gristle.
The ribs were devoid of texture drenched once again in a sweet sickly sauce. If you've ever been unfortunate enough (or drunk enough) to try microwavable ribs you may just understand our disappointment. It gets worse.. read on.

The Italian meatballs were a revelation, or at least they were for me, never having suffered tinned meatballs as a child. They were once again lacking in texture and the tomato sauce did not improve matters, they were so poor my partner described the offending meatballs as tasting like someone had eaten them once already.

The onion rings and fries in balance were lovely, served hot and crisp, lacking in any seasoning but we were very hungry by this point. Dips served with the platter failed to impress, a standard barbeque and chilli sauce while the ice cream scooped glutinous mass was allegedly sour cream.

By this point the 2 for 1 cocktails were much needed, we tried to order a pitcher each but they weren't included much to my annoyance. The cocktail menu was substantial so two Aged Cubans were duly ordered. They arrived in due course, served in jam jars they tasted like vaguely alcoholic slush puppies with the merest hint of both rum and mint.

I think it unlikely we'll revisit but to balance out my cruelty, the prices are very cheap £14 for the two dishes. In fact our two cocktails outside the offer period would have cost the same as the food. It is a shame when somewhere a little different comes to a town dominated by chain pubs and restaurants we want to love it. In fact had the focus been on the quality food, we'd have gladly paid more and I feel this is a missed chance for a new venue. They could do worse than to take a look at my recipe for Pulled Pork, a shameless plug I know but it's gone down well with readers.