This evening saw me returning to the Townhouse Arnold for dinner.

After the sudden closure in summer 2018, Townhouse reopened at the start of this year with new owners, a new kitchen team, and a new lease of life.

Situated on Front Street, Arnold with a car park just around the back, it is a great location for the locals to enjoy a bite and a pint.

The interior is still lovely and opulent, very modern yet really welcoming and has a great atmosphere. The tables are nicely spaced out so you don’t feel you are sitting shoulder to shoulder with the table next to you and the Friday night vibe was relaxed and happy.

We were shown straight to our table and ordered a bottle of pinot grigio and two glasses, the perfect start to the weekend.

We caught up on the gossip and started to peruse the evening menu. As well as a selection of pub favourites such as sirloin steak and belly pork, what interested me most was the tapas menu. The brainchild of Steve the head chef, it is a selection of expertly chosen small plates that encourage you to share with your dining partner.

I love tapas for this exact reason. Why have one dish when you can try a variety?

We both went for the sharing tapas (£9.95 per person) and had generous servings of each of the following:

Breads, oils, feta and olives
Oh my goodness the olives were amazing. Juicy and sweet they were incredibly moreish. The breads were a mix of malted, white and poppy seed, straight from the oven and hot to the tough. We also ad balsamic and olive oil to dip the bread into. The feta was topped with a green pesto that looked so appetising I almost had a bite.

Crispy cod with spiced tomato jam
The cod was lovely and flaky with a crispy batter that was well seasoned and piping hot. The spicy sauce added a little kick and really complimented the delicate flavour of the fish.

Peppered Bavette steak with a red wine glaze
I could eat this over and over and over and never get bored. The steak was cooked delightfully rare with a crisp outer and seasoned with Maldon sea salt and cracked black pepper. Juicy and tender, this was the stand out dish for me.

Chorizo with honey and sherry vinegar
Another winning dish on any tapas menu, the sweet sticky sauce was a delicious addition to perfectly cooked baby chorizo. My mouth is watering at the thought of it.

Moroccan spiced lamb arancini with smoked paprika and aioli
I love Moroccan spices and the sweet slightly smokey flavours brought out the delicate taste of the lamb. The paprika aioli gave a hint of smokey spice and was a great pairing.

Korean belly pork, spring onion, caramelised peanuts
I love pork belly and this was no different. The spicy sauce of chilli and garlic seeped through the fat of the delicious pork belly and the coriander added a lovely fresh touch. The fat to meat ratio was perfect and the whole dish was brilliant.

Padron peppers, sea salt, red wine
Again another dish I have to have if I visit a tapas restaurant, these slightly piquant teeny peppers pack a punch. Paired with sea salt and a deliciously sweet red wine sauce, there needs to be 10 times this amount to satisfy my padron penchant.

The tapas was fantastic, we were so stuffed it was had to believe that the food came to under a tenner each!

Full to the brim of tapas, my tummy didn’t want dessert but my mind certainly did. We spied a chocolate and hazelnut cheesecake paired with a nut brittle and decided to share. OH. MY. GOD. The gooey chocolate cheesecake was divine! Just what the doctor ordered although it was so rich that I for once am glad we shared. I urge you to pop in for a coffee and a slice of that deliciousness!

Since the relaunch, I feel that the Townhouse has gone from strength to strength. With Steve (head chef, right) at the helm and Lewis (left) running the kitchen, the food being bought to the table is head and shoulders above what it used to be. I love the idea of the tapas sharing board and for £9.95 per person it is an absolute steal! Please support this local bar & restaurant as the food is fantastic, the staff absolutely lovely and the price point is extremely low for the quality of the food. I highly recommend that you visit and try it for yourself!

They have special offer nights too including:
Tuesday: two mains and a bottle of house wine for £25!
Wednesday: 50% off ALL steaks!!!!
Sunday: Kids eat for £1 with a paying adult!
(and so much more, head to their WEBSITE  or FACEBOOK for more info)