When I was a teenager, and just old enough to legally drink, there was a rule in place which meant only hotels were allowed to serve strong drink on a Sunday, and even then only to people who were travelling.
Being part of a devious crowd who liked to bend this rule, we’d sometimes take the bus from Inverness to the Coach House Inn on the eastern outskirts of the town and have a grand old time before walking back to the town having enjoyed the craic – and a dram or two.
Many happy memories were created at the old Coach House Inn which has always had a lovely cosy, old world charm to it. It sits on land that was originally part of Stoneyfield House, a small holding on the Raigmore estate. The estate was sold off in small lots and in 1918, one of the lots was the Coach House Inn.
Some years ago, it changed its name to become The Snow Goose, and in the last few months it’s been all change again as it is now part of the Vintage Inns Group and been given a major refurbishment.
That’s made it something of a local talking point as the gardens have had a rather severe haircut while the outside has been painted a cold shade of pale blue. You can’t fail to notice the pub now, which I suspect was always the goal.
But don’t let the colour put you off. Step inside and you’ll find yourself enveloped in a country pub oozing charm and warmth. The pub is divided into a series of small rooms, each of which now houses a live log fire giving off a lovely welcoming smell.
The conservatory seems more accessible and would be a great area for anyone wanting to book a large group. There are old beams throughout and the walls are adorned with a nice blend of art and artefacts.
As to the food, what’s on offer is wholesome pub grub, with some traditional dishes being given a more modern twist. Prawn cocktail, for example, includes king prawn, lobster and avocado, while burger fans can tuck into a premium Wagyu burger. There’s also plenty of regional cask ales and affordably priced wines to choose from.
We were shown to our table by general manager Gillian Newman, a Highland lass herself with years of experience under her belt. Diners can choose from al la carte or fixed price lunch and dinner menus which are available at certain times.
From a good selection of starters, I chose the vegetarian oven-baked button and Portobello mushrooms in a garlic and mature cheddar sauce served with two enormous slices of rustic bread. This was a lovely dish, really warming with just a hint of garlic and a lovely strong, thick cheesy sauce which I mopped up greedily with my dark brown bread.
My other half ordered a prawn and lobster cocktail which had plenty of plump, juicy prawns, a couple of wee bits of lobster, creamy, fresh avocado and plenty of well-seasoned and dressed salad leaves.
I was unsure what to have for mains so asked our friendly waitress, Nadia, who recommended the steak and mushroom pie. The pieces of steak were small but there were plenty of them, all cooked in a red wine sauce which you could really taste.
It was topped with an enormous piece of puff pastry which was light yet buttery, and served with a great pile of creamy mashed potatoes, carrots, broccoli and cabbage. It was a man-sized portion and I struggled to finish it.
Across the table, two tasty seared fillets of sea bass, served with asparagus and a piquant lobster and samphire sauce were quietly being demolished which is always a good sign.
After a suitable breathing space, Nadia persuaded us to take up the option of a coffee and mini-pudding at £4.50 each which seemed good value.
A slice of Bourbon pecan pie for me and Bramley apple pie for him. My goodness, I’m glad we didn’t order the full-size versions as these were pretty generous, leaving us with only enough energy to sit by the fire awhile to finish our red wine (Global Roaming Pinot noir 2015) before walking back to Inverness, just like the good old days…