I love stumbling over an absolute gem… somewhere slightly off the beaten track with a welcoming feel and incredible grub. I recently visited Star at Lidgate and was so pleased to find that it was much more than “just” a village pub. I’ve heard many a murmur about Star at Lidgate and so have been keen to review the place for a while. My best friend (and vegetarian) Lucinda and I headed over for a mid-week treat! I know many of you spotted the comedian at the weekend but we found out that after visiting the lovely ladies at Bren Pauls, Jack Whitehall and Radio 1 pal, Greg James took the mere 6 mile journey from Newmarket high street to eat at the Star before their guest appearance at Deniro’s! If you are a “larger group” heading to Star at Lidgate then you can enjoy a FREE TAXI there and back! The warmth in temperature from the gorgeous, open, stacked fire is matched by the welcome you receive from Steve Cook. His attentive and friendly nature is consistent throughout your entire dining experience. With a “veggie” in tow, we started with olives, bread and a spanish omelette. The bread, clearly made on the day, was light and incredibly flavoursome! The vegetarian dish, which consisted of mushrooms and chestnuts, was a bourguignon that complimented its own flavours so well Lucinda confidently stated that it was “the best vegetarian meal” she had eaten in the area! Not only were the flavours of my chorizo and sun-dried tomato chicken dish wonderful the textures were unbelievable too! The chicken breast itself was far from dry and mixed really well with the juices and oil from the rich chorizo! The fine layer of skin on the breast was perfectly crispy and a really tasty combination with the rest of the softer meats. (I speak from experience when I recommend their famous paella dish too!) Feeling satisfied and full we opted for a desert to share and were so pleased we did when the huge, homemade toffee pudding arrived on our table with two spoons and a generous “dollop” of vanilla ice cream. This melt-in-your-mouth treat was the perfect end to the perfect evening. Main courses are priced between £12 and £17 with tapas options costing approx £4.75-£4.85 each. Considering that our visit was early on a Wednesday evening, I expected the ambience to be verging on uncomfortably quiet. We were wrong! The atmosphere was great! Now, and on reflection, it does not surprise me that a handful of locals sat at the bar and that we were 1 of 4 lively tables dining that evening. Check out the “What’s on Guide” for events taking place at Star at Lidgate this month. Will we see you at the live music session this Sunday? In the heart of an area with so many pleasant dining options, Star at Lidgate beautifully positions itself as an inviting and indulgent village pub that you will want to return to again and again. http://www.lidgatestar.co.uk 01638 500275