Mottram Wood Fayre & Square

If you’ve never been to a Fayre and Square, you shouldn’t be expecting fine dining. In fact, your shouldn’t probably even be expecting interesting dining. What you can expect though is simple food, plenty of it, at a cheap price.
The reason for the name, and the key driver behind the brand are the deals that they offer. Almost all of the meals are included in some kind of ‘two for’, ‘buy one get one’ or just plain ‘slightly cheaper’ deal. The choices then are pretty uninspired; expect to see plenty of your more traditional pub classics and British fixtures. Think pies, pasta and lots of chicken.
Having gone along because we were in the area and particularly hungry, this was the ideal place to go. It’s an order at the bar kind of place, and the surroundings are pretty well kept and clean. It’s also a huge place, so I wouldn’t worry about not getting a table, even when it’s busy.
The food comes quick and hot, and whilst it won’t be winning any prizes it’s filling and it’s good. In a fit of pure imagination I went with the New York Chicken — three chicken breasts, BBQ sauce and cheese served with chips. Mrs D went for a gigantic gammon steak with (a divisive choice) pinapple. This, I have to say was not finished purely on account of the size.
All in all, there’s nothing wrong with the Fayre and Square, but you shouldn’t expect too much.
A word of warning to finish off with. There’s a dessert — a type of sundae called the ‘All The Fun Of The Fayre Sundae’. It’s a sharer. DO NOT HAVE THIS UNLESS THERE ARE FOUR OF YOU. Attempting to eat this between two, or, even worse, alone, will hurt. You’ll want to finish it, but you won’t be able to — it will defeat you. If you hadn’t guessed, it’s enormous, and the picture that they include in the menu doesn’t have any kind of scale against it. It includes full slices of at least of two other desserts, probably three. Take my word, learn from my pain, share with at least four friends. Or don’t — you were warned.