Our local wine bar/bistro - The Vine Bar

In Eccleston, lancashire where we live there isn't a great underswell of excitement - the local paper does often report the odd cat stuck up a tree, the price of fish increasing by tuppence a pound, not to mention a queue at the local bakers. However,what Eccleston does have to note is a reasonable number of good real ale pubs, and its very own little Bistro - The Vine Bar. (www.sugarvine.com and search for Vine Bar)

The Vine Bar has to be possibly the smallest wine bar/bistro in the UK, as we found out on saturday night (whilst celebrating our first wedding anniversary) getting more than 45 people in at once requires the same precision as Norris McWurter's team during a world record attempt - in fact, getting in to the place is tricky enough as it has a curtain covering the entrance, and you do feel like a contestant on Stars in Their Eyes.

Having said that though, the Vine Bar is a very relaxing, homely, friendly and courteous place to visit. The owners, used to own a much larger bistro on Preston centre - and we're led to believe the owner is also in the Guinness book of records (see, those of you who wondered about the random Norris reference earlier, prepare to weep) for the largest private collection of bottles (full of course). Some 7,500 ish - and he can tell you about pretty much every bottle with the flair and enthusiasm of a traveller and connoisseur alike.

So what is it that is so attractive about the bistro - the size for one. Ladies, Gents we are always led to believe that bigger is indeed better, but not in this case. This tiny, warm and exuberant little place makes you feel very welcome from the first moment you set foot inside. Its like putting on a favourite outfit, you feel good and it feels very familiar. This little place doesn't adopt the pret a manger approach to dining, uncomfortable chairs that if you sit on them for more than 20 minutes your arse goes numb...oh no. This place has mismatched furniture, checked tablecloths, candles in wine bottles, and makes no apologies.

So what about the food. The owner/chef Ian makes a delightful range of British/European tapas sized dishes, designed to be mixed and matched, with fresh bread and butter. Yes, the decor may transport you back to the plethora of french bistros that hit the UK during the 1980s, but the similarities end there.

We enjoyed a dish called Englishman in new york, spiced chicken, cheese, and mashed potato (sounds odd, tastes delightful), a mixed platter containing prawns, cheese, chicken and parma ham and a spiced chilli pork dish - all of which arrived without a whiff of pretence or pomp and circumstance. This is a seriously laid back bistro, its not french classic, its a kind of mixture of good wholesome food, with an exceptional wine list and range of drinks on offer. (where else would you you receive a welcome to sample Armenian Cognac), or have a chance to buy a bottle of 1935 white port that had been in the owners custody since the 1970s.

If you love laid back, relaxing evenings that go on for hours, over a bottle or two of bloomin good wine, where you can graze through a menu or sample the chef's special dishes then this is the place for you. If you like crisp, snotty service, and enjoy being served by a maitre'd who looks like he has a stick up his bum...give it a miss.

Bye for now

Cath