The sporting theme continues to this day in the village midway between Maltby and Tickhill but in a pub rather than on the playing field.

I've a feeling The Three Tuns would have appealed to fiery Fred. Signed pictures adorn the walls in the bar, all of sportsmen who have headed the regular sporting dinners, with pride of place going to England's 1966 World Cup winning team. Just four remain to complete the full after-dinner speaking set, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst, Ray Wilson and George Cohen.

Even more important to a Yorkshireman is a bargain and here the Tuns delivers big time – an 8oz sirloin or ribeye steak for a fiver, home-made steak and ale pie for £5.50 and fish, chips and mushy peas for £6.

Brothers Tom and Kevin Boyd bought the traditional-style pub three years ago with the intention of supplying "good home-cooked food at a reasonable price in a warm, friendly atmosphere."

It appears to be working as the Tuns, which dates back to the 1920s, has been flagged up as "the jewel in the crown just outside Tickhill." Needless to say they're very happy with the description.

That value-for-money theme certainly rings true as the most expensive dish on the menu is the 8oz smothered fillet (a choice of either peppercorn, Diane or BBQ sauces, topped with mature cheddar) at £11.45, while a traditional one is £9.95.

On the night we went it was Steak Night with two pork steaks and a gammon steak joining the £5 options while a 20oz T-bone and a 16oz sirloin were available for a tenner and £8.50 respectively. You could even go surf and turf with Thai-style king prawns for an extra £2.50.

An added bonus is that all the meat is from Crawshaw's butchers.

'Nuff said.

A pensioners lunchtime special runs from noon to 3pm Monday to Friday with a choice of meals at £3.99 or two for £6, there is a a children's menu at £3.50 and veggie options at £5.50. There's also a special a la carte menu available on a Saturday from 6pm with a three-course meal for two for £35 plus a free bottle of house wine.

With my sister-in-law making a guest appearance, we decided to share potato skins and BBQ wings for starters (£4 each). The skins were really jacket potatoes, cut in half, with cheese and bacon while the eight finger-lickin' chicken wings came complete with a spicy dip-with-a-kick.

For mains the dishes on the specials board and the main menu were overlooked in favour of a smothered fillet steak and a mixed grill from the Steak Night selection.

I can't remember the last time I had a mixed grill but this meat fest is certainly up there with the best of them. There was well-cooked steak, gammon, pork steak, sausage, liver and kidney all served up with chips – as recommended by the friendly waitress – peas, mushrooms and a tomato for £7.50. Great value.

It appeared a couple of other customers had problems with their steaks during the evening but M had no such worries.

Her two pieces of fillet (£9.95) were tender but the diane sauce (£1 extra) was rather bland and not hot enough.

She decided on the jacket potato, rather than the alternatives of chips or mash.

A wide-ranging house selection heads the good value wine list. There's a mix of four red and four white from France, Chile and California, all with a taste guide, for £9.95 – we chose the Chilean Vistamar Cabernet Sauvignon – plus a further four for £12.95 and £13.95. Stowells wine by the glass is also available at £2.75 (175ml) and £3.65 (250ml).

The one disappointment was the desserts. Now call me picky but for a dessert junkie like me there's nothing to beat a good home-cooked apple pie, sticky toffee or bread and butter pudding.

Unfortunately, the Tuns, like a lot of other pubs, couldn't oblige and instead I was faced with a laminated list of 'luxurious' delights!

As none were home-made, we decided to share a marbled chocolate pyramid (£4) with a dark chocolate mousse and raspberry sauce filling. If that's your bag, that's fine but it isn't mine.

Memo to Tom: How about a home-made dessert on the specials board?

The total food bill, together with two cappuccinos and after dinner mints (£1.50 each) came to £33.45.

Verdict: Cheap and cheerful. No frills, just honest, down-to-earth pub grub at amazing credit-crunching prices backed up with good, friendly service.

Meals served Monday to Saturday, noon -9pm, Sunday lunch noon-4pm.

The Three Tuns, Stainton Lane, Stainton; telephone: 01709 812775.


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