WE wish to complain deeply about the article by Jamie Diffley about our business, The Red Lion (LET, July 14). Who does this Jamie Diffley think he is? -- that he can come into someone's home and insinuate to all your readers that the food is "boil in a bag" or taken out of a box from the feeder and put in the oven.

He starts his derogatory report by saying the menu and Specials Board is littered with chops and chips, but if you look at the menu, you can see just how varied it is. We also offer a different menu in the dining room.

As I write, the Special Board consists of: Murphy's Beef, Thai Coriander Chicken, Lamb and Bean Casserole, Halibut St Martin, Blue Ridge Smokey Chicken, Mushroom and Pepper Stroganoff -- all prepared from scratch and made on the premises by our cook who has been at the Lion for over 16 years and prides herself, rightly so, for the quality of her meals, and not a chop or chip in sight!

We are only a small public house and pride ourselves on the quality of our food and service, which is shown by the large number of regular diners that we have. We also employ 15 local people who will not be in work if Jamie Diffley's article is to be believed.

Surely, he would be better employed trying to promote local businesses and boosting the economy so that more people can be employed instead of putting them down.

We are not averse to constructive criticism but think it is totally unfair that a newspaper can print potentially damaging remarks on the say-so of one person after one visit.

JANICE WRENCH, Licensee, Red Lion, Blacksnape Road, Blacksnape, Darwen.

Footnote: I am sorry that you are upset, but our review is one person's opinion, as are all reviews in all newspapers - Editor.