TRADITIONAL surroundings, exquisite food and a friendly atmosphere are all served up at The Victorian House, the Fylde's newest pub-restaurant.

Thornton's latest establishment officially opened yesterday (Dec 1) and the Citizen has already sampled some of the delights on offer.

Around four months of work by the Devonshire Group Ltd has transformed Didier's Bistro into The Victorian House on Trunnah Road - a venue fit for the Millennium while keeping one eye firmly on the past.

Drinkers can enjoy an extensive range of beers, lagers and spirits while diners are spoilt for choice when browsing through a menu which features both traditional and contemporary masterpieces such as the smoked duck salad and salmon I savoured.

Cooked to perfection, the starter was a treat with a noticeable lack of fat which can so often be associated with duck.

The ample main course of salmon, poached and glazed with a lemon and dill sauce, was perfectly complemented with an assortment of stir fried and roasted vegetables and I rounded the meal off with a refreshing selection of ice creams garnished with exotic fruits.

Manager Justin Handforth, who has an extensive knowledge of quality food and fine wines, said: "I care very much about customer service and this is a wonderful opportunity for me to bring something new to the area that people will not have experienced locally in the past."

The Victorian House has a fixed price menu of £6.95 for a two course meal, or £8.95 for a three course meal. Phone 860619 for more information, including details of their Christmas and New Year menus.

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