IT’S a far cry from the Baltic but Marcus Bennett’s venture to swap contemporary for country has paid off.

A traditional English pub with log fires, dimpled beer glasses and antique furnishings, The Bay Horse is a place you could pop in for a pint, warm your feet by the fire and make a friend or two.

In just under three years it has notched up awards including being named an Inspector’s Favourite in the Michelin Pub guide, Chef of the Year and has been crowned one of the Top 10 gastro pubs in the UK.

Bennett set up the venture three years ago with business partner Jonathan Hall after a successful reign with McCoys, at their restaurant, the Tontine in North Yorkshire, McCoys’ Yarm and at their eaterie in the iconic Gateshead art house.

As well as the clutch of gongs, the Bay Horse has proved successful both with locals and townies alike and its two stunning upstairs private dining rooms, with Victorian dining tables, are regularly booked out by businesses.

The pub serves up classic English dishes using locally sourced products, where possible, as well as cuisine from across the pond with its successful French Tuesday menu which offers a three-course dish and a glass of Champagne for £25.95.

I ventured out on a Tuesday night after hearing about the value-for-money French offering. The night is very popular so we were glad that we had booked in advance. On arrival we took up a pew by the fire (unlit, of course, as its July) where there were locals enjoying a few evening drinks. We enjoyed a couple of drinks in the lounge while perusing the menu and soaking up the atmosphere.

The Bay Horse’s charm lies in not only its mouth-watering menu but in its rich heritage and decor. A pub has stood on the site since 1432 and the owners have rightly chosen to reflect its old English roots rather than rip out the insides and turn it into a modern watering hole.

After placing our orders with a waiter we were shown into the main dining area to a table at the back of the room, which has a door leading out on to the pub’s walled garden.

The French Tuesday menu featured a choice of three different starters, mains and desserts. I was torn between rabbit rillettes with apple and vanilla chutney or smoked salmon parfait with beetroot relish and beetroot puree for starters eventually plumping for the latter. My fiancé Dan decided on dishes from the main dinner menu and ordered warm pressed rabbit and prune terrine with rabbit sausage, bacon and wood pigeon (£6.95).