IF ANYONE asks me if I want to go for a trip to Aberdour it doesn’t take much to persuade me to go.

What’s not to love with its dainty shops, historic castle and stunning beach and with a meal offer also on the cards it was a win-win.

The Woodside Hotel adds even more heritage to the West Fife village with its classic Victorian design on Main Street.

It also boasts a famous Oscar Paterson stained glass ceiling in their Clipper restaurant.

Since the Woodside’s new owners took over late last year, the hotel has been getting a lot of praise, so I was keen to see what the fuss was about.

They believe the venue brings the right mix of history and modernity with its restaurant, bar, hotel, event facilities and gigs.

We were greeted by a friendly bunch of staff at the foyer who showed us to the main restaurant which was nestled beside a bar area.

The decor has a traditional edge to it and I particularly liked the touches of Scottish culture subtly dappled in objects.

The atmosphere had a family feel to it with lots of customers enjoying the beer garden outside and the bar area in time for the Champions League final.

Even though there were plenty of Liverpool fans about we were still able to enjoy a relaxing meal with many others also coming to indulge in some top food.

The restaurant boasts a menu that is changed regularly to fit local produce finds, complementing the chef’s fish and chicken supreme dishes for the day.

My starter of pan-fried king prawns, tomato and chilli sauce provided a tasty start to my meal. It was accompanied with some crusty bread and rocket but it wasn’t for the faint-hearted! The prawns were fresh and it was very clear that sauce had been made from scratch.

The dish definitely left me wanting more and I was excited to see what was coming next on my plate.

My company for dinner, Hannah, skipped on the starters but enjoyed a gammon steak and chips for her main. She was impressed with the chunky meat that had no grizzly bits of fat and the moreish chips that were cooked to perfection.

I opted for another fish dish for my main; smoked haddock, with spring onion mash, wilted spinach, cheese sauce, and tempura samphire.

The dish was unique – nothing like anything I had ever had before.

I had no idea what tempura samphire was but the green vegetable was wrapped up in a crispy batter. The haddock was cooked to perfection and the creamy sauce really tickled the taste buds.

Never one to skip on puddings, we were spoilt for choice with the range of delicious deserts from cheesecake to crème brulée.

Hannah went for raspberry and mango sorbet which left her feeling refreshed.

Always a sucker for sticky toffee pudding, I had no option but to go for the homemade dish which came with a caramel sauce and homemade ice cream.

It certainly had stiff competition but I can honestly say it was one of the best sticky toffee puddings I’ve had and wouldn’t have wasted a bite.

There’s nothing not to love about the Woodside Hotel and with dishes ranging from £4.95 to £18.50 it’s outstanding quality for your buck.

There was ample parking at the back of the premises, although you have to be careful not to miss the small turn-in, so taking the car is stress-free.

Woodside Hotel, Main Street, Aberdour. Tel: 01383 860328