Ellis Cameron: Craic at the Creagan

This week Mum, Dad and I headed out to the Creagan Inn.  The Creagan is on the corner of the A828, just north of the Creagan Bridge, looking over the scenic Loch Creran.

Recently re-opened under new ownership, it’s been transformed into a cosy, yet stylish pub and restaurant where you can pop in for a drink or food as well, depending on what you fancy.

When we arrived it was bustling with activity, as the Hollow Mountain String Band were performing an acoustic set that night, so we even had live music to accompany our evening.

We got a warm and friendly welcome from the barmaid, who explained we could sit anywhere in the bar area or restaurant to eat, so we made our way over to a corner table and got comfy while we decided what to order.

The menu is small and to the point; no frills or frivolities, just good, home cooked foods such as lasagne or steak pie, alongside sirloin steaks and the specials of the day. The prices are also very reasonable – starters from a few pounds, and most mains (specials and steak excepted) at £9.95.

Mum and Dad tested the water with Carrot and Coriander soup (one of ‘the best she’d ever tasted’) and Cullen Skink (‘incredibly tasty’).

For our mains, Mum had the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, which arrived with two lovely oat biscuits to mop up the sauce with – a little extra something, goes a long way. Dad took up the offer of one of the specials, scallops with mash and vegetables, while I had the steak pie with veggies and chips. All our food was presented beautifully, and tasted incredible. One of my pet peeves is undercooked or greasy chips, but thankfully the Creagan presented me with light and tasty ones, which kept being stolen away by my Dad.

We finished the meal with a cheese board – which, although I’m not a fan of cheeseboards, I have on good account from my cheese fiends/parents that it was excellent, particularly because the cheese was not overly chilled and solid – apparently a common mistake in many restaurants they have previously visited.

We also partook of a Cranachan, as I felt the need to try out one of their desserts to complete the evening. This pudding was gorgeous in both presentation and taste.  It was the perfect end to a fantastic dinner.

All in all we had a lovely meal, and great, friendly service. I’ll be recommending it to all my friends and family as a great place for a drink and some food. However, don’t just take my word for it, head out and try it yourself; you won’t be disappointed.

Ellis Cameron, Young in Argyll correspondent

The photographs accompanying this article are by Ellis Cameron.