THE Plough, on the corner of Deansway and Fish Street in the centre of Worcester is one place that Pub Spy has so far not investigated, so one bright Friday lunchtime, it was probably time to drop in and take a look.

Despite being right next to one of Worcester’s busiest roads, the Plough soon proved to be an oasis of calm and hospitality.

It cannot be described as one of Worcester’s largest pubs – a group of 20 or so customers would see the place comfortably full – but its two small rooms most definitely have a charm of their own.

And there is an outdoor seating area – not much used at this time of year, I dare say – with a high wall screening it off from the noise and traffic of Deansway, but nonetheless a good view of the 14th century tower of Worcester Cathedral.

The pub is well known amongst aficionados for the quality and variety of its guest ales, and on the occasion of Pub Spy’s visit, on offer were Dragon Smoke Stout from the Staffordshire-based brewery Beowulf, and – a personal Pub Spy favourite – Black Pear bitter from the Malvern Hills Brewery, a pint that very rarely fails to please.

The lunch menu is short and to the point – no gastropub pretensions here – ranging from bacon butties or filled rolls for £2.50, to the most expensive item, beefburger and chips for £7.

A mere £5 will get you a ploughman’s lunch, or alternatively ham, eggs and chips, and it was the latter that Pub Spy decided to go for – a hot lunch was definitely in order on a cold winter’s day.

£5 is not a lot for a meal these days, but in this case it certainty proved to be a good choice when the food arrived.

The ham came in good-sized hand-carved slices - none of those pallid, wafer-thin, wrapped-in-plastic supermarket slivers here, thank goodness – tasty and lean.

The fried eggs were cooked perfectly, the edges of the whites slightly crackled and the yolks runny at the centre, while the chips were equally good, unmistakeably hand-cut, with crispy exteriors and fluffy in the middle.

The quantity of food was just right too, something that is by no means satisfactory in quite a few establishments, and Pub Spy was comfortably full after polishing off the plate.

So, no haute cuisine or exciting gastronomical extravagances here, just good plain food, well cooked – and all for £5. Who can say fairer than that?

With the Farriers Arms just a couple of doors away, Fish Street has the honour of playing host to two of the city’s most characterful and hospitable pubs. Long may they prosper.