Rush to offer food 'may hit standards'

Too many pubs are serving poor quality food, according to the new Which? Good Food Guide 2007 editor Andrew Turvil.

He believes that as pubs turn to food, particularly as the smoking ban draws nearer, there is a danger that food standards will slip further.

He said: "The standard of food served in pubs has been going gradually upwards for the last few years.

"We have a couple of hundred of very good pubs in the Which? Good Food Guide 2007, but too many pubs are still taking short-cuts and using pre-packed food."

Turvil added it was great to see more pubs serving food, but warned: "There's no point in doing food if you can't do it well.

"If you don't have the staff or the equipment it is very easy to fall back on processed, pre-packed food, but it's far better to give the customer something simple and of good quality, like a good quality, fresh sandwich."

Which? Good Food Guide 2007, published this week, includes 200 pub entries.

A specific guide just for pubs is no longer published.

The AA Pub Guide 2007 has also just been published, with this year's AA Pub of the Year awarded to the Gin Trap in Ringstead, Norfolk.

Margaret and Don Greer owned the freehold - which they sold earlier this month - for three years.

An AA spokeswoman said the Gin Trap won the award because: "It's a great all-round pub, combining a good atmosphere, a warm welcome from friendly,

efficient hosts and staff,

excellent food, well-kept beers and comfortable accommodation."