Everyone knows that football is coming home. It’s a scientific fact! ⚽

My son and I wanted to watch the big England VS Switzerland game, so we decided to look for a pub with a lively atmosphere. Unfortunately, our village of Sutton doesn’t have any decent options, with only a dinosaur esc pub and a couple of social clubs, so we knew that we had to look further afield.

Mepal is a small village close by and has a lovely riverside pub called the Three Pickerels. It has recently been refurbished and is big on live sport. Better still, I have heard that it serves a great pizza. This felt like a no brainer, so we decided to pop by and watch the mighty England go through to the next round!

We turned up and were greeted with an outdoor bar by the riverside with a lovely decking area. The beer was flowing, with the option of having a 4 pint pitcher and stone baked pizzas. Seating was plentiful, with enough for everyone. There is space for children to run a mock without getting in the way while also being suitable for lads wanting a few rowdy beers together. The Three Pickerels has something for everyone, especially during the nice weather.

The beer selection wasn’t inspiring but it was better than anything offered in Sutton. Camden Hells is served for £5.50 a pint (when you purchase a £22 pitcher) for £6 on its own.

I ordered myself a n’duja and pepperoni pizza for a modest £12. This is made to order in their stone baked oven. We were given an alarm that beeps and vibrates when it is ready, making it easy to relax without having to worry about missing your order.

The dough was light, soft, and topped with bright red cherry tomatoes. The tomatoes really brought the pizza to life by adding freshness and flavour that really popped off the palette. The pizza itself was slightly smaller than I would have liked but is perfect for one person. I was particularly fond of the extra stringy mozzarella that stretched out for miles when a slice was pulled out. The pepperoni and n’duja were generously distributed across the pizza and tasted great. It was hard to fault the pizza and was something I could see myself ordering again.

My son ordered the bacon and chicken pizza. This was equally good with absolutely no complaints from him. The meat was cut into large chunks giving you a significant mouthful on the bite.

The game went through to penalties but despite the tension and anxiety everyone had a good time… Especially since ENGLAND WON!!!

Children were playing, lads were singing, and the drink was flowing. It was the perfect village experience in beautiful fenland surroundings. Fun times were had by all!

The Three Pickerels has won my heart and I cannot wait to return. I just wish it was easier to walk to because I would kill for a pub like this close by. You lucky people of Mepal!

Thanks for reading!