ONE of the saddest things about the decline of Britain’s high streets is the demise of the traditional pub.

Luckily, some are still hanging on in there and the Blue Raddle in Dorchester’s Church Street is one of them. With its unassuming frontage, excellent range of beers and ciders and slightly faded cosiness it is, sadly, something of a throwback in pub terms but a most welcome change from the all-singing, all-dancing watering holes afflicting most town centres.

I went there on a wet lunchtime to catch up with a good friend of several decades’ standing who left these shores some years ago to live in Australia.

She was back in Dorset visiting family and this seemed the perfect opportunity for a proper catch up on laughs and news, and where better to meet than a traditional boozer in the county town on market day?

The pub was pretty busy but we managed to find a corner table where we could hoot away to our hearts’ content.

A good natter and some excellent cider – the bar, which is papered with beer mats has to be seen to be believed – and we were ready to order.

There was the usual selection of baguettes and jacket potatoes plus a reasonably-priced specials board offering whitebait, quiche and several other good choices.

I went for jacket spud with cheese and beans while my companion opted for an oven-baked pancake with roasted vegetables in a cheese sauce.

The potato was faultless – the fact that it’s an easy dish to prepare doesn’t mean everyone gets it right and I have, in my time, been on the receiving end of many instances of spud carnage.

This time though there was a fluffy interior, crispy skin and ample topping. I call that a result.

My companion’s pancake was, perhaps, less of a success.

“It’s more lasagne-y,” was the general consensus as she peered under a cheesy blanket of pancake at the vegetables underneath.

But still, it was devoured with gusto and the rocket salad was crowed over delightedly.

So if you are looking for somewhere to meet and chew the fat over a decent pint in a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere, I’d definitely give the Blue Raddle a try.