One of the very few benefits of management at HPE is technically you get double the team lunches - one with your team with your budget, one with your peers with your manager’s budget. The Golden Heart is the location for the latter trip, a local–ish to the office gastropub where Sharon is generously using her own 50% off voucher. It’s pretty standard pub fare, tilting towards the annoying “ideas above its station” level. Pulled pork croquettes as a starter a bit over-crisped, with an underwhelming apple sauce for a dip. The battered halloumi and chips are fine - the halloumi is not over-battered, and there’s some hint of tarragon in there, which is a nice touch. The chips are disappointing - limp, undercooked, underseasoned. The tartar sauce is largely bland, and the peas are note massively noteworthy. Still. It’s a lunch I’ve not paid for and it kills a longer lunch break than usual.