whatever happened to the ploughman's lunch?

[PineappleDanish]

We didn't often eat out as children but did have the occasional pub lunch. My parents would ALWAYS order a ploughman's lunch - bread, cheese, cured meats, pickle, sometimes a pork pie, salad. It was seen (in the 70s and 80s) as a culinary delight.

They appear to have disappeared - are all the ploughmen now eating Vietnamese pho or Japanese bento boxes instead?

Love a ploughmans but they are done so badly in lots of pubs. My heart sinks when I see that slightly stale wedge of hard baguette, the rubbery cheese, the bagged salad with to much of the bitter red stuff, the mean wrapped butter and the vinegary catering coleslaw - for £8.50 or whatever.

I think a lot of more modern foodie pubs do cheese and cold meat platters instead? Like a ploughmans but with some chorizo and a slab of over chilled goats cheese

In fact I've just remembered the butcher at the end of my road who also does lunches/sandwiches etc does a Ploughman's lunch in a box!

Oh they were the best! And you hardly ever see them. The foods nowadays are far too fussy. @PineappleDanish that list of stuff must really upset some people’s guts.

I haven't seen one in years, but I don't frequent pubs to be honest. This thread may be responsible for a significant return to popularity for the ploughman's though, as I'm now keen to seek one out!

I'm up in Lancs and ploughman's are seen sometimes but aren't ubiquitous.

I’ve seen it a few years ago but I think it’s fallen out of fashion and been replaced with hipster alternatives.

@JacquesHammer can you tell them to start a delivery service please

My dad ordered a ploughman's at a stately home cafe. He was disappointed. He's been spoilt by fancy gastro cuisine!

It might have succumbed to political correctness 🙄
My dad loved a ploughman's. Everything is arty farty these days. I like good old proper food with nothing fancier than balsamic glaze on my salad.

I am a ploughman's lunch expert. It's my favourite meal. I've had them all around the country and the very best was at a little cider farm cafe at Netherthong nr Holmfirth.

To die for....

It's called The Cider Press Cafe I think.

Divine...... the cider was excellent too!

Some nice ploughmans in our area. Especially a local cafe that uses local bread and local pork pies, plus good quality cheese. And a reasonable price, too.

Mezze Platter chickpea & pinenut falafels, spiced red pepper dip, breaded brie, tzatziki, duo of hummus topped with Omega seeds & a stone-baked flatbread

You need to find a less pretentious local! 'Breaded brie' sounds like a abomination.

Ooo I'd love a Ploughman's now! Maybe I will make one this week.

There's a wine bar near me that does a cheese and cold cuts platter with bread (Swiss cheeses though) but its only open in the summer.

Googled them and found a pic....... look at all that cheese..... it was good cheese too not supermarket meh cheese.

Totally in the mood now for a ploughman’s and a Black Forest gateau

My local farm shop does an amazing ploughmans lunch! However, haven't seen it in a pub for years. Its one of my favourites so a real shame :(

you've made me want one now, but we had fresh bread rolls with cheese and sliced vine tomatoes for breakfast. Might be cheese overload.

They have to come with an apple though!

Any farmers care to share what's in their packed lunch? Will be very disappointed if it doesn't involve crumbly cheese and pickle.
Mainly Asian food, lots of rice and noodles apologies 🤣 dh sometimes has crappy cheese and Branston pickle wraps though

Ploughmans are lovely, they are still around.

It might have succumbed to political correctness

'Ploughperson's lunch'.

Amazing ploughman’s at a farm shop outside of St Albans

You obviously live somewhere really posh, OP.

Does anyone remember that other 70s/80s lunchtime pub classic - a pint of prawns?
Pint glass full of shell-on prawns served with brown bread and butter.
So simple but glorious.

I had one just the other week, and very nice it was too!

I urge everyone with a craving on this thread to go and track one down, they're fab!

Not so common now but they can be rubbish if done on the cheap. You need good, fresh ingredients. Easy to do at home but best served in a lovely beer garden on a summer's day accompanied by a cool refreshing cider. Hmmmm.....