It was a tough job – but somebody had to do it…

North Devon Journal reporter James Bulpett (pictured above) was sent to eat a magnificent mixed grill after a challenge was issued to the people of Devon by the White Hart pub in Bratton Fleming.

The culinary challenge was gratefully received – although the pub’s owners, Helen McCleod and Juliette Reilly has seen all the bravado before.

But in the finest traditions of the North Devon Journal, James applied himself to the task in hand.

His plateful consisted of steak, gammon, lamb chop, two sausages, black puddings, onion rings, tomato, mushrooms, two eggs and a bowl of chips.

Did he baulk at the challenge? No way.

He wrote: “The experience itself is quite simple. If you can eat the meal put in front of you, the food is on the house. If you cannot manage it all, you pay. Simple.

“Picking little bits of everything appeared to be quite a good tactic, so with steak knife in hand and a positive rumble in the stomach, the first mouthful was taken.

“After 20 minutes of solid eating a dent had barely been made.

“After 30 minutes the plate was far from half-empty.

“After 40 minutes doubts were definitely real and five minutes later the chips had gone cold.

“Then came a considerable amount of time spent poking and moving around the mammoth sized steak and after an hour my jaw was aching.

“With sizeable regret in my heart, but not my stomach, the White Hart Challenge finally won the day.”

The owners agreed it was the 32oz steak that defeated James, while he agreed that anyone able to polish off the lot deserved to have the £16.50 bill waived.

Journal news editor Alex Goodman told HoldTheFrontPage:”We spotted one of the pub’s adverts which challenged people to clear their plate.

“James was definitely the best man for the job – the rest of the office are vegetarians!”

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