Teba is a white Spanish hill town in the heart of Andalucia with an old Moorish castle that stands stark against the skyline as a landmark which can be seen for miles. Teba is reached via a turning off the A357 between Ardales and Campillos. The Rancho El Mirador stands on the outskirts of Teba as approached from this direction. It is a converted cortijo with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Run by an English couple it offers a delightful Spanish home from home for homesick English expats.

Sitting on the sunlit terrace by the swimming pool, enjoying the warmth and sunshine which the English come to Spain to find, you can eat a good traditional Sunday roast lunch washed down with English beers or French wines. Two roasts are offered each Sunday and the day we went roast lamb and roast chicken were on the menu. Beef and pork are also available on alternate weekends. They were accompanied by roast potatoes, a good selection of fresh seasonal vegetables, (such as parsnips and carrots when we visited), Yorkshire puddings (light and properly made which were sheer bliss) and a meat gravy.

Puddings are very traditional and include fruit crumbles with custard, trifles, and fruit salads. Starters of prawn cocktail, melon or paté, are equally English standard expectations. This three course Sunday lunch costs only 10.95 euros and is a reminder of all that you have left behind. There is also a Spanish menu available and an English snack menu. The Spanish are not all that keen on English food but apparently they have become big fans of baked potatoes with fillings.

The bar is well stocked with Guinness, Boddingtons, Tetleys, Fosters, ciders, and liqueurs, but there is no wine list available. Don Rodrigo is the house wine and quite drinkable although there is only a choice of red and white; there is no rosado. However that is being addressed. This business has only been in operation for a year and it is pretty impressive. In addition to dining out on the terrace, there are bar-b-ques to be enjoyed, games (bar billiards, darts, boules, table tennis etc), quizzes, karaoke, and balmy summer evenings of live music. An adjacent stable block is home to Tomi and Demi if you fancy moseying around the countryside on horseback.

Rancho El Mirador also offers accommodation from 35 euros per night. There are five rooms with beautiful sloping wood ceilings: four double en-suite, two of which have lounge areas, and a twin room without en-suite facilities. They are furnished in Spanish style and most have air conditioning and television (with SKY so that you can get the English television channels). Not that you will have much time for watching television with the stunning views from the windows, the activities available, and the picturesque town of Teba to explore. It is a great place for a holiday or weekend ‘chill-out’; a real ‘home from home’.

Rancho El Mirador, Castilla Vallejo, Teba, CP 20327, Málaga
tel: +34 952 031 632 www.rancho-el-mirador.eu