A restaurant chain with a café in Sheffield is offering a special menu for Pancake Day - and this is our verdict

Bill’s, the national chain founded by greengrocer Bill Collison 20 years ago, is serving savoury and sweet options from February 25 until March 1, alongside a list of bespoke cocktails to match, at its café bar in Sheffield near the Peace Gardens.

We tried the sweetcorn pancakes with poached eggs, feta, avocado, baby spinach, red pepper dressing, coriander and chilli. This was a substantial, spicy dish that would be ideal for brunch – it also puts a fresh spin on the idea of pancakes full stop, proving they can be dressed up in all manner of ways.

Not that the dessert options at Bill's aren't tempting. The sweet pancakes with frozen berries and white chocolate sauce arrived topped with sharp-tasting fruits, while the chocolate was provided in a small sauce boat – this wasn’t overly sweet, and closely resembled vanilla custard.

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The portions are large though, and while it would be perfectly feasible to order both a sweet and savoury course, it’s probably wisest to choose just one.

Roast tomato and black olive vegan pancakes, and a plate piled with caramelised banana and salted caramel ice cream, are featured on the menu alongside a relatively no-frills variety simply served with lemon and sugar.

Of our two cocktails, the Bill's Collins – vodka, rhubarb liqueur, raspberry syrup and lime juice – had the edge over Hedgerow Fizz, a smaller drink consisting of elderflower cordial topped with prosecco and a single raspberry.

Sweet pancakes are priced £5.95, savoury pancakes cost either £8.95 or £9.95, and children's dishes are priced at £3.50 – so if anyone is intent on observing Lent, this is an affordable indulgent feast before Easter.

And maybe it’ll convince British eaters that pancakes aren’t just for Shrove Tuesday.

Bill’s, 2 Paul's Place, 127 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JF. Visit www.bills-website.co.uk or call 0114 272 3342 for details. The pancake menu is identical at all Bill’s restaurants.