How on earth does this pub not have more reviews? Another of Lancashire's incredible pubs -…read moreservice not overdone and food executed perfectly. Just what one expects from a classic English pub. And I think I might have possibly had the most amazing cut of venison I've ever had here and the wine selection made the meal perfection. Our group ordered several main dishes - cod, steak & ale pie, and lamb shoulder. We also ordered way too many starters good grief, but I think the terrine was an absolute dream so it was worth it. Basically you can't go wrong here. Ask for the waiter's suggestion if you're unsure what to order. I'd also suggest coming with a big party since there's a lot of room.

Middle of nowhere, casual dress, Michelin-starred…read more My husband and I went out of our way to eat and stay here. Was it worth the 3 hour journey from London (2-hr train ride, 1-hr by car) to make our reservation from 6-months earlier? Absolutely. Courses are small, but plenty. Staff are immensely courteous and thoughtful (they made a custom menu for our dietary needs and even had the chefs sign it before we left). And the setting couldn't be more idyllic. I'd suggest getting the wine pairing as it really completes the meal. Go ahead and stay the night as breakfast is included the next day. Just make sure to work out your travel from the train station to the restaurant. It really is out in the sticks.

An absolutely fantastic experience enhanced by the charming and beautiful countryside that The…read moreBlack Swan at Oldstead is nestled within - an area that I wouldn't have visited otherwise but am grateful for having done so. Make sure to make a small detour to Kilburn to see The Kilburn White Horse which stands firmly in the hillside. The Black Swan is a beautiful picturesque old pub full of warmth and charm. Upon arrival you are welcomed into the bar area for aperitifs where a log fire crackles and glows. Make sure to notice the Robert Thompson mouse carved into the bar. Great selection of small batch gins - I enjoyed a glass of Sir Robin of Locksley from Sheffield with tonic. Amuse bouche are served here before moving upstairs to the restaurant. The Smoked Eel and Apple Tartlets were light and well balanced in their flavours whilst the Chicken Dumpling was rich, satisfying and would sit well on the finest of dim sum plates in Hong Kong. The restaurant is more modern in decoration with an "open kitchen" where some of the dishes are prepared with a clear artistic love and attention to detail. Service is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive without being intrusive. Good selection of wines for most palates and wallets. I had the 10 course tasting menu which, at £85, felt like a bargain compared to the price of Michelin starred food in major cities. To start, a Mussel with Oyster Leaf canapé - so perfectly decorated that it felt wrong to eat it, but so tasty. Next up Langoustine with Caramelised Whey, served like a lollipop with a twig to hold it with - lovely textures and cooked to perfection. Venison Tartare followed - a small dish but rich in flavour and beautifully prepared and decorated. Sour Bread and Sour Butter was distinctive and a good filler in preparation for the main courses. The Monkfish with Asparagus and Onion, although delicious, was probably the weakest dish. The sauce tasted like heavy sweet soy sauce and was a bit overpowering in its saltiness for the delicate flavour of the fish. Still very enjoyable though. The Slowly Cooked Crapaudine Beetroot was the star of the menu. Cooked in beef fat (I believe), the beetroot takes on a heavier composition and is chewy and almost glutinous with all of the accompanying decorations providing broad and bold flavours. Absolutely fantastic! Scallop Cured with Rhubarb was another standout with the smoothness of the slightly charred scallops countering the tartness of the rhubarb, all tied together with a rich and balanced sauce. Herb-Fed Chicken with Wild Garlic from this Year and Last was another amazing creation with a blanket over the chicken in the form of a garlic leaf. The chicken was more warm than hot but extremely tasty. The first dessert was ice cream (or iced yoghurt?) Lollipops which were wonderfully innovative with their unique flavours. The Sheep's Milk with Douglas Fir Oil was also an memorable dessert with natural tastes of the season. The final dessert, served with coffee was Cake made from Artichoke, Chicory Root and Thyme. The combination worked well although the chicory root (?) was slightly bitter. A great end to a fantastic meal and experience. For most who visit The Black Swan at Oldstead, a significant journey will be involved but don't let that put you off...It's well worth the effort and will be one of those great food experiences.

Oooh this pub is looovely, especially on sunny days when you can sit outside in their garden…read more They seem to cater to both locals (lots of old folks) and people like us who were driving though. The staff were all very welcoming, and we were all really impressed with the friendly, efficient service. The menu was full of English comfort foods...and they executed everything beautifully. Just look at my photos to get an idea...I tried the goats cheese and caramelised onion strudel, which came balanced on potatoes and perfect ratatouille. If you ever find yourself in this part of the country, it is definitely worth popping in here for some lunch! *Pro tip: It sounded like they get very booked up in the evening, so ring ahead to ensure you get a table!!

A very busy Old English pub doing Great food and Great Beer(Cask Marque)…read moreYvonne and Gary run a first class pub and have a great team working with them. If going for a meal ring and book it gets busy at the weekend!! always a good sign.

We decided to try this place for lunch yesterday. We had been in for a beer over the last month but…read morenever tried the food. The Woodman although not reviewed on yelp has many reviews on other sites. Nearly all the reviews are bad and that's why we didn't eat here till yesterday. However we heard there was a new team in charge and decided to include them in our fact finding for the area after moving to Clayton Le Woods end of 2014. On arrival at the bar we were greeted by a nice young fella who offered to let me try both the real ale's they had on. I decided on a pint of Wainwright's which was very nice indeed. We said we would like to order some lunch so we were asked to choose a table and somebody would come to take the order. I like that I don't like all this order at the bar with a table number. So we had baguettes and chips, me tuna melt and Sharon chicken and bacon. Both served with a bowl of homemade chunky chips. We both enjoyed the food very much. Nice presentation, good quality and homemade. One check in by staff as we ate which is the right thing. We couldn't fault it. Nice beer, good grub, nice table by the real fire and 19 quid for lunch including a pint and a Bacardi and coke. I hope that the new team at the woodman keep it up all power to them.

I'm not sure why this place has so few reviews. We stopped in here for dinner and it was fairly…read morequiet on a Wednesday evening. The food was delicious (good portions with great special offerings) and the service was excellent. Their dessert options were varied and all homemade. I'll definitely stop here again the next time I'm around.

Lovely impromptu night at Northcote. Ribble valley is such a nice county in Lancashire with…read morewonderful restaurants and retreats, and Northcote is a great addition to that. We didn't stay the night but we did have dinner here. The service was pretty good from start to finish. They were knowledgeable about wine and pairings and kept plate progression at a consistent pace. The service team seemed to be distracted towards the end of the meal and placed a lot of emphasis on cleaning (way before we were finished with dinner). I think that shouldn't be obvious to those dining so that took a hit on the quality of the meal. The food was overall very tasty. The maran egg and scarlet prawn were my favourite dishes, especially the egg/potato chip combination, which was one of the most creative ideas I've seen in a while. The bartender needed a bit more knowledge on spirits I think, and ran out of the spirit we selected. I would say I don't love the location of the hotel, as it's right off the main road and it takes away from the ambiance. Also there are two very large dumpsters right in front of the hotel. Seems like very poor placement. All in all however, this is a great night out in Ribble Valley, and likely a nice stay as well!

This is not a Michelin Star restaurant nor a Relais and Chateaux level property…read more Not even close. Michelin Star? You must be kidding me. Hiramatsu in Paris is a Michelin Star restaurant. This is a joke. I have never left 3 of my tasting dishes uneaten before in any restaurant, let alone one with a Michelin star. This time I barely touched my meal. For a location surrounded by great local goosnargh poultry, game, produce and supplies that England and Scotland can provide - for some reason the entire menu was Japanese infused, and not in a good way. At all. Everything that came after the 'Wagyu beef tartar with Sticky rice' was disgusting. Neither my wife nor I ate it. Not a thing. Scallops in Japanese miso broth with seaweed? No. Boney fish wing on fermented mushroom paste? No. Cold Venison that came with a piece of Liver so old and overcooked you needed your wine to get it down? No. Then came dessert. We ate the dessert, but at this point we had saved ourselves for this meal, hadn't eaten since noon and would have likely paid you 20 quid for a Big Mac. Now, when you send 3 uneaten plates in succession back to the kitchen barely touched - normally the waiter/ess or chef make note and comment. Especially at the better restaurants. Its a matter of pride to the chef. Not here. They didn't ask and certainly didn't care. I would have washed my sorrows down with the wine pairing, but at mostly 2014/5 vintages - it would have taken a few bottles since its barely been more than grape juice for more than 3 or 4 months. This was 320 pounds for two, and a complete waste of a weekend, a dinner and the money. Seriously, it was a total loss. Breakfast? Meh. Substandard and prepared by someone who likely worked at the Services off the M6 before he came here. Again, even with Bury black pudding available - these folks went with Irish. In a tube you squeeze onto your plate. Michelin star? Again - go eat at Hiramatsu, another Michelin '1 Star' restaurant, then come back to Ribble Valley Ginza Ward and tell me the Northcote deserve theirs. They don't. The Hotel? 350 pounds a night for two single beds pushed together, a tiny TV, a view of an overfilled dumpster in their parking lot and bed sheets more akin to a Premier or Holiday Inn, and you get my drift. They dont even have down pillows, ffs. The bathroom is lovely, so is the shower - but the fact that this place somehow got accepted to the Relais and Chateaux brand speaks volumes for the desperate position the french must be in, for this is no Relais and Chateaux. Not by a wide margin. The Ellerman House in Capetown is a Relais and Chateaux. The 'Le Manoir' in Oxfordshire is Relais and Chateaux. I have no idea where this belongs but this is a substandard brand imposter yet priced similar. Go stay at the Ellerman or Le Manoir, just for a night. Then tell me Northcote is Relais and Chateaux. It's not. The fact that we picked both this hotel and the Ribble Valley as a destination, then travelled all the way to rural England to experience this only made it worse. The fact that we paid 320 pounds for a disgusting dinner, followed by 350 pounds for a mediocre room with a badly prepared breakfast only added insult to injury. We had a two night reservation for the Christmas break, but cancelled it the very day we got back to the US. Never. Again.

I have eaten here quite a few times now and every time the food has been absolutely top notch. The…read moreservice has always been very good and fast. and the menu changes frequently so you cant get bored I have eaten here at lunch and in the evening and at both times the food has always been of the highest standard. In fact the standards have been so high that I chose to eat here with friends for my birthday. The meal was perfect, every course was superb. The portion sizes are great too so the big eaters among us don't go home hungry The staff are friendly and helpful, and if they are not , the manager Martin very quickly makes sure they are. his level of attention is exceptional, i am sure he has Spidey sense, he always notices first my glass is empty, hurrah.

Tally-HO! And we'rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre OFF!! Two dogs, threatening rainclouds, slushy snow and the…read moreHUNGER- what better way to spend a Sunday than squelching around a pretty Yorkshire village just a few miles out of Leeds and then ending up in a gorgeous, dog friendly proper country pub with delicious food and waiters skilled in the art of Monkey tickling. Monkey is the dog. Lola is the other dog but she doesn't like me talking about her behind her back so to save time let's just say Monkey is the cuddly one. *looks round nervously to check I'm not being watched* East Keswick is just up Wetherby Road- and the great news is you can get the 98 and 99 buses from town to RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DAMN PUB DOOR! Can't argue with that logic. The pub has a Snug at the front where dogs of all shapes, sizes and aromas are made to feel truly welcome. There's a tv for catching up with sports, an open fire, a doggly bowl and some cracking local beers and ales on offer. I had a pint of Mary Jane from the Ilkley Brewery and it was luscious. We'd first bunged the dogs in the car and had lunch in the restaurant part of the pub- which in contrast to the homely snug is really pretty classy for a pub meal. I think an evening meal here would impress. The staff were warm and welcoming and we had 3 courses for £15.95 each, with a decent bottle of red wine this brought the bill to just over £50, which is pretty reasonable for doing it 'all' and less pricey options were available e.g 2 courses for £12.95. This is for Sunday Lunch and there are weekday menus too. To start I had chicken liver pate which was smooth with a decent portion of chutney. Ade had ham terrine which was again sizeable and competently done. Both dishes were well presented and came with Melba toast. All very very good fare. For mains I went for the lamb cutlets and Ade the beef roast. The portions were again pretty sizeable, the roasts generous, crisp yet fluffy, mixed veg was properly al dente and had nice variety.....but it was the lamb that really stood out above everything else. Four almost fist sized hunks of perfectly cooked quality meat, pink on the inside, melt in the mouth and with a subtle and creamy peppercorn sauce to lubricate the GIANT mouthfuls I was pushing into my greedy face. It was sublime and my pleasure sensors were bordering on ridiculous. All this scumptiousness was topped off by Ade's dense and super sweet Sticky Toffee Pudding and the heavenly dark matter that made up my Hot Chocolate Fudge Cake. Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes. We staggered back to the car to 'release the hounds' and then enjoyed the friendly snug for a slow drinking pint as we digested our heavy yet heavenly loads. Monkey in particular made SUCH a friend of the barman that every time he passed by and patted her head she jumped up, wrapped her front paws around his thigh and tried to walk off with him. I thoroughly recommend The Duke of Wellington if you are out that way, and as a diversion for excellent food/drinks and company even if you are not. With a bus to and from the door there's no excuse my little Leodensians, go get some fresh air and hearty fare.

Pies are amazing. Staffs are very friendly and polite. Very reasonable pricing considering it is…read morelocated in the heart of Manchester and next to all major pubs and bars. Lunch time deals are fab. Delicious. Nice music playing all day .

Best pie around. Right in northern quarter so there is plenty around. They have table service, but,…read morewe ordered at the counter they have for takeaway before realizing. The standard steak and ale pie was great. Served with gravy for a great compliment. The outside was flaky while still being bready. The inside is piping hot and exactly what you want from comfort food. The Moolin Rouge outdid the steak and ale pie by a mile. The flavor from the broth was so delicious. Come in and enjoy with a cocktail or draught beer for best consumption.

went here for a nice night out and the food was nice was and staff was friendly and helpful will…read moredefinitely be going back again

staff always happy to help and friendly, food always hot and enjoyabl, love visiting here as a…read morefamily x

The food was amazing, wonderful service from all of the staff. Love the outlay of the restaurant…read more Highly recommend..

Dear Fox Hole. I have to tell you that in our 21 days visiting in England your food was the best we…read morehad! I can't stop thinking about and wanting your garlic mushrooms in cream sauce! It was heavily! My husband raves about the chicken & brie sandwich he had. The chicken melted in his mouth and was a perfect sandwich. In addition to great food the location and ambience was so pleasant. We wished we could had eaten at the Fox Hole a few more times. It was such a pleasure to discover your quaint and yummy place. Thank you. Debbie

Fantastic quiet little pub with fantastic homemade food and local brews. Definite recommendation if…read moreyour looking for a place to stop in for a pint or delicious homemade soup.

From the owner: The Ship Inn is a famous local landmark set back from Market Street in the heart of Hoylake. The…read morepub has a garden at the rear, ideal for a drink in the summer time and The Ship also serves delicious home-cooked meals, inc our Scouse offer on a Thursday. The Ship Inn is a popular traditional pub, has a single 'L' shaped bar in the middle of the lounge, and serves a large variety of real ales. You will find The Ship Inn featured regularly in The Camra Good Beer Guide. Food Served: Mon - Fri - 12-2:30 & 5.30-8 Sat - 12-3 Sun - 12-4 Screening all Football matches on 5 different screens Jazz Night - Monday Curry & Pint Night - Tuesday Scouse & Pint Night - Thursday Music Quiz every other Thursday (check notes/events for dates)