Harden's survey result
Summary
One of the best-known gastronomic retreats in the UK – this converted manor house lies in the heart of the scenic Ribble Valley. Built in late Victorian times, just off what’s nowadays the A59, the original house has been much altered and extended over the years, including the addition five years ago of the ‘Garden Lodge’ – a separate accommodation block in the gardens. Now owned by The Stafford Collection, it is still led by MD Craig Bancroft who (as co-founder with chef Nigel Haworth) has helped drive its emergence as a major force in the region over the years: not least its impressive, twenty-year old ‘Obsession’ festival of fine food and wine held in January and February of each year. Chef Lisa Goodwin-Allan “seems to have grown in confidence after her increasing TV exposure” and “having taken on the mantle of Nigel Haworth she has, if anything, exceeded her mentor”. “Under her skilful guidance, the kitchen delivers exceptional flavours from a seasonal menu” (“had no one been watching, I would happily have licked all five plates”) and numerous reporters complimented the ‘at home’ boxes here as the best they experienced in the Covid era. The cooking is matched with a wine list “reflecting the passion of the team especially Bancroft the MD who has also trained some seriously good sommeliers”, and service generally is “so attentive and professional yet personable and friendly”. If you were looking for a gripe, you could find one or two fans who feel that “for all the extensions and renovations”, they don’t dig the decor. More commonly, though, the surroundings are judged “utterly delightful”, contributing to “a marvellous experience from start to finish”.
Summary
One of the “top class gold-standards for restaurants in the North West” – this luxurious country house hotel, just off the A59 near Preston, has risen to ever-greater prominence over the years, and “its new ownership (The Stafford Collection) promises yet-additional investment”. “With Lisa Goodwin Allen now established as Executive Head Chef, there’s a new vibrancy to the cuisine, with interesting and imaginative new dishes whilst maintaining the best from the past” (established under Nigel Haworth); and “better touching base with its North West roots than it has in recent times”. Over the years the property has been lavishly added-to and benefited from a “classy” refurbishment (occasionally felt to be a bit “corporate”). There’s “an exceptionally curated wine list, whose selection is led by MD Craig Bancroft, with plenty of classics but lots of other interesting wines from around the world”. “Will they now get the second Michelin star that they so crave?”
Summary
One of the “top class gold-standards for restaurants in the North West” – this luxurious country house hotel, just off the A59 near Preston, has risen to ever-greater prominence over the years, and “its new ownership (The Stafford Collection) promises yet-additional investment”. “With Lisa Goodwin Allen now established as Executive Head Chef, there’s a new vibrancy to the cuisine, with interesting and imaginative new dishes whilst maintaining the best from the past” (established under Nigel Haworth); and “better touching base with its North West roots than it has in recent times”. Over the years the property has been lavishly added-to and refurbished with a result that can seem a bit “naff” or “corporate”, but which mostly gets the thumbs up for giving a “classy” impression. There’s “an exceptionally curated wine list, whose selection is led by MD Craig Bancroft, with plenty of classics but lots of other interesting wines from around the world”. “Will they now get the second Michelin star that they so crave?”
Summary
“Lisa Goodwin Allen carries on the excellent tradition” at the North West’s best-known country house hotel, which – since Nigel Haworth stepped back a little from the stoves – is “going from strength to strength”, with cuisine that’s “inventive but not outlandish” (“clever dishes that are incredible on the palate, deeply satisfying in both form and function”). There’s a “hugely varied and interesting wine list too, introduced wonderfully knowledgeably, and giving opportunities for great wine recommendations and ‘flights’”. The location is an old manor house in the picturesque Ribble Valley, which has been much-extended over the years, whose “professional-without-being-overbearing” staff create “a friendly and welcoming experience” (although some longtime visitors feel it’s a “pity they have extended the cosy buildings leaving them less characterful”). “A beautiful experience in a beautiful part of the country”.
For 31 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Restaurant details
Northcote Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Had a substitute dish on the gourmet menu due to allergies it showed thought and fitted with the rest of the menu. The quail second course was amongst the best dishes I’ve eaten anywhere. All courses had layers of flavour and textures. Really excellent. "
"Northcote - 19 Feb 2022 Menu The Seasonal Lunch Menu Three courses including coffee from £45.00 To Begin or add as a Middle Course Marinated Mackerel, Carrot, Cardamon Yogurt, Coriander, Orange Pearls £8.75 Contino Blanco, Rioja, Spain, 2019 70ml £7.50 | 125ml £12.50 | 175ml £17.85| Bottle £69.00 Cornfed Chicken, Liver Parfait Madeira, Granny Smith, Warm Brioche £8.75 Le Fromentau, Pinot Gris, Josmeyer, Alsace, France 2018 (B) 70ml £8.90| 125ml £14.85| 175ml £21.20| Bottle £83.00 Winter Mushroom Tart, Kidderton Ash, Cappuccino, Chervil £8.75 Redoma Rose, Dirk Niepoort, Portugal, 2019 70ml £6.20| 125ml £10.35| 175ml £14.70| Bottle £56.00 Main Course Roast January Cabbage Steak, Hazelnut, Whipped Potato, Truffle Butter £22.50 La Tufera, Bourgogne Blanc, Etienne Sauzet, France 2018 70ml £9.80| 125ml £16.35| 175ml £23.35| Bottle £92.00 Cumbrian Lamb, Leg Shepherd’s Pie, Black Garlic, Turnip £22.50 Reserva, Viña Tondonia, R. Lopez de Heredia, Rioja, Spain 2009 70ml £10.10| 125ml £16.80| 175ml £24.00| Bottle £95.00 Gurnard, Pickled Mussels, Saffron Potato, Sea Herbs £22.50 Alvarinho Soalheiro, Primeiras Vinhas, Antonio Esteves Ferreira, Portugal 2020 70ml £8.30| 125ml £13.85| 175ml £19.70| Bottle £77.00 Dessert Pear Tart Tatin, Horlicks Ice Cream, Sugar Floss £8.75 Château Dereszla 5 Putonnyos Tokaji Aszú, Hungary, 2016 70ml £14.40 | Half Bottle £70.50 Yorkshire Rhubarb, Vanilla Cream, Basil £8.75 Moscato d’Asti, Contero, Piedmont, 2020(V) 100ml £10.40 | Half Bottle £32.50 Two British Cheeses, A selection from The Courtyard Dairy served with Peter’s Yard Crackers £8.75 10yr Tawny Port, Quinta do Eryamoira, Ramos Pinto 70ml £14.65 | Bottle £97.50 ~ Freshly ground Colombian Huila & El Salvador Blend Coffee or a selection of Teas served with a Chocolate £5.0 A snow storm moved in as we approached, this had also meant they were initally a little short staffed. Amuse bouche in the bar - a pleasant cheesy and caramelised onion dip with some crackers. Two types of bread, a cheesy one and a sourdough, both warm and pleasant, butter was hard. To start I had the mushroom tart, nice stew of winter chanterelles, hen of the woods & trompette (although I don't thnk I found the trompette but some shitake!) nice crispy tart shell, pleasant cappucino of goats cheese foam, red leaf sorrel, a couple of slice of button mushroom. My guest had the chicken liver parfait. Very smooth, a decent size portion, madeira glazed ball, good contrast of small diced apple, plasant two slices of brioche. Main. Both went for the lamb. A nice cutlet, served pink, good, a little chewy, sadly the fat trimmed off, would have preferred it on and rendered crispy. Black garlic puree good, roast cauliflower good, lightly turmericed cauli ok, romenesco ok (so not turnip as per menu), sauce/gravy ok but could have been punchier. The small side of braised lamb shepherds pie was very good and tasty. Perhaps a little more butter in the mash needed? and a twist of pepper over all. There was something in the meat "ragu" I thought maybe ginger, my guest thought not but couldn't identify, later we decided possibly worcestershire sauce. Dessert Poched rhubard with a vanilla cream, under a rhubarb gel cloak, topped with a spelt bisbuit and rhubard sorbet, circled with a basil oil. Nicely sharp but not too sharp ending, needed more of the basil oil to make any impact on flavour, topped with a delicate rhubarb tuile, good. The pear tatin was warm crispy pastry and pear filling, Horlicks ice cream excellent, very good thin dehydrated slice of crispy pear. The sugar floss was more like just spun sugar with the brittle glass texture than a floss texture. but overall ok. Coffee (£5 each) The coffee was very good, although a single petit four each of a crispy coated choc shell with soft ganache centre seemed a little miserley, two each would have been better. Drinks Had a rhubarb and rosehip cordial, pleasant, and an alcohol free beer, ok, glass of tap water each. total just over £133. Noticed later we were charged for a bottle of sparkling water. Fair although drinks pricey but felt it lacked a "wow". Food score 3 Service score 3 (suffered due to some staff late - inclement weather) Ambience 3 - nice location, and scenic, impaired by weather Value for money 3 - drinks expensive. "
"We ate here as part of a wedding and the food was fine but not exactly wildly enjoyable. I admired it but didn't love it. And breakfast, which should have felt like a treat, simply wasn't very nice at all."
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £95.00 |  |
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| Lunch | £45.00 |  |
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| SundayLunch | £45.00 | |
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| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 95.00 | Always available | 5 |
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £14.00 | £32.00 | £9.00 | £7.00 |
| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £32.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
Northcote Rd, Langho, BB6 8BE
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
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