Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in Rawtenstall
Hardens guides have spent 33 years compiling reviews of the best Rawtenstall restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 19 restaurants in Rawtenstall and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Rawtenstall restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Rawtenstall Restaurants
1. Northcote
British, Modern restaurant in Langho
Northcote Rd - BB6
“Going from strength to strength under the stewardship of Lisa Goodwin-Allen” – this much-extended manor house in the Ribble Valley (just off the A59) built its renown under chef Nigel Haworth and his former-protégée Lisa’s “exceptional and innovative” cuisine maintains its reputation in fine style, thanks to the “really excellent layers of flavour and texture running through all her dishes”. Although its nowadays in the same group as that of The Stafford in London’s St James’s, long term MD Craig Bancroft remains at the helm and “the fact that he is so closely involved and so passionate about wine just shines through in the wine list (of course there are well-known vintages from France etc, but many other interesting options)”. The odd regular fears that “a corporate approach is taking over the uniqueness that is Northcote”, but most accounts applaud the “lovely” setting. A highpoint of the year here is the annual Obsession food festival, which runs annually for two weeks in January and February with a series of guest meals from famous chefs – it has established itself now as a key event in the UK’s annual foodie calendar.
2. The Three Fishes
British, Traditional restaurant in Whalley
Mitton Rd - BB7
“It’s well worth the drive out to Mitton” to sample “fantastic food prepared by an exceptional chef” – “Nigel Howarth, back where he belongs cooking up a storm in Lancashire”. Formerly the culinary force behind nearby regional powerhouse Northcote, he “has revived this lovely restaurant” (a pub he was originally involved with 20 years ago, when it was part of the Ribble Valley Inns chain) “and made it is own” with “food that represents his character and seasonal dishes that keep the menu changing, so there’s always something different to try”. “The service is really good and the ambience is very friendly and relaxed”.
3. Eagle & Child
British, Modern restaurant in Ramsbottom
3 Whalley Road - BL0
2022 Review: “Great food and also a sense that they are putting back into the community” inspires support for this pub-with-rooms on the village green. Run as a youth-focused social enterprise, supporting young people to access training and paid work experience, it has won a string of awards over its almost ten years in operation. In summer, its ‘Incredible Edible Beer Garden’ comes into its own: almost an acre in size and with lots of interest as well as outside seating.
4. White Swan at Fence
British, Modern restaurant in Fence
300 Wheatley Lane Rd - BB12
This “proper local pub but with Michelin star food” is many reporters’ “restaurant of the year” – with service that’s both “fun and professional, not at all stuffy” and “stunningly good food” from chef Tom Parker, who trained at nearby Lancashire powerhouse Northcote. Top Menu Tip – “the beetroot ice cream is sublime”.
5. Breda Murphy Restaurant
British, Modern restaurant in Whalley
41 Station Rd - BB7
2023 Review: “Simplicity” combines with “top quality” at Carlow-born Breda Murphy’s deli-restaurant, a popular destination in the Ribble Valley since 2006 for her Anglo-Irish home-style cooking. “At first it feels overly conservative, but every dish is perfectly cooked, often with a small and interesting twist such as thick-cut lime and soy-cured salmon.”
6. Freemasons at Wiswell
British, Modern restaurant in Wiswell
8 Vicarage Fold Clitheroe - BB7
“Set in a tiny hamlet in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley”, Steve Smith’s “fine-dining destination disguised as a pub with rooms” is one of the top 50 most commented-on destinations outside London in our annual diners’ poll. “The food is superb, and the wine list well chosen” and it’s all served “in an easygoing atmosphere… you can even take the dog!” Even amongst fans, though, opinions divide sharply over the level of value it provides: what is “very fair” to some is – to others – becoming more borderline (“I know everything is more expensive now, but sadly this is now in the sphere of me not being able to justify the expense”).
7. YU
Chinese restaurant in Copster Green
500 Longsight Rd - BB1
Victor Yu’s “exceptional” Ribble Valley landmark celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, serving delicious Cantonese meals with a real sense of occasion. “Love this place, service is brilliant and Victor is an absolute star”, say fans – “the tasting menu offers something for everyone; it’s expensive, but worth it”.
8. Banny’s Restaurant
British, Modern restaurant in Colne
1 Vivary Way - BB8
2021 Review: This nautically styled old Harry Ramsden’s remains “very popular with Boundary Mill shoppers” owing to its “great fish ’n’ chips and service” (not to forget the textbook mushy peas.
9. Osma
Scandinavian restaurant in Prestwich
132 Bury New Road - M25
2022 Review: Chef Danielle Heron, who has worked at L'Enclume and Maaemo in Oslo, opened her first solo venture in the midst of the pandemic in autumn 2020, serving Scandinavian-style open sandwiches and salads, with evening meals served four nights a week. The name comes from Osla and Manchester, the home cities of Danielle and co-owner Sofie Stoermann-Naess. No feedback as yet, but it sounds promising, and was shortlisted as a potential newcomer of the year in the Manchester Food & Drink Festival Awards.
10. Bukhara
Indian restaurant in Preston
154 Preston New Rd - PR5
2021 Review: This large, modern roadside outfit, just off the M6 near Preston, has established an enviable reputation for its “well cooked, authentic Indian food” over the last 15 years. “Pity it looks rather like a works canteen”. Important to note: it is alcohol free.
11. The Assheton Arms
Fish & seafood restaurant in Clitheroe
2021 Review: This “lovely gastropub in the pretty village of Downham, under the shadow of Pendle Hill” is part of Jocelyn Neve’s Seafood Pub Company – the interior has been “completely renovated”, but retains a proper atmosphere with its “roaring fires”. Views on its performance diverged a little last year: most reports suggest the “excellent fish and seafood is definitely worth going for”, but a couple of mixed reports (“good but not as good as it was”; “trying hard but no organisation”) sound a warning note.
12. The Higher Buck
British, Modern restaurant in Waddington
The Square - BB7
Chef-patron Michael Heathcote has established a solid following for this Ribble Valley establishment, where he celebrates a decade this year. The “top-value Sunday lunch” is a big attraction – along with “exceptional fish soup”.
13. The Spärrows Continental Pasta & Spätzle
East & Cent. European restaurant in Green Quarter
16 Red Bank - M4
2023 Review: This “unusual and unique find” – “hidden away in a railway arch near Manchester’s Victoria Station” – offers “a wide selection of pasta and dumplings from south Germany, Switzerland, Alsace, Austria and the German-speaking parts of northern Italy”, washed down with an interesting variety of beers, wines and Japanese alcoholic drinks. Even the occasional critic who finds it “not entirely to my liking” concedes that “the very interesting menu has good and unusual food”. The same team is scheduled to open a sake bar and shop called Suzume.
14. The Black Friar
British, Modern restaurant in Manchester
13 King Street - M3
“This old Salford pub has risen from the dead” following its long-time closure after a fire; “the fine Victorian building now has a brilliantly designed dining area incorporating much glass, and opening onto a garden with tables”, but it’s also a proper boozer too. Chef Ben Chaplin’s food ranges from “excellent pub grub” to more ambitious fare and “service and ambience are both wonderful”.
15. Glamorous
Chinese restaurant in Manchester
Wing Yip Bus’ Centre, Oldham Rd - M4
2022 Review: “Busy”, huge and gaudy Cantonese that sits over the Wing Yip Oriental supermarket, where you can choose from over 300 dishes on the menu. It’s one of the few places left in town (in the country?) where dim sum still comes on trolleys.
16. COIN Hebden
restaurant in Hebden Bridge
Albert Street - HX7
A “great fit-out” of a former bank has resulted in this very cool destination, run by two alumni of the Moorcock Inn at Sowerby Bridge. It’s “a lovely place to while away a couple of hours” (in the company of your canine if you like), where the concise menu revolves around punchy and “great small plates, including charcuterie and cheese” and there’s “a dependable wine list too”.
17. Flat Iron
restaurant in Swinton
Deansway - M27
Opening summer 2024 in the former Blacks camping store in Deansgate, the home-coming branch of Manchester-raised Charlie Carroll's successful bargain-price steakhouse group. With 12 outlets in London plus Leeds and Cambridge, it has managed to maintain high standards through expansion. The free ice cream at the end of every meal is a winner.
18. SKOF
restaurant in None of these
Noma - M4
Opening in spring 2024 in the city centre's NOMA district, great things are expected of this debut restaurant from Tom Barnes, former executive chef at L'Enclume in the Lake District. He retains close ties with Simon Rogan, his old boss, and will get regular deliveries of produce from L'Enclume's own regenerative farm.
19. Sakura
Chinese restaurant in Manchester
8 Salisbury House, St Stephen Street - M3
Opened in August 2022 in a former Chinese takeaway/chip shop, this ‘authentic Hong Kong’ (their words) venue shot to local fame on the back of an April 2023 review from The Observer’s Jay Rayner, who enjoyed its “profoundly comforting” dishes, with the “textural joys” of both traditionally Asian “slippery foods” and plenty of deep-fried, crunchy ones (including “very good chicken wings”). Reports please!
View full listings of 19 Rawtenstall Restaurants
Popular Rawtenstall Restaurant Searches
Rawtenstall Restaurant News