British, Modern Restaurants in Rawtenstall
1. Northcote
British, Modern restaurant in Langho
Northcote Rd - BB6
It’s something of a case of ‘plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose’ at this famous foodie boutique hotel in the Ribble Valley, just off the A59, where star chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen quit in early 2025, only almost immediately to announce her return after the property had been sold by The Stafford Collection to kitchen manufacturer magnates, Alf & Clare Ellis; and where – all the while – indefatigable MD Craig Bancroft continued to marshall operations (as well as the considerable wine list). Despite all the changes, reports and ratings in our annual diners’ poll – in which the hotel is a top-40 most commented-on destination outside London – consistently acknowledge it as a “beautiful venue that always delivers high quality food, with a welcome emphasis on local produce”; and with “Lisa Goodwin-Allen doing a magnificent job of maintaining high standards here”. There are a variety of dining options, with the à la carte offering supplemented by a variety of tasting and chef’s table menus. And “the friendliness and professionalism of all the staff led by Mr B is truly excellent”. “Their special events are truly special” too, with many foodies knowing of the hotel via their annual Obsession festival in January and February each year. (Big changes are envisaged in future under the new owners, including the completion of a new-build dining pavilion for Lisa; transformation of the existing dining room into a more relaxed brasserie; and a complete refurb thrown in.)
2. Eight at Gazegill
British, Modern restaurant in Gisburn
Dancer Lane - BB7
“Set in an organic farm with tremendous views of Pendle Hill” – Doug Crampton’s “amazingly cool” venture on a long-established family farm (for nearly 500 years) is the absolute epitome of the trend to field-to-fork dining. “A timber-octagonal building” that makes the most of the “brilliant vistas all round”, it “takes a bit of finding as it’s not brilliantly signposted (in the end we asked a man working on his garden and he smiled and pointed us in the right direction)”. The open kitchen serves “very special” food that “lives up to the setting”: “hearty, tasty and crowd-pleasing, often featuring produce foraged on the farm, and in the local countryside”. Staff are “delightful and friendly” too. “It celebrated its first birthday last week (open in March 2024) and deserves to succeed – everything of a high standard… including the indoor and outdoor furniture!”
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
“The best… a real pub, with good ales and wine and unbelievable food!” – Gareth & Laura Ostick’s “fabulous” boozer looks just like a normal pub but chef Tom Parker’s cuisine is anything but and “incredible value”. “Glorious seasonal fare is served by a young and enthusiastic team and washed down with interesting wines” either from a four-course menu for £65 per person; or a five-course selection for £85 per person. Some dishes – Herdwick Lamb with olive oil mash – are founded in tradition, but the vegetarian option in particular is a far cry from it, with dishes such as Pickled Cucumber with Wasabi, Buttermilk and Dill.
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
Opinions are somewhat divided this year on this famous pub with rooms in the Ribble Valley, where chef Steve Smith departed in mid 2024 for the bright lights of Manchester. Fans say its production of “Michelin-starred service, wines and food, all without the aspirations and fuss”, continues unabated and feel “you don’t get much better than this for quality and value”. But it also inspired a couple of disappointments this year, including amongst former fans, who perceive “a lack of heart or passion” to recent meals, or who have found some dishes “uninspired and poorly prepared”. Hopefully teething problems?
7. The Higher Buck
British, Modern restaurant in Waddington
The Square - BB7
Even in the foodie hotspot that is the Ribble Valley, chef-patron Michael Heathcote’s well-known destination stands out for its “relaxing pub atmosphere, great real ale and copious pub fare at fair prices”.
8. The Black Friar
British, Modern restaurant in Manchester
13 King Street - M3
“Much more than a pub!” – this once abandoned Victorian boozer was resurrected in 2021 after a decade and a half in the doldrums; now a globetrotting and “high-quality” restaurant out back (‘The Glass Room’), plus a front room offering more casual but “solid” grub, it’s “worth walking out to” the borough of Salford, in the Greater Manchester ‘burbs, to enjoy – and if you take your friends along for the ride they’ll be “duly impressed”.
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