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.

Recently visited The Fence Gate, the service was very friendly, the menu was quite wide being able…read moreto please everyone and the portions were just about right. I would highly recommend The Fence Gate looking for a meal or just a quiet drink. It is also dog friendly, so you can take your dog with you.

Excellent Bar and restaurant. The Fence Gate excels in all areas, there is the public bar area with…read morea real fire burning and exceptional bar food, I went with a friend on Monday lunchtime and it was warm and comfortable and packed. we had passed various other places on route with no cars outside, when we got to the Fence Gate it was nearly full. The staff were ok , efficient and the service was very quick. we ordered prawn sandwiches with chips, the chips were amazing, whatever you order try the chips!!!! Not cheap at £2.25 for a cone but just get one to share at! the Topariary Restaurant always gets good reviews and everyone says the food is good at the functions there.

The Red Lion is amazing! Would highly recommend staying here. The service was amazing, and everyone…read moreis very nice. They breakfast comes out very quick, and servers are awesome. We stayed in a cottage and a room, and it was great! Will be back!

Set in a beautiful location, but if you go in summer expect lots of children. Food in the…read morerestaurant is subpar and you could tell it was all highly microwaved. We sat in the dining room area and it was very tired and worn, sit in the Pub area instead. Outside seating is very smoky. No A/C or even ceiling fans especially since we were in the new set of rooms. No one opened up the windows prior to our arrival and it was literally like an oven. As secluded as it is there is another hotel/restaurant nearby which we enjoyed better.

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)

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

As of July 2025, at a different location than indicated in Yelp. Now near the Museum Gardens at 14…read moreLendal. Three level pub will great selection of beer. I found an 8% abv IPA from Deya that was the best beer I've had in the UK this visit. Funky decor: lots of antlers, crucifixes, cherubs, and paintings of nude women. I'd definitely go again for a pint. Didn't try the food.

Fantastic ambiance and decor. This multi level bar is not a bar per se but beer and gin joint. It's…read morein need of a bit of a cleaning but at night your probably don't notice, lol. All in all kinda a fun hang out.

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.

The drunken duck is a favorite of our friend who has come here for 40 years, starting with golf…read morebuddies, then with family and best of all to celebrate weddings, and great moments. Relax here, the staff is ready to make this luxury even better with whatever you need! Directions to many local hikes or hot coffee on the picnic tables. So much fun to have, there are gardens, strolls, patios and quiet libraries too. This is the most beautiful place I've ever stayed because I can get some rest, unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. Yesterday there was a local marathon- yes!- great runners charged past into the local town of Ambleside. Hikers and dog lovers are here too. National parks close by... what a get-away we are having!!

Such a charming pub and inn right in the middle of the Lakes District. There's a glorious view…read moreoverlooking the mountains right in front of the venue (with picnic tables if you'd like to sit and enjoy it with a pint). Brunch, lunch, dinner, and bar snacks are served at the Drunken Duck, and I'd only really recommend booking for dinner. The beer and cider are mostly local I believe. We did the curry bowl to share (vegetarian and VERY tasty - kind of wish I could get the recipe), scampi, fries, and tartare sauce (those fries are to die for!) and the lamb kofta, hummus, flatbread, and mint yoghurt (great for sharing and noshing). There's plenty of parking on the side of the inn. The inside is decorated beautifully (very insta-worthy), so maybe consider renting out for an event. And yes, you can bring your dog to dinner/drinks.

Plan your special occasion dinner here!!! The Waterside Bistro and Bar hosted a very special…read morefamily dinner before the wedding for my nephew and his bride and her family. Despite the challenges of planning something with hosts who were in the U.S., the Waterside made this dinner a night everyone will remember. It was the first time bringing together different strands of a family that literally came from around the world. Ian kept everything running perfectly. We met up earlier in the day to iron out a few details and then those of us hosting didn't have to worry about a thing. Paul Huddlestone is a world class chef who works with fresh, organic, Yorkshire ingredients to make a menu that is both local and international in flavors. We are a family who really enjoy good food -- with many avid cooks, including professional chefs -- and everyone loved the food. The wine selections were perfect. And the prices were reasonable too, which was also a factor selecting the Waterside as a place for the dinner. They worked with us to please the tastes of everyone. Despite having a larger group, the selections were customized. The staff were all so warm and friendly. Chef Paul even surprised us with a lovely amuse bouche for our sparkling wine toast at the start of the meal. By dessert there were many more toasts thanks to a dinner that made us now one family. I have attached some photos just to show how happy we all were -- and the good food and relaxed atmosphere made that possible. If you want to have a dinner with some world class food that is firmly rooted in local cuisine, you should dine here. In addition, if you are planning a larger special occasion dinner: I cannot recommend the Waterside highly enough.

We came here once for the early bird meal - The Roast Belly Pork is still the topic of conversation…read more- we came here once because we enjoyed the food so much - we came here once because the chef is amazing - we came here once because the restaurant is so relaxing - we plan to come here every week - once - too much of a good thing can be heaven - and believe me - we do stop ourselves coming here every day. Why??? Thank you James

On A Works Trip & Staying Here... The Sea Food Is To Die For... If You Love It... & The Staff Are…read moreThe Most Friendliest Of People I'veHad The Pleasure To Meet...