I found The Black Horse by chance! My car broke down on Long Lane, on the way to Chorley, and so I…read moretook respite in the classic country looking inn and had a lovely lunch. Today I returned for dinner, having meant to come back for dinner ever since I enjoyed that first lunch visit by chance. I'm surprised it's not already on Yelp as it's not new either. It's over 1000 years old. Yes you read that right. The Black Horse is believed to be one of the oldest serving taverns in the country, and was the second pub in the country to be granted a license back in 1577. Every corner and beam exudes the feeling of a classic English pub/tavern. It's comfortable, cosy, and welcoming, with dark wooden furniture, a roaring fire, and warmly lit side rooms. It's everything you would want in a proper English pub. As I don't drink, we were here for dinner, and were greeted warmly and given menus. The staff are friendly and familiar, it's their business and their baby, and they want to make sure people enjoy their visit. The menu has recently been updated and has some fantastic sounding options, as well as periodical specials. On this occasion, we chose the starters of black pudding scotch egg, and garlic flatbread. We were surprised. It's a pub, so you don't quite expect the artistic and pleasant presentation of the black pudding scotch egg, which was beautifully tempting to look at, and perfectly cooked with a lovely soft yolk. The mustard sauce was creamy with a gentle kick. The garlic flatbread was subtle on the garlic side, but lusciously buttery and fresh. The staff checked on us now and then to make sure everything was ok, even the chef herself at one point. Very enjoyable indeed. For our mains, we chose the cheese and onion pie, and the fish and chips, two classics of British pub food! The best bit? The chef came out and asked how I'd like the side of bread and butter cut with my fish and chips! We all know why too... preference... do you just want bread? Chip butties? It's all dependant on that cut! It was nice to be asked! Both were again presented pleasantly. The pie was unctuously cheesy in a perfectly crispy pastry, not a soggy bottom in sight! The mash you could tell from the moment it was placed on the table was proper home made mash, and the comforting thick gravy provided was perfect for flooding the lot! Wonderful! The fish and chips were equally good. The mushy peas were nice, and the tartare sauce was particularly good, however my praise is mainly on the fish, which was outstanding! The quality of the fish alone was excellent, and the batter was crunchy, crispy, golden perfection! For dessert we chose the sticky toffee pudding (it's a classic!) and from the specials menu, the jam roly poly. Both with custard. We're Northern. The sticky toffee pudding was deliciously rich whilst being super light and fluffy! The smell of the jam roly poly slapped in the face as soon as it arrived, whisking me back to nostalgic childhood sunday dinners. The taste was amazing, not just in flavour, but the crust on the pudding was just right, with the occasional chewy crunchy bit. Bloody marvellous! I'd come again just that jam roly pudding! Basically The Black Horse is everything you want from a proper old English pub. It's established, cosy, warm, welcoming, and offers great drinks, excellent food, and a thoroughly pleasant atmosphere. I recommend it thoroughly!

Wow ordered a ploughman's platter ( takeaway) what a fabulous feast more than enough for 3 of us ,…read morefantastic taste , great value , definitely ordering more , highly recommend

I went here for my boyfriend's birthday this week, my first ever visit - and it was fantastic…read more The food was quite reasonably priced and really delicious! There was quite a wide variety of food available too - so loads of choice. Also had a tasty glass of wine :) The staff were lovely and really attentive - even though it seemed fairly busy. Very pleasant experience! Would definitely go again.

Used to go here about 12 year ago, as the food, service and prices were always spot on…read more Recently went back and I'm glad to say it is still spot on. Great traditional british food (and a good few ethnic dishes) on offer, nice pleasant staff, good prices. If what you want is a great Sunday Roast or more - go here and enjoy.

The owners have converted this pub into a lovely restaurant specialising in English/French cooking…read moreusing local produce, especially good for fish.

This family run business does 1st rate food at very reasonable prices. Expect to have to book (…read moreespecially at the weekends ) as it is has a limited number of tables and is very popular. They don't run multiple sittings either ( which i like ) so your table is your table all night long..and you don't feel rushed in any way. Because it's not a huge place the waiting-on staff attend to your every need..often before you know you need it !!! The menu is very well balanced with specials from the seasons best offerings. they do great fish and game specials , accompanied with firm favoutites of beef, lamb, etc. the startes are always excellent and the desserts just too tempting not to at least share one or three around the table. They have excellent wine choices, and all at prices that won't leave you crying ixnto your bank statement. If you haven't eaten here pick a date 3 weeks from now and some very dear friends and book!! you won't be dissapointed.. ( NB Don't judge this book by it's cover :The resturant is in two halves the one where you sit and ponder the menu over a GnT or similar, and this looks like a small country boozer where you'd get served gammon and chips The dining room is a different place alltogether, it's beautifully decked out and candle lit for a great ambience..)

Value for money this place is one of the best I've been to. The normal menu is very reasonable and…read morethen you are presented with another menu, £8.50 for THREE COURSES. That's right, £8.50. It's not shoddy stuff either, I had melon to start, beef stroganoff for main and apple crumble with custard for dessert. I genuinely couldn't believe how good value for money it was, I'd have easily paid £15. The location is very good, the place was busy and the decor is to a good standard.

Everything was very good. As an American still getting used to some of the customs here. Ordering…read moreis quite different from American restaurants. You order before you are seated and go to the bar for your own drinks. All in all the food was good.

Extremely disappointing! Having visited and very much enjoyed the food and atmosphere at the Owls…read moreon many, many previous occasion, sadly Saturday nights experience was very, very uncomfortable due to the restaurant being extremely cold and draughty. These cool conditions prompted our party and other customers to dine in the upstairs seating area in our outdoor coats in order to keep warm. We did request a warmer place to dine and after eating our starters, were subsequently move to the downstairs conservatory which was marginally warmer. Clearly, the heating arrangements were totally inadequate. Regrettably! The food was also not at the Owls usual standard, ie the sprouts were stale and unpleasant and the carrots appeared to have been kept and reheated. Sadly, our family and freinds will not be returning to dine at the Owls in future unless the comfort conditions and food quality greatly improve from our latest experience.

Went here before Christmas for Saturday lunch on the suggestion of my vegan dining companion. She…read morehadn't been here before and may have picked up this claim on their website: "The local vegetarians and vegans, who regularly eat in both the Bar and Southwell's Restaurant, say we have the best selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes in the area." As a vegetarian myself, and having cycled past the Farmers Arms on many occasions, it seemed worth a go. We ate in the bar, but from a passing glance on the way in the restaurant looks very luxurious by any standards, let alone for a pub restaurant in these parts! The bar does the English pub ambience reasonably well, with a warm glow from the woodburning stove. Staff were friendly and welcoming throughout our visit. We both ordered some sort of curry from the six or so choices on the vegan/vegetarian menu. While my overall experience of Farmers Arms was OK, the food was definitely sub-standard. The curry itself, both my companion and I thought had a strange after-taste. I suggested at the time that this might come from some indian vegetable or herb, but it dawned on us later that a green potato was a likelier explanation. Which doesn't really surprise me, as the veg was a hodge-podge of roughly cut baby potatoes, julienne carrots, uncaramelised onions and nothing else outstanding. The curry sauce was thin and unappetising - even a scoop of a Patak's jarred curry sauce would have been a big improvement. Poppadom on top (OK) and by far the highlight of the meal was the food service chips served as part of my friend's half rice/half chips. Coffee after the meal for the lady was "bog standard" in her words. En route, we had passed from Fir Tree Farm Christmas Market into the farm shop and cafe itself. There don't seem to be menus on the tables these days at Fir Tree, only a short, daily changing blackboard menu. If it were all about a safe bet for wholesome sustenance, a bowl of soup at Fir Tree would wins hands down every time. But one needs to take a chance, and here is hoping that the next throw of the dice turns out a bit luckier! It wouldn't surprise me to read a good review of vegetarian food served especially from the restaurant at Farmers Arms. But I feel it somebody else's job to take a chance on that one!

The best pub in this featureless snobby, inbred area…read more The nearby Eagle and Child is a overrated, pretentious, snobbish dump serving overpriced substandard food to inbred snobby p**cks in Range Rovers. Choose this place instead.

The bobbin mill was clean and fresh and very busy when we went in the team were very friendly the…read morefood was good they had run out of a lot of things only one draught larger overall would love to call back

we went here by chance last year, and was really pleased with the food and the service, so much so…read morethat we celebrated my sons 30th birthday here, and all the family really enjoyed themselves.

The Cherry Tree has been recently taken over and revamped (used to be Thatch & Thistle) - the decor…read moreis lovely, clean cut and the Cherry Tree theme is throughout the place. We couldn't fault our food - all made from scratch not a microwaved ready meal in sight!, great starters, a wide variety of choice and our table of 4 all had different starters so we saw the quality and quantity, which was great. The main courses are of a high standard, again all homemade and delicious. The service -well nothing was too much trouble for a young and very new team, all headed up by Adam as the manager. We have since returned at lunchtime and no doubt will return again, and again. If you want cheap, cheerful and quickly served meals - then go to pub chains who do lovely micro meals! not the Cherry Tree.

Can't fault the new Cherry Tree, was recommend to visit by friends, good food, good service nothing…read morelike the Thatch and Thistle (which was awful) Just booked for Christmas and can't wait to take friends and family!

Located Centrally in Standish town center this vibrant boozer is a both bright and modern inside. a…read moregood selection of beers on draught and live acts on regularly. they even cater for the smokers with a generous annex at the side with tables and chairs.