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.

I've not been to Farrar's before but I was not disappointed. Unlike most places in Hartlepool the…read moreearly bird menu is available until 7.30, and there is quite a wide selection of dishes on it. I had the battered squid and the rump steak (rare), both of which were perfectly cooked. The chunky chips were gorgeous. My only criticism is that there was not salt and pepper on the tables. Although I had planned on asking the waiter for some when he brought the main courses he immediately vanished without asking if we required anything else. Luckily the food was fairly well-seasoned so I didn't miss them too much, and the staff were friendly and polite. The meal was delicious and great value for money, I will definitely be going back.

The lasagna was too SALTY. Chicken breast was only ok. Burger good. Seabass had only 1 prawn, at…read morebest medium, not a king. But dish very tasty. Do not sit at table by kitchen door, very loud kitchen conversation and two songs playing at once, also drafty. Chips not great but ok. Service good but meal took a long time.

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

Went out for lunch here today. Having passed it many times & always appeared to be busy. The menu…read moreis extensive with a huge specials board. Tons of seating in coves & circular/square tables. A large bar to stand at if required. Vast amount of space for disabled customers. The food was pretty good & we got 2-4-1 so a bargain really. I had heard some good reviews hence the visit. Would return to try some other meals in the future.

We came to The Copper Horse on Friday, 27 Jan to celebrate a birthday. It was our first visit and…read morewe were not disappointed. From the cheerful greeting upon our arrival to the delicious desert everything was top notch. The meals were wonderful and the service was quick, friendly and professional. We were so impressed that we returned yesterday for the Sunday lunch. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and again the meal exceeded our expectations. We shall return whenever we are in the vicinity.

Great pub on Seamer road. If you go here, it's not for just a drink…read more You need to get the food because it is amazing. Have been here several times throughout the year, always highest quality

It started with a pre-dinner drink in the drawing room, a high ceilinged chamber with much dark…read morewood and leather furniture. With our drinks the waiter brought a plastic orange tree with actual berry sized oranges (sultanas) that were soaked in Grand Marnier and other magic potions to make them deliciously alcoholic. Soon after, a sommelier joined us in the drawing room to help us choose a wine for the evening. As you walk into the Orangery dining room, one immediately notices a glass skylight ceiling and views of the immaculately groomed grounds. Especially in the evening, the failing sunlight creates great atmosphere throughout the whole restaurant. Perfect ambiance for a fancy dinner. As with many high end restaurants there were pre-courses and courses. Before starters we had an amazing soup that I don't want to insult by getting it wrong, but reminded me of split pea soup. Then starters, all presented like art, followed by our entree. I had the best end of season lamb, and I definitely recommend it! For me, a place like this is as much about the experience as it is the food so I won't delay on just the food. Believe me, whatever you get is probably going to be amazing here! There was a pre-dessert course and it was like a less solid cheesecake with SPOILER ALERT pop rocks. Yes, pop rocks in a 5 star restaurant. Genius is the first word to come to mind. Hope I don't spoil the surprise for you. I liked that I still had another dessert course to go after I finished that! Service is big with me, and this is one of those places where your napkin is placed in your lap for you, so service was exactly the spoiling treatment you hope for at a place like this. So if you want to really splurge (really splurge) and have a truly fine dining adventure, I highly recommend the Orangery.

Kenny Atkinson at The Orangery was an incredible evening. From the moment you walk into Rockliffe…read moreHall you are treated like royalty and throughout our meal the service was outstanding, with very knowledgeable staff and a kitchen/dining system that works very well. They also allow the staff to show a bit of personality which is always endearing in such desirable places.

Lovely food, definitely a must for any foodies visiting Newcastle…read more Prices are reasonable for the quality & quantity. Nice staff, relaxing atmosphere to enjoy your meal in peace.

Amazing! Probably one of the best meals I have had in the UK. Admittedly I ordered items that are…read moremore about the sourcing but the preparation needs to be raved about as well. All of the small details shined along with the clearly great sourcing mastermind behind this establishment. I started with the oysters. I was amazed with them their freshness and buttery taste and texture as well as a brilliant horseradish sauce that didn't overpower but rather added to the experience. As a main I had the rib-eye with a peppercorn topping. If there was any negative it only would be to the imagination of the sides which were chips /fries and onion rings with some salad leaves. But do not misunderstand me here the main star was clearly the ribeye. Not only cooked to perfection but the sourcing of the meat was incredible. This is no understatement as I eats steak multiple times a week, always ribeye and most of the time US prime. However this steak was incredible and the peppercorn sauce again did not overpower the steak but rather complimented it. I finished with the cheese plate and a glass of port. The cheese selection was spot on and I exceptionally enjoyed the blue. The chutney was probably the best accompaniment for the cheese selection. Crackers were ok and I could have used a toast but it didn't matter. Service was impeccable, even in a rushed setting it was perfect. All suggestions were spot on, never felt rushed and it always felt friendly. I would highly recommend this restaurant and I would definitely come back and go out of my way to come back.

Call me pernickety if you will, but when I'm paying over £20 in service charge, I expect my…read morewaitress to actually deliver the cheese I order. Is this too much to ask or has diligence been flushed down the toilet along with manners, of which she too, was devoid. This was the cherry on the icing of what became a slightly soured cake over the course of two hours at the White Room in Seaham Hall. But before you cancel your reservation, let me add that carelessness was strictly limited to service, and only on this visit. On previous outings, service at the White Room has been spotless. On every occasion, food has been excellent. A terrine of chicken liver and foie gras with pea purée, apple and pea shoots was exquisite. Similarly, a main of belly pork was mouth watering with celeriac purée and roasted parsnip. Kenny Atkinson's cooking is faultless. It is just a shame that front of house let him down. When my cheese selection finally arrived, that too was exceptional, with over thirty varieties including a delightfully runny Époisses. I recommend a visit to the White Room as value for money is outstanding, not to mention the beautiful surroundings. You just better hope that your meal ends up on your plate and not on your lap.