Highwayman, Northcote, White Bull & others

[adey73]

I've been off this week and so headed to a few of my local favourites.

I went up to the Highwayman Inn in Kirkby Lonsdale first.

I slightly prefer it over the 3 Fishes and as we eat, Nigel Haworth came in to take part in a photo shoot at the back of the pub.

One of things I love most about egullet is seeing what else is going on around the world. This is my small contribution.

Duck Rilletes on toast and soup

Wild Boar Pate (snook this one in actual a couple of months back) and Lancashire Hot Pot

Chicken breast with braised barley and celeriac. Pork Steak (smuggled this one in too)

Grilled fillet with peppercorn sauce (out of Shot). Gammon with double egg.

Last of the years Mutton Pie. Cheese board, not as good as the 3 fishes monster of a cheese board.

And then off into Kirkby Lonsdale to Churchmouse cheeses. Bought some Picos Blue, Epoisses, Vacherin Mont d'or, Fourme d' Ambert, Comte, Ribblesdale goat blue & white (this stuff is amazing, you wouldn't think it came from under a goat)

More to come.

Edited March 22, 2008 by adey73 (log)

[spanielking]

Up my neck of the woods! I have been to Highwayman, and 3 fishes, I find them in that strange no mans land, not a pub, not a restaurant. And the whole order and pay at a paypoint thing is stupid, espc at those prices!! The menu doesnt change alot either. They are both cashcows for Northcote, but I guess it makes sense. Can't wait for your report on Northcote, its fab there. I'm not familiar with the White Bull though?? I will watch this space!

[adey73]

The White Bull just won a Bib Gourmand a couple of months and is in Ribchester.

Next up is Northcote Manor, an institution in these parts and is 31 minutes away from my house. This country house hotel (sorry restaurant with rooms!) has come to larger attention because of Nigel Haworth's appearance on Great British Menu 3. As a group they also own the Pub mentioned above.

Granary & white. Cheese bread and onion bread.

Black pudding & trout. Leagrams twice baked Souffle.

Nettle soup. Lamb.

Hare & Venison. Treacle Tart.

Apple Crumble. Smoked Pineapple.

Cutting edge? Well no, but they do know their clientele and have been successfully plying their trade since the 80's. It is excellent value for money, for three people, with drinks (and a voucher that you can find on their site) it was £61. That's right £61.

[dipardoo]

my neck of the woods too (when i'm back with ma and pa at least)...

had a good meal at the highwayman the other weekend - mutton pudding, hotpot, cheese and onion pie etc. food's always good but for one thing...

couldn't the portions be a tiny bit smaller? ok, so i've obviously been down south too long but i would so love to manage three courses at either three fishes or highwayman. am concluding the only way to do it is leave half the food (i've not been down south that long, mind) or share a dish at every course with someone else.

like spanielking i would love to see the menus change more frequently. they're so huge with something for everyone but i feel nige could make more of the specials board sometimes. also, think the wine list is a bit dull. it would be nice to see a few rare treats on wine list and menu occasionally. it's such a monster of a place and works like a well-oiled machine - no question about that - but there's so little room for surprise.

don't mean to sound whiney. it's a great place, spent £120 on lunch for five of us.

i do sound a bit ungrateful don't i! the three fishes and the highwayman has improved lancs eating and for that i am grateful.

keep up the posts adey. i'm feeling homesick.

[adey73]

Spanielking, the fillet grill that I had at the Highwayman was £17 plus £1.50 for the peppersauce which was more than my starter and main at Northcote Manor (with the voucher £16 for both), there may have been sub cross subsidy going on.

As Dipardoo says it would be impossible to do three courses, that's why we finished with the cheese. Have you had the 10 Lancashire cheese board at the 3 Fishes? It is the best I've had.

This is the most cutting edge thing I've seen at Northcote and only because they sphered some orange juice. Served with shaved foie gras and leaves.

I enjoyed my main which was Hare and Venison at Northcote.

But to compare that to the last note worthy place I went to, Fraiche, (down the Motorway the otherway).

Marc's pork belly dish and heroin like sauce (I would have licked the plate, the cutlery and table cloth given an empty dining room) trumped Northcote Manors offering, easily.

Marc's dish

[dipardoo]

i'm a northcote fan. the menus always read really well and sometimes sound quite 'out there' but when you get what you order, they're always pretty straight down the line which is fine. i always love to see what ingredients NH will get into next. that's the strength of northcote for me.

the only thing i'm not so set on at northcote is that grim lounge for pre-dinner drinks. so stilted and awkward - a bit of piped muzak might do the trick (!) or maybe they should rearrange some of the furniture just to break up the space a bit. i'm in moan mode today...

[adey73]

I am too and I think that Pubs have lifted the game of surrounding places.

Dipardoo you been to Sparling or Stanley house when Dodds was at the grill?

[adey73]

I'll leave the White Bull until last.

A few of us went out for a curry on Thursday night, to place I regard as one of the best in the UK (this has nothing to do with provincial pride, because I don't suffer that affliction). Bukhara is in the same league as Al Faisals in Birmingham and above East z East in Manchester and better than any I can think of in Glasgow, in my opinion.

I only know of this place because one of my mates is a Facebook based sex fiend and was taken there by a fleeting 'friend' of his. It's not somewhere I would have stopped at and it is an alcohol free zone. It is always busy and has just expanded it's Car Park I noticed that night.

Chicken Tikka. Afghani Lamb.

Mixed Grill. Shikam Puree Kebab.

Quality Bread. Breads & rice.

Chicken Methi. More of the good stuff.

[spanielking]

I went to the Sparling about a month ago, though it was excellent, a bit trendier(ish) than 3 fishes/highwaymen. I had a ham pressing with a chutney, mmmmmmmmm, twas nice! Good buzz about the place. The chef, warwick, has brought one or two members of staff with him frount of house, service was good. Prices middle of the road, 3 courses 1 bottle wine, some drinks £70 for 2 I think it was?? Any reports from Stanley House since Warick left?? I would love to take some friends, but don't want it to be crap. I went last septermber and it was reallygood. Lounge was crap though, its a bit high camp, so is the restaurant, but its fun. The whole place is a bit neauveau riche!! But the food was good.

The lounge at Northcote is a bit stiff. They have done the bedrooms up really smart, the dining room is nice, apart from those minging spot lamp things, shame about the lounge, its very 'Edwardian', perhaps thats what they are after.

Must check out White bull! I have passed that Indian as well. A wrok collegue says that You and Yu, the chinese on the way to Clitheroe is good.

Thanks for starting a topic I can relate to. And its good to show people what us 'Northeners' can offer.

[adey73]

Went to the Sparling a couple of weeks back to. Looks very corporate, food was a bit middling.

I had really high hopes for Stanley House despite that arse awful decor and people with dog-bollock brown tans and blokes with spikey geometric hairdoos. They really were trying hard with complimentary courses all over the place and was shocked that they had a fully French front of house team.

These were taken last year.

Will try to get back there in the next few weeks.

[dipardoo]

ahhh...bukhara.

i have a new favourite starter there - paneer. and i rarely enjoy that anywhere.

am a big bukhara fan - i like the slightly canteeny feel it has; it's always heaving, service is always excellent and such a bargain. i quite like going booze-free there - love the jugs of mango lassi, lime juice etc

as for sparling, i haven't been but am keen to try it out. think warrick d is well talented but he was getting a bit poncey at cassis if you ask me - though the pics from last year look pretty good.

my family went to sparling the other weekend - their guess was it was stanley house folk trying to 'do' a 3 fishes. is that the case do you know? my gran got scampi stacked up on a square plate at sparling. she wasn't impressed just as she wasn't impressed when the carrot with her roast lamb came puréed at cassis. i know the thoughts of a 90 year old woman probably don't interest you but sometimes she talks sense

[adey73]

Bukhara is a bargain and love the booze free zone, keeps the likes of me out!

Yep got the jumping on the three fishes vibe too at the Sparling, it looks a bit.. ...well... ...90's if that term is permittable, white walls, wooden floors could be a few garish glicee prints, including one of Dodds himself as you walk in. Onanism anybody? Food was Ok to good, wouldn't make any effort to get back there.

Is it the people from Stanley House expanding to the Sparling?

Must have deep pockets if they do.

[dipardoo]

i don't know if sparling and stanley house are related. it's the touch of naffness they share that makes me wonder.

i had hoped that warrick had realised what a clip joint cassis was and had upped and left to start a really cool pub that would see him claim his title of lancs most talented. but, alas, seemingly not.

anyway what of white bull?

[wackychef]

Sparling and Stanley House have nothing to do with each other.......

[adey73]

And Finally in my, 'why I need to get back in the gym sharpish' week off.... The White Bull.

It's just won a Bib, in Ribchester in Clitheroe (a place with more pubs than inhabitants). The food is well, pub food very traditional, portions gargantuan so only three shots.

Need I say...

Duck confit with Black Stick Blue fritters.

No one could finish these dishes. The chips are full potato size. Everything very freshly made. There were specials on the board, including haggis (should have had haggis).

Then waddled to Bowland Brewery.

Bought two cases of Sky Dancer and then to D. Bryne wine merchants in Clitheroe.

and found the Sky dancer 50p cheaper per bottle, mutherfunkers.

At weekend dug out the Tandoor, drank the over priced booze.

And that's it.

My week over, back to the Department of Crushing Banality tomorrow morning.

The horror, the horror.

[spanielking]

Adey, what were your thoughts on White bull, is it worth a trip? It doesnt look to earth shattering. Ever been to weezos in Clitheroe?? Thats on my list to try.

Went to Cartford Inn today

http://www.thecartfordinn.co.uk/

Twas OK, staff fecking useless. Usual modern pub menu, middle of nowhere, not rushing back. Was filling up with familys and their offspring, so we left. Why are buggies so massive these days?? Just had a sarnie and fries, as I said, was OK, I'm still alive.

Am of to Birmingham to go to Purnells 2moz, can't wait. I have Wednesday off aswell!! Woop!!!

[adey73]

Well it wasn't earth shattering, I would go again just to check other things on the specials board.

I didn't get why it has been given a Bib, but that's my own personal bafflement not a reflection on them.

Been to the Cartford Inn and if those platters and other elements aren't 3 Fishes plagiarism, tell me what is?!

Got friends in Birmingham, so I need that report of you fella?

Am feeling bilious at the thought of work tomorrow........

[BertieWooster]

The lounge at Northcote is a bit stiff. They have done the bedrooms up really smart, the dining room is nice, apart from those minging spot lamp things, shame about the lounge, its very 'Edwardian', perhaps thats what they are after.

.

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When we wed at Northcote we begged them to take down those awful pictures in the dining room, but they wouldn't. So we just covered them up and got on with it. And, yes, I think the Edwardian vibe is very them. It certainly suits a jazz band or two.

Been eating at the White BUll for years, was a bit surprised by the Bib. Eat there because Ribchester is lovely (specially the ROman museum) and its the best honest pub place around town...great fish and chips, proper pub food. Not massively worth going out of one's way for, but good honest beer and stuff.

[Gary Marshall]

good reports.

Tell me more about the tandoor.....

[RDB]

One thing bout Northcote in all the years I have been eating there is it always delivers on taste.

Agree with Three Fishes good first few times but gets quite repetitive after a while. The last few times I have been there service is pretty poor and waiting times for food quite long.

My gripe with both Haworth ventures is when I have complained about various things they get quite defensive and don't seem to like an level of critiscism.

We had actually booked into The White Bull on Saturday but had to cancel as the two high chairs they had were in use. Went to the Assheton Arms instead, which was Ok, dozen snails for about 6 quid was decent. I think??

One gem in the area is the Freemasons arms in Wiswell, good food and an amazing wine list with very little mark up. It is hard to find though, but then all the best pubs are.

Good to see a mention of the best alcohol vendors around, D Byrne and Son. You could spend a whole day in the place, which I often do and find some real alcohol gems.

I believe there is a Ribble Valley food trail starting soon, wonder what its like??

[dipardoo]

RDB, agreed re constructive criticism at the 3 fishes/highwayman.

i commented to nigel haworth ages ago that the portions were a bit overwhelming and his answer was that he'd have more complaints on his hands if the portions were any smaller. he didn't appreciate the comment.

annoying really because when you look at adey73's pics of white bull and three fishes food plates it makes lancashire look like flippin' texas. some of us like balanced meals. ah well, fighting a losing battle on that one.

anyone been to spread eagle at sawley recently?

[BertieWooster]

anyone been to spread eagle at sawley recently?

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about a year ago. Great food, still looks and smells like an EPH though.

Inn at Whitewell anyone?

[spanielking]

I tried to find the sprad eagle once, got lost, and ran out of time, so had lunch in some inbred yocal place where everyone looked at you funny. I had a panini, thought they coudnt go too wrong with that!!

Went to Inn at whitewell about a year and a half ago, stayed the night, room was ace. They let dogs in too, so my 2 whippets, Eric and Lionel came along. Had a evening meal in the restaurant. Cant rember much, had venison, v chewey. so much so I had to excuse myself and go spit out a mouthful in the gents. Service at breakfast was a bit shit. But it was a nice night away, all in £200ish for 2 (plus two whippets!)

If I'm down that way, I'll pop in for a drink, its pricey, but I like the place. Its always heaving, middle of nowhere and always busy? I have not eaten there sice I stayed, menu aint that exciting really. They only do 1 sitting for sunday lunch which is odd.

The lower buck at waddington does nice chips!!

[spanielking]

Eric and Lionel at Inn at Whitewell. They are def not spoilt! Bloody useless the pair of them.

[dipardoo]

ahhhhh, beautiful doggies. what a handsome pair.

the rooms at whitewell can't be beat which reminds me, my sister stayed at the white bull a couple of months ago and was very impressed. only £60 a night and the rooms have been nicely done up.

just mentioning it should anyone need a recommendation in the lower-than-whitewell/northcote price bracket. memories of staying in a vile room at a pre-makeover northcote are coming flooding back. shudder.

any recent longridge restaurant experiences? i went last may and was really impressed. my only previous visit - a sunday lunch a few years ago - was a dog. no disrespect to eric and lionel...