Help please. We've got friends coming to stay with us in a couple of weeks and thought we might take them on a drive to Clitheroe for a nice Sunday Lunch. Any recommendations in or around will be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.

Aspinall arms is brilliant.

Can't do much better than the Higher Buck at Waddington, two miles out of Clitheroe, lovely village and great food. I'd book if you're going for Sunday Lunch...

http://www.higherbuck.com/

Reviewed in the Guardian...

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017 ... ble-valley

The 3 Fishes, at Mitton is good, but owned by the Jack Walker Trust, if you care about such things...

The Calf's Head at Worston (just off the A59) used to be v.good.
But that was a while ago, presume it still is.

Gets a good write up on TripAdvisor.

The Edisford Bridge is fantastic for pub food, the Calf's Head at Worsten is also very good if you're after that pub grub - personally not a fan of The Aspinall, had long waits and thought it was pricey personally.

I live in Clitheroe and for a lunch, I very rarely go anywhere different than the Calf's Head or the Edisford. Great food, good portions, good prices.

We got 3 platter board things in holmes mill last week. Amazin

Clarets4me wrote:....owned by the Jack Walker Trust....

You mean the geniuses who got the Venkys in at Deadwood?
Heroes!

Holmes mill is very good, longest bar in the UK too, in a converted mill, serving all the bowland brewery finest.

IAmAClaret wrote:Holmes mill is very good, longest bar in the UK too, in a converted mill, serving all the bowland brewery finest.

Calfs head is average at best now.

Aspinall Arms great ; 3 fishes is good.

Mitton Hall (used to be The Stonehouse) is very good.

If you want to go a bit posher Freemason in Wiswell is excellent

Try the Red Pump Inn best Sunday lunch and the best ever steak restaurant.

Parker’s Arms at Newton is still the best of the lot for me.

[quote="Clarets4me"]Can't do much better than the Higher Buck at Waddington, two miles out of Clitheroe, lovely village and great food. I'd book if you're going for Sunday Lunch...

http://www.higherbuck.com/

Reviewed in the Guardian...

Brilliant place.

My place


Failing that any of the above. Could add The Swan with 2 necks at Pendleton

That looks a bit like Wensleydale Blue (although a tad too orange) on the cheese board in the picture.

Was it Cutsy?

if you like your Wensleydale you need to go to the factory/farm shop in hawes....you can taste loads of different flavours/types....word of caution though if buying....they dont have a long shelf life so dont over buy or you will be on cheese on toast 3 times a day.

Been there and done the Wensleydale Creamery Happy.

Need to take out a second mortgage in those sorts of places though. I'm like a kid in a cheese shop.

Avoid the Red Pump.

Land lady like a female Basil Fawlty. But not in an amusing way.

Higher buck at Waddington is good. Although the lower buck has superior ale. Waddington arms is probably a happy medium. Very quick service when I've been in too!

Free masons arms is pretentious and over priced.

Mitton Hall or Freemasons at Wiswell. Both absolutely top notch.

The Three Fishes at Mitton.

I can’t vouch for their Sunday Roast, but the steaks I’ve had there have been superb. Decent ale on top.

Spread Eagle Sawley.

Worth a go. Nice place.

I think the variety of replies and recommendations just prove how fortunate we are to have so many quality places to eat around here, It's often commented on by friends who visit...
I'd be interested to learn where you go Cliff...

I’m a Ribble Valley’er (if you couldn’t already tell from the name). Can’t disagree with any of the suggestions above.

Don’t think I saw the Inn at Whitewell mentioned, outstanding place, but a little bit far out.

Aspinall Arms in the summer is great. The outside part is beautiful.

Lower Buck in Waddington is also good hearty pub food in a more cosy atmospheric surround. Especially on a cold day with the fire on.
Holmes Mill was all about burgers and posh hot dogs when I went. Not sure if they do a sunday lunch.

The Three Fishes was shocking when I went. 3 of us and the food was decent (no better than) but a Burger wasn't even nearly cooked - sent it back and it came back from the kitchen with the same chips (by now cold). By the time they fixed Mum's meal rest of us had finished and she ate alone - Happy Birthday. Very poor service and no attempt to rectify this via a small discount or similar. We're definitely not going back.

For a good value, no frills traditional Sunday lunch with loads of meat and veg you could try the Hark to Bounty at Slaidburn. £15 for two and a choice of two roasts, then a lovely village to stroll round and walk it off afterwards. There is also another menu for those who don't fancy the roast lunch. Portions err on the industrial side and it is very good home-cooked food. Their Friday fish night for just £7 a bonce is also exceptional value.

Clarets4me wrote:I think the variety of replies and recommendations just prove how fortunate we are to have so many quality places to eat around here, It's often commented on by friends who visit...
I'd be interested to learn where you go Cliff...

Thanks for all the recommendations - much appreciated.

I've decided to go for the Higher Buck. Was tempted by the Aspinall but its part of the same chain as Worsley Old Hall near me - a great pub but we've already taken our friends there and the menu is basically the same. I'll post a review afterwards.

Thanks again.

RingoMcCartney wrote:Avoid the Red Pump.

Land lady like a female Basil Fawlty. But not in an amusing way.

Higher buck at Waddington is good. Although the lower buck has superior ale. Waddington arms is probably a happy medium. Very quick service when I've been in too!

Free masons arms is pretentious and over priced.

Don't be a daft she is a hard working lady who tries very hard to please all folk.....,
And she is hot !!

Amex wrote:Don't be a daft she is a hard working lady who tries very hard to please all folk.....,

Not in my experience. Forthright bordering on aggresive. Worst experience in a restaurant I've had. Genuinely. Won't set foot in the place as long as she's landlady. And I use the term "lady" very loosely. Nor will another members of our party.

WARNING- do not question what the food is that's been brought to your table. Compared to what you know you ordered and everybody on your table knows what they ordered too. Unless you're happy with a woman snatching your fork out if your hand, rumidging through your food, getting inches away from your face and saying (shouting) "well what do you expect me to do about It!? Are you a chef? Have you ever run a restaurant!?"

Other much friendlier, much more pleasant, with far far less gobby and rude members of staff, are widely available!

You pays your money.......

That's why it has 4 and a half star on TripAdvisor but hey u know best..... or is it everybody else is wrong hmmmmm
When I am in tonight I will question with Fran about your review because everybody I know who has been praises the food and staff.

Amex wrote:That's why it has 4 and a half star on TripAdvisor but hey u know best..... or is it everybody else is wrong hmmmmm
When I am in tonight I will question with Fran about your review because everybody I know who has been praises the food and staff.

I don't know best by any stretch. Not at all.

Just my own personal experience. That's all.

Clarets4me wrote:I think the variety of replies and recommendations just prove how fortunate we are to have so many quality places to eat around here, It's often commented on by friends who visit...
I'd be interested to learn where you go Cliff...

We did go to the Higher Buck are all four of us were well impressed. I had the roast beef and it was lovely, very tender.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

RingoMcCartney wrote:I don't know best by any stretch. Not at all.

Just my own personal experience. That's all.

You must've been unlucky and caught her on a rare bad day - Fran is always accomodating and very charming with me when I visit, I'm very good friends with their Head Chef so I'm slightly biased on the food front but as a steak eater, I've never had a steak better elsewhere.

ClaretCliff wrote:We did go to the Higher Buck are all four of us were well impressed. I had the roast beef and it was lovely, very tender.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

That's good to hear, " ClaretCliff " ! The Chef Proprietor is an old friend of mine and I knew you'd be in safe hands !!
Funnily enough, I was at a function with him on Saturday afternoon..

The Black Bull at Old Langho, rather close to a lower league club training ground but best Sunday lunch I've had in a while yesterday. Oh, and you may get to speak to a certain Mr D Dunn, he's often in there, drowning his sorrows

Assheton arms Downham. Good beer and food and fantastic views of pendle from big circular tables out front if it's fine.

Last Sunday we did Aspinall Arms on the basis of recommendations above and it was fantastic. Service was bang on too. Comes highly recommended by all in our party.

Another vote for the Spread Eagle at Sawley,great good good price just a bit slow last time we were there but well worth the wait. In Clitheroe itself the Swan and Royal is good.