Got my 65th birthday coming up soon and would like to take the Mrs for a celebratory meal. Tried to get into the White Swan at Fence but it is booked up for all eternity it seems. We eaten at all of the usual suspects round here (Bertrams, Fence Gate, etc etc). What I want is a place that serves good food, no microwaved starters or mains for that matter, a reasonable period between courses within reasonable striking distance so that I can drive there and get a taxi back. I've heard some good things about the Hungry Duck at Ramsbottom but the taxi fare is about £40. Anybody got any suggestions?

The Waddington Arms at Clitheroe is fantastic.

Chobulous wrote:Got my 65th birthday coming up soon and would like to take the Mrs for a celebratory meal. Tried to get into the White Swan at Fence but it is booked up for all eternity it seems. We eaten at all of the usual suspects round here (Bertrams, Fence Gate, etc etc). What I want is a place that serves good food, no microwaved starters or mains for that matter, a reasonable period between courses within reasonable striking distance so that I can drive there and get a taxi back. I've heard some good things about the Hungry Duck at Ramsbottom but the taxi fare is about £40. Anybody got any suggestions?

The one at downham has recently been given v.good reviews by a female journalist. Both names escape me.but a well written article

tim_noone wrote:The one at downham has recently been given v.good reviews by a female journalist. Both names escape me.but a well written article

The Asheton Arms, one for the list

Mitton Hall.

Bistro 197 Tod Road


Clitheroe has some good eateries, and only £25 each way ( max cabs ) for a 7 seater, probably cheaper if there's less of you.

Depends what you're after as some good reviews on

Bobbin bistro
Hare and hounds and Kettledrum ( for pub grub )
Staff of life
Glenn View ( good pub grub , but not great to look at from the outside )

Asheton Arms is good - its part of the seafood pub company so menu is pretty standard across all their places.
Three Fishes in Whalley is also decent but similar menu to Asheton.

The Stonehouse in Whalley is good and a step up in quality from the above two (its changed its name now)

Bertrams - I know you have been - but its best standard of food round here (other than the White Swan)

If you are thinking of something at the level of quality of the White Swan then there's a few places in Manchester....like The French at the Midland Hotel. Pricey but very good.

New Waggonners isn't too bad.

Have a look at all the reviewed ones on trip advisor.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restauran ... gland.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bistro 197, mentioned above has some cracking reviews.

Have you tried Illumunati in the town centre?

That's supposed to be good.

Fretters wrote:The Waddington Arms at Clitheroe is fantastic.

It's in Waddington but I can second the recommendation.

The Higher Buck does decent food too.

The Freemasons at Wiswell.

tybfc wrote:It's in Waddington but I can second the recommendation.

The Higher Buck does decent food too.

True, the clue is in the name I thought Waddington was part of Clitheroe, to be honest.

Staff of life on the way to Tod.

Excellent

Actually I forgot about Freemasons at Wiswell - that's a great shout if you are looking for something more local. In my view it was as good as White Swan and better than Bertrams and all the others mentioned. You do need to book though.
Angel at Hetton also good but bit of a trek.

Staying down Clitheroe way, The Calf's Head at Worston (just off the bypass) used to be excellent, but havent been for a few years.

Breda Murphy in Whalley, excellent

Chobulous wrote:Got my 65th birthday coming up soon and would like to take the Mrs for a celebratory meal. Tried to get into the White Swan at Fence but it is booked up for all eternity it seems. We eaten at all of the usual suspects round here (Bertrams, Fence Gate, etc etc). What I want is a place that serves good food, no microwaved starters or mains for that matter, a reasonable period between courses within reasonable striking distance so that I can drive there and get a taxi back. I've heard some good things about the Hungry Duck at Ramsbottom but the taxi fare is about £40. Anybody got any suggestions?

Anywhere in Waddington

If you like Italian food then can highly recommend Amico Mio in Whalley. Good choice on menu at very reasonable prices. Also, some nice drinking places within short walking distance.

Just got a phone call from Mrs Chobbo. She's got a table at the White Swan for 6pm Saturday. A cancellation. That's why I love her.

Leisure wrote:If you like Italian food then can highly recommend Amico Mio in Whalley. Good choice on menu at very reasonable prices. Also, some nice drinking places within short walking distance.

Another Whalley based Italian is Cuccina. Everything is made fresh in house there. Small place, but fantastic when I went. Freemasons is a good option for a Special occasion, albeit pretty pricey.

Happy birthday to you.
A major milestone achieved.
Enjoy your day when it arrives.

Thanks very much. I'm officially a pensioner from Saturday onwards. Unexpected pay rise in the form of no national insurance to pay. That's worth an extra £300 per month to me plus £183 per week pension. Being made redundant in Feb 19, but the agencies are already sniffing around offering interviews and contract work for the new year so I guess I'll just take up a couple of short term contracts per year for the next couple of years then re-assess my work life balance in 2 or 3 years.

Chobulous wrote:Thanks very much. I'm officially a pensioner from Saturday onwards. Unexpected pay rise in the form of no national insurance to pay. That's worth an extra £300 per month to me plus £183 per week pension. Being made redundant in Feb 19, but the agencies are already sniffing around offering interviews and contract work for the new year so I guess I'll just take up a couple of short term contracts per year for the next couple of years then re-assess my work life balance in 2 or 3 years.

Enjoy.

Congratulation, no national insurance and the state pension. Don't forget that pension will eat up a lot of your annual personal tax allowance. Still good.

Went to 3 Fishes at Mitton last Wednesday.

It was very nice and I paid £70 for 1 Starter, 2 Mains and Puds and 2 pints each.

Tried to show photo but the file is 4mb.

COBBLE wrote:Congratulation, no national insurance and the state pension. Don't forget that pension will eat up a lot of your annual personal tax allowance. Still good.

I think 47 years of paying national insurance week in week out without a break is enough don’t you. Now I ‘m in a position to work when I want to. I think I’ve earned that right.

Chobulous wrote:The Asheton Arms, one for the list

Me and the missus went there last night, absolutely superb - it's won just about every award going and the price is very fair for the sheer quality of food and service. Moorhouses ale, too.

There's already been some great recommendations and good to see you got in at The White Swan. For anyone else looking for somewhere offering high quality food and something a little bit different, The White Rabbit at Todmorden us excellent. 5 or 8 course tasting menu available as either meat or vegetarian.

The place is tiny, quirky and fun. The owner is great, really friendly and knowledgeable. And the food is unusual, tasty and really well presented.

Worth a visit for anyone, especially as the train station is a 2 minute walk away. Have a look at the book of faces page for photos.

Surprised no one has mentioned the excellent La Locanda at Gisburn. Proper Italian food, you won't find pizza on the menu there.

La Turka, The Firepit and A’Vucciria in Rawtenstall all very good.

ChrisG wrote:Surprised no one has mentioned the excellent La Locanda at Gisburn. Proper Italian food, you won't find pizza on the menu there.

Pizza is proper Italian food !

The Railway Skipton

The Railway pub Skipton

Good restaurant within striking distance?
If your going by our strikers I would look a bit closer to the football ground.

Asherton arms must have improved was absolute bobbins last time i went..

The griffin at huncoat is fantastic

Tempest Arms at Elslack. Never had a bad meal and a great selection of alcohol

I once had wood pigeon at the Tempest Arms. It was fecking horrible. That was the first and only time I have ever had pigeon so it might just be something that naturally tastes horrible. Everything else I had was OK

Chobulous wrote:I once had wood pigeon at the Tempest Arms. It was fecking horrible. That was the first and only time I have ever had pigeon so it might just be something that naturally tastes horrible. Everything else I had was OK

Pigeon when there is juicy steak on the menu?? School boy error.

Joe14 wrote:Pigeon when there is juicy steak on the menu?? School boy error.

I know, I got what I deserved

The best pigeon I had was at a restaurant on a small island just off the coast of Hong Kong, a favourite of Chris Patten's I was told.



I like it but I know quite a few people who don't, it can be a bit of an acquired taste.

Somewhat more local, I went to the Aspinall Arms in Mitton the other week which was pretty good. I'd say it was on par, or maybe a little better, than the Three Fishes.

"Good striking distance". With our forwards' luck, it would have to be within the box. Even penalties aren't leadpipe cinches anymore ever since Graham Alexander retired.

The Lawrence in Padiham has now has now opened up for public dining and getting rave reviews.

Nice place to stay overnight by all accounts.