Pub

Festive Fun @ The Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland

Parkers Arms Christmas

It’s hard to write about the Parkers Arms these days. Hard not to write stuff that’s already been said a million times anyway. Pound for pound, taking everything into account it has been my favourite place to eat for almost four years now. I just love everything about the place, from the location to the service and of course the …

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The Parkers Arms – Good Friday Fish Fest 2016

Parkers Arms

The Parkers Arms is one of my favourite places in the world to eat. I was blown away during my first visit on Good Friday three years ago. I’ve been back many times since and always loved it. But never again on Good Friday and never quite as much as that magical first time. Until the start of Easter weekend this …

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Freemasons Country Inn At Wiswell – The UK’s Best Pub?

Freemasons At Wiswell

As we entered 2016 I made a culinary resolution to rectify three glaring holes in my dining out back catalogue. St. John, The Man Behind The Curtain and Freemasons at Wiswell. Before Spring even arrived I had reservations at the first two – in April and May respectively. The latter I visited before the end of January. Freemasons is an old fashioned country …

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The White Swan at Fence – Jay Rayner Was Right

White Swan At Fence

Jay Rayner has clearly had a better upbringing than me; in his review of The White Swan, he’s quite dismissive of Fence, the small village near Burnley in which it’s set. I’m sure he was exaggerating to make a point, and it is fairly unassuming. But from the bits I saw it looked like quite a charming area. Including The White Swan itself, …

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Christmas At The Farmers Arms, Bolton

I get the impression that Jon Jones, head chef of The Farmers Arms, doesn’t really like Christmas. That’s just from talking to him, thankfully it doesn’t show in his menus or cooking. I had a jolly festive feast there a couple of years ago so booked a table just before the Christmas madness started to get 2015’s festivities underway. The pub …

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Finally Back To The Farmers Arms, Bolton

The Farmers Arms, Bolton

If only there were more days in the week, or at least a few more hours in the day. I’d almost certainly visit The Farmers Arms more often. It’s somewhere I never get bored of going back to but just don’t seem to find the time to go often enough. Although, time does appear to stand still in Darcy Lever where the …

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Davenport Arms, Woodford, Cheshire

Davenport Arms, Woodford, Stockport, Cheshire

I had no intention of eating at the Davenport Arms in Woodford when I arrived, in fact, 15 minutes earlier I had no idea it even existed. It was a beautiful midsummer day in July, most of which I’d spent wandering around nearby Woodford Garden Centre before stuffing my face on fine produce purchased there during a picnic at Woodford …

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The Botanist, Manchester – Special Preview

The Botanist, Manchester

Nobody divides the opinion of Manchester’s foodies quite like Living Ventures. They’re an obvious target due to their huge success and I guess it’s easy to hate them as many bloggers seem to, I’ve been guilty of it myself at times. But while many of their places are clearly not for me I can’t help but admire their relentlessness and also the …

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The Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland – Definitely The Best Of British!

Parkers Arms

I was asked by the people behind the Britain’s Best Bites website to plan my own foodie road trip around some of the ‘must-try’ food producers in the North West. The Parkers Arms immediately came to mind and became the focal point of the entire trip. Set in the beautiful Ribble Valley, chef Stosie Madi serves stunning food and is …

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Beef & Pudding, Manchester (Revisit)

A few weeks ago I was invited to try Manchester’s hottest new pub/restaurant ‘Beef & Pudding’ during its soft launch period. I liked it so much I returned the following day to eat my way through some more of the intriguing menu. Starting with a glass of Prosecco and a tin of giant, juicy Gordal olives. The ‘Starters’ are perhaps …

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My Epic Foodie Road Trip #BritainsBestBites

Food Geek Road Trip - Britain's Best Bites

It’s not everyday you get given a car and petrol for the day to go and visit some of the best restaurants and food producers in the region. But that’s what happened after I was contacted on behalf of Europcar and asked to take part in their #BritainsBestBites campaign which aims to promote great local producers. Britain’s Best Bites is …

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Beef & Pudding, Manchester – The Best Pub Food In The City?

I like beef and love puddings (both the sweet and savoury kind), so when I heard of a new restaurant in Manchester named ‘Beef & Pudding’ I was naturally excited. You can imagine my disappointment then when I learned that rather than being due to a menu consisting of only beef and pudding dishes the name is actually a reference …

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The Farmers Arms – Mexican Fiesta Night

Although my favourite cuisine changes on a fairly regular basis (it’s probably Japanese at the moment), Mexican is never far from the top. It’s definitely the style of food I cook most often at home. So I couldn’t help get excited when I heard about the Mexican Fiesta Night at The Farmers Arms. Arriving on a typically cold Bolton night I …

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The Most Wonderful Time Of Year At The Parkers Arms

Parkers Arms Christmas

As 2013 draws to a close and I begin to reflect on my culinary adventures over the past 12 months one of the undoubted highlights was the discovery of The Parkers Arms in the Ribble Valley. My first visit back in March remains one of the most memorable and enjoyable meals this year and I now consider it a firm …

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