The Freemason’s Arms

Tucked away down an alley in the small Ribble valley village of Wiswell (pronounced ‘wizzle’) near Clitheroe, The Freemason’s Arms is a no-frills pub, with not a hint of glossy gastropub about it. The old floral carpet, the gas fires, packets of crisps & Strongbow on tap could see it pass for a standard-issue boozer. But don’t be fooled. This pub is quite something & it has won a loyal following of local wine lovers thanks to what is probably the best wine list in Lancashire – noted not only for its range, but also for its generously low mark-ups. The food allows the wine to shine, with a simple blackboard menu featuring hearty dishes using local ingredients such as grilled black pudding, fried egg & mustard sauce or duck confit, sauteed artichokes, baby onions, peas & red wine jus. This is how a pub ought to be.