Freemasons At Wiswell

British, Modern European·
££££
·
Silver Award
·

SquareMeal Review of Freemasons At Wiswell

Silver Award

Hidden away in the picture-pretty Lancashire village of Wiswell, this atmospheric and stylishly reconfigured Lancashire hostelry now cuts quite a dash with its thoughtful blend of rich heritage colours, mismatched antique furniture and country prints, while young informed service and a bold, contemporary menu belie the traditional surroundings.

Local lad, and Chef Owner, Steven Smith is on top form at the moment, delivering a succession of high-end crossover dishes such as wild salmon, cooked so it’s just translucent in the centre, with ponzu, elderflower, potted shrimps, samphire and a sourdough pikelet or chicken studded with black garlic, wild mushrooms, yakitori livers on toast and sauce Albufera. Elsewhere, those with plainer tastes get admirable satisfaction from plates of simply grilled fish and slabs of 60-day aged Hereford beef with duck-fat chips, while desserts hit the heights with show-stopping soufflés and luscious creations such as dark chocolate with pineapple poached in Pedro Ximénez caramel, served with rum, raisin and peach sorbet. The food is matched by an impressively diverse wine list loaded with classy bottles at very reasonable prices. With its superb outdoor eating area, this place is also a shoo-in for special bashes.

As is nearly mandatory with all good countryside pubs, Freemasons at Wiswell serves up a special Sunday lunch menu. Choose between the standard or the simple family option, depending on party-preference. The former is £50 for three courses and includes dishes like lobster gratin, followed by 100 day aged beef carved table-side, while the latter (£35 for three courses) ticks off all the family favourites with things like a soup starter and a lamb roast to follow, with peas and mint sauce, accompanied by a choice of veg sides like cauliflower cheese and duck fat spuds.

If looking to spend more than an evening here, the pub does have four rooms, decked out in luxurious soft furnishings that make the most of traditional materials while retaining a modern edge.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
British, Modern European
Ambience
Cosy, Traditional
Food Occasions
All day dining, Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Perfect for
Child friendly
Food Hygiene Rating

Location

8 Vicarage Fold, Wiswell, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 9DF

01524 822218 01524 822218

Website

Opening Times

All day
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 09:00-22:00
Thu 09:00-22:00
Fri 09:00-22:00
Sat 09:00-22:00
Sun 09:00-21:00

Reviews

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1 Review 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Anon

09 February 2023  
Food & Drink 1
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 3
Value 1
Bad Dining Experience - Poor Quality Food / Value for Money

Visited on 5th Dec'22 with wife and guest in London for evening.

We had been advised beforehand that the establishment was running their Xmas menu in addition to their normal All Day menu and having already had prior sight of the Xmas menu we had pre-selected what we were wanting to eat. On arrival we were told that they could not offer the Xmas menu as they had 2 large parties in separate rooms and as such were not offering the Xmas menu to the main dining area that evening.

Having reselected our food choice it took nearly an hour between starter and main course for the food to be delivered - serving staff were very apologetic for the delay. When it arrived the food was overcooked and dry, particularly the rotisserie chicken which my guest found inedible, and the roasted lamb rump had red pepper puree instead of the menu described creamy potatoes.

Clearly they were short staffed in the kitchen and on the evening lacked quality control and for the price we would have expected a lot better.

Overall I have given a rating of 2 because the serving staff were extremely empathetic and the manager offered a free dessert/glass of wine as a token gesture for the issues that occurred.

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