Set within Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere and overlooking the lake, Gordon Ramsay at The Mere pairs polished surroundings with seasonal British cooking and a wonderfully indulgent menu.
The room itself feels sleek and cocooning, with warm amber lighting, deep red seating and polished tables creating an intimate evening atmosphere. Beyond the restaurant, the wider hotel and grounds add to the sense of occasion, with The Mere Lake, 157 acres of Cheshire countryside, a luxury spa and championship golf all part of the setting.
Gordon Ramsay at The Mere is open from breakfast until dinner with multiple menus to choose from, but the a la carte is a great place to start if you're looking for a taste of what's to come. The selection starts with nibbles such as warm rosemary focaccia with aged tomatoes, whipped butter and olive oil, while crispy cauliflower popcorn is finished with sweet chilli and spring onions.
Starters move into more refined territory: aged beef tartare with egg yolk confit and pickled gherkins, creamy burrata with heritage beetroot, lovage and basil pesto, or baked scallops in the shell with seaweed and calamansi butter. Seafood lovers can go bigger still with a platter for two of oysters, Boston lobster, Scottish smoked salmon, poached mussels and tiger prawns.
The Josper charcoal grill is integral to the menu, featuring hero dishes such as a half grilled lobster with garlic butter and truffled Koffmann fries, alongside British pork chop, ribeye and fillet, plus an aged beef tomahawk designed for sharing. Elsewhere, Gordon Ramsay’s signature beef Wellington comes with mushroom and truffle duxelle, champ mash and red wine jus.
Dessert continues a sense of opulence with raspberry soufflé with white chocolate sauce and yoghurt sorbet to a classic apple tarte tatin for two. Warm sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream ice cream and a 64% Manjari chocolate tart make suitably rich finales.