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The Barn at Moor Hall

Modern European·
££££
·
Gold Award
·

SquareMeal Review of The Barn at Moor Hall

Gold Award

A more casual alternative to chef Mark Birchall’s fine dining magnum opus Moor Hall, The Barn is a charming, rustic space next to the main manor house. Whilst Moor Hall is quite a specific dining experience, The Barn is rather more accessible, open for lunch and dinner with seating spread between the barn itself and a large terrace area just in front.

The Barn was renovated and reopened as a restaurant in 2017, and great care has gone into the tasteful, conscientious refurbishment. In line with Moor Hall’s sustainable ethos, as much of the original material has been reused in the renovation as possible - either in the restaurant or around the grounds - and the results are beautiful. The Barn’s vaulted ceiling towers overhead as you climb the stairs into the restaurant. Exposed brick walls and lots of timber help the space feel rustic and homely, but still elegant, and the long space points you towards a bustling open kitchen at the far end.

This restaurant may seem to play second fiddle to two Michelin-starred Moor Hall nearby, but the cooking at The Barn is, in many ways, just as accomplished as it is next door. Alongside an a la carte packed full of delicious dishes, The Barn still makes your visit feel special with snacks and petit fours bookending your meal. Some in-house charcuterie kicks things off, which is made in Moor Hall’s curing room downstairs, and goes down nicely alongside a refreshing gin and chamomile aperitif. Among the starters, a tartlet of Spenwood cheese, violet artichoke, duck ham and walnut catches the eye, each of its components perfectly presented and bundled harmoniously into a crisp, buttery shortcrust shell.

The setting is a little more relaxed, but there’s a precision to the cooking in The Barn that signals a really top-tier restaurant. The pick of a few outstanding mains is a ballotine of Saint-Sever guinea hen, wrapped in crispy skin and served with girolles, wild garlic flowers, smoked potato sauce and a pool of glossy sauce. It’s pretty as a picture, and absolutely delicious. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention also a beautiful, pearlescent piece of turbot, cooked on the bone and served on a sticky, glistening crab sauce. 

The crowning flourish is a prune and amaretto souffle which rises proudly from its mould, and we spoon a rocher of almond ice cream into the middle and devour. With reasonably-priced set menus, Sunday lunches and more also on offer, the people of Aughton are lucky to have not just one, but two outstanding restaurants on their doorstep.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Modern European
Ambience
Cosy, Fine dining
Awards
One Michelin star, SquareMeal UK Top 100
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Alfresco And Views
Outside seating, Terrace, Waterside
Special Features
Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wheelchair access
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions

About

Moor Hall is a beautiful, grade II-listed country house with a surrounding estate of five acres and views out to the lake, set in the heart of West Lancashire. The property and grounds were taken over in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Andy and Tracey Bell, who oversaw a multi-million-pound renovation and transformation into the award-winning restaurant and rooms it is today.

While the Moor Hall Restaurant is the gem in the estate's crown, having been awarded two Michelin Stars, a Michelin Green Star, and 5 AA Rosettes, the Barn restaurant also sits on site and boasts a Michelin Star of its own, as well as a historic setting and gorgeous views. 

Just moments from the main house, the Barn was once a business man's carriages and horse's stables, and today flush with period features such as exposed brick walls and wooden beams overhead. It is helmed by patron-chef of Moor Hall, Mark Birchall, who describes this as a neighbourhood restaurant offering a seasonal menu and the best Sunday lunch of your life. 

It's important to the team that as much of the ingredients and produce are sourced as locally as possible, growing many of their own vegetables and herbs on site. Highlights from the menu include 60 day aged grass-fed ex dairy Jersey beef tartare with Jerusalem artichoke and nasturtium; Cornish cod, smoked onion, charred leek, bacon crumb and stem ginger panna cotta, blood orange, granola. And, as for those unmissable Sunday lunches, they say the roasted 40 day aged Longhorn sirloin with all the trimmings is the dish to try.

Guests are invited to enjoy either a set three-course menu for lunch from Thursday to Saturday, or for dinner on Wednesdays and Thursdays. An a la carte menu is also available, allowing you to pick your favourite dishes from the curated selection.


FAQs

What is served for Sunday lunch?

40 day aged Longhorn sirloin with all the trimmings.

Helpful? 0

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Location

Prescot Road, Aughton, Lancashire, L39 6RT

01695 572511 01695 572511

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu 12:00-14:00
Fri 12:00-14:00
Sat 12:00-14:00
Sun Closed
Afternoon
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu Closed
Fri Closed
Sat Closed
Sun 12:00-18:30
Dinner
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 18:00-21:00
Thu 18:00-21:00
Fri 18:00-21:00
Sat 18:00-21:00
Sun Closed

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01695 572511 01695 572511

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