GO NORTH Head to Ribble Valley for a warm welcome and Lisa’s showstopping menu served in the grand restaurant, then finish with a nightcap in front of the fire
WHY IT’S GREAT There’s a real sense of homeliness here – the northerncharm welcome, the surrounding Lancashire countryside, the dedication to keeping everything local or homegrown in the impressive vegetable garden. And while this most recent visit wasn’t my first, each time I walk through that door I feel I’ve arrived somewhere a little bit special.
THE FOOD With BBC Great British Menu champ Lisa Goodwin-Allen at the helm, my husband and I knew we were in for a showstopper meal. Her six-course tasting menu, which changes with the seasons and availability of produce, is a procession of balanced flavours.