Freemasons
Pub with rooms in Wiswell, Lancashire
From £160 per night
Curator's notes:
- Foodie gem in the Ribble Valley
- Sublime inventive cooking
- Mr Smith's - intimate private dining
- Fabulous rooms next door
Rooms from
2 doubles & 2 suites: £160
Good to know
- All major credit cards accepted
- Rooms closed Mon & Tues
- Disabled access
- Alfresco & private dining
- Village street parking
- Dog stay: Free
Quiet romance
Splash out - book Mr Fox or Mr Hare with their upstairs tubs and the kitchen bench for two in Mr Smith's (private dining room) and indulge in the Taste of Mr Smith's set menu accompanied by some fine wine.
Dog-friendly
Ground-floor rooms Grouse & Partridge can accommodate two dogs free of charge; welcome in the bar too.
Outdoor Adventures
Climb Pendle Hill or venture into the Trough of Bowland for some exhilarating moorland walking or cast a line in the River Hodder - the fishing is fantastic.
Rooms
Four stunning rooms in an adjoining cottage were unveiled in 2019 and they are truly the icing on the cake for this destination dining pub. Now avid foodies can stay overnight and fully indulge in the Freemason's experience.
Arrive early and savour your room as no expense has been spared in making it super comfortable and you won't want to leave - good job the pub is just a few steps away. Expect luxury fabrics, giant beds with the best linen and down, stylish designer lamps, books and objet's art, upholstered easy chairs, Sonus sound systems, a 50-inch Smart TV, and Nespresso machine.
Lavish bathrooms are marble tiled with freestanding tubs, double sinks, vast walk-in storm showers, bathrobes and generous supplies of posh toiletries. Mr Fox and Mr Hare have freestanding baths on mezzanines and separate huge shower rooms. Wake up to a memorable breakfast, served in Mr Smith's.
Restaurant & bar
Local lad 'done good', chef-patron Steven Smith may have plied the stoves at some top foodie places across the North West, but he loves pubs and developing the Freemasons from a humble boozer to one of the best gastropubs in the land has been his passion for over 10 years.
True to his roots, Steven sources the best local ingredients available and his constantly evolving menus still find room for classic Freemasons' favourites - slow-cooked and sticky beef cheek with crispy potatoes - on the set lunch and early supper menus, and delicious roast beef sirloin on Sundays.
Taking inspiration from around the globe, menu dishes are governed by the seasons and are full of ideas and imagination, with exciting ingredient combinations and bold flavours - roast smoked venison loin, haunch sausage, parsnip, pear, stilton, pickled walnut, and sauce Grand Huntsman. Dishes are also expertly prepared and beautifully presented, whether tucking into the hearty winter menu in the bar or lingering over the tasting menu at the kitchen bench in Mr Smith's private dining room, where you can chat to the chefs as they prepare the dishes for you (£70 per person). Bowland beers on tap and a cracking, thoughtful wine list to explore.
Private dining
Created in 2019 in Steven's 10th year at the Freemasons, Mr Smith's is a forward thinking, experimental and revolutionary kitchen space that showcases the skill and flair of the kitchen team through the special Taste of Mr Smith's menu.
Book the kitchen bench (four stools) in the hub of the kitchen for the ultimate gastronomic experience, or the fabulous oak kitchen table for larger gatherings - maximum 10, minimum 6 people for an intimate dining experience.
Get closer to the culinary action and savour this cutting-edge kitchen space on one of Steven's Cookery Masterclasses or the Chef for the Day Experience. There are also private dining options upstairs in the pub.
Gallery
