The Roebuck Inn, Cheshire

Overview

Ever since restoring the Bulls Head in Mobberley, Tim Bird & Mary McLaughlin had always coveted the 18th century Roebuck Inn situated opposite in Mill Lane and following its gradual demise and closure they snapped up the freehold back in 2014.

With the quintessentially English Bulls Head pub opposite and the Church Inn (which they also own) just 800 yards up the lane offering modern British cuisine, they restored The Roebuck back to an inn offering rustic boutique bedrooms and an intimate neighbourhood bistro. Expect a totally relaxed and informal atmosphere in the bistro, which features a red and black tiled floor, stripped brick walls, old French shutters, leather banquettes, a retro wood-burning stove and an eclectic mix of café-style tables. Menus brim with Mediterranean inspired dishes and there's excellent accommodation in the form of six very special bedrooms.

Outdoors, walk through the rustic and quirky 'potting shed' to reach a stunning outdoor space. Follow the trailing jasmine along the pergola that leads you to the upper decked terrace, replete with cool lighting, sleeper flowerbeds and a big brazier which adds heat, light and atmosphere on summer evenings.

Rooms from

Doubles: £115

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Disabled access
Alfresco and private dining
Pub shop
Parking available
No dogs overnight

No car needed
The nearest stations, Knutsford and Mobberley, are both a short taxi ride from the Roebuck.

Quiet romance
With rooms which have the wow factor and an intimate bistro downstairs, this French themed inn is a great place to enjoy a romantic weekend for two.

Three Greyhounds, Allostock

Part of Tim & Mary's select Cheshire Cat Pubs, this smartly refurbished freehouse is worth the drive out for a spot of lunch. Situated the other side of the M6 deep in unspoilt Cheshire countryside, it boasts a cosy and intimate layout with four fires and, as you would expect, great food and drink menus.

Rooms

Mary's passion and vision to create a stylishly 'Petit Hotel and Bistro' feel has certainly been realised. Named after different grape varieties, the six hugely individual bedrooms offer a real wow factor and a feast for the imagination.

They ooze charm, character and quirky detail, and will make you smile throughout your stay. You won't want to leave, especially if you have one of the rooms with an open fire or wood-burning stove.

Super comfortable mattresses top antique French beds and there's exposed brick, polished wood floors, old antique French radiators, distressed shutters on the walls, huge gilt mirrors, leather armchairs, an eclectic assortment of lamps and painted furnishings and stunning bathrooms. Bobal, Pecorino, Picpoul and Malbec have freestanding baths, all have double sinks and Orla Kiely lotions.

We could go on - just come and stay and be taken away on a journey across Provence!

Restaurant & bar

In keeping with the French café and bistro atmosphere, the short lunch and dinner menus have a distinct Mediterranean flavour with classic French and Italian dishes at each course.

With small and middle plate options alongside lunchtime filled flatbreads and evening stone-baked pizzas, the menu encourages a relaxed dining experience. Order a couple of small plates to accompany a glass of Picpoul or indulge in three courses. Expect exciting, inventive and delicious dishes aplenty.

The small bar consists of a retro bistro-style cabinet chock-full of brandies, liqueurs and ports and French café-style shelving behind that groan with glasses and spirits. Three handpumps dispense top ales brewed for the Inn by local Cheshire breweries, Buck Bitter from Weetwood Brewery and Deer Beer from Dunham Massey Brewery. If you enjoyed the wine you ordered with dinner, then peruse the Pub Hub Shop for a real bargain to two, plus the inn's famous butcher's sausages, Claire Burt's blue cheese, sour dough bread, Alderley Edge Honey, Sapling farm eggs, farm apple juice and a lot more....

Things to do

An hour's drive away but definitely worth the trip, especially for garden enthusiasts, is Cholmondeley Castle, a delightful early nineteenth century Gothic castle with turrets and battlements and beautiful gardens. There are fifty acres of stunning ornamental gardens and 670 acres of historic parkland to explore - those hoping to get a glimpse inside the castle need to arrange a visit in advance.

For a dose of culture, head to beautifully designed, half-timbered Tudor manor house Little Moreton Hall. A National Trust guide describes Little Moreton Hall as being 'straight from a fairy story, a gingerbread house', and with its fascinating manicured knot garden, we completely agree.

Cheshire Smokehouse at Morley Green is an incredible farm shop, deli and café - prepare to leave bankrupt but with the best bag full of goodies! Allow a good amount of time to wander around, as there's an unbelievable amount to browse - a real treat for the senses.

Getting here

Directions

Nearest train station: Knutsford and Mobberley
Taxi from station: 5min
Drive: 35min from Stockport, 50min from Manchester, 1hr from Liverpool

Address

Mill Lane, Mobberley, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 7HX