What part of the UK would you head to if you were after a short break full of delicious things to eat? Many would opt for London, with its concentration of incredible restaurants and world-famous markets, but for somewhere more beautiful, a lot more relaxed and arguably with just as good eating on offer, Lancashire has a lot going for it. The county’s cities – Blackpool, Preston and Lancaster – might not have a huge amount to offer the intrepid foodie, but venture out into the breathtaking Ribble Valley, the stunning Fylde Coast and the rest of rural Lancashire and you’ll find incredible hospitality, passionate producers and some of the finest modern British restaurants and gastropubs in the UK.
I spent three days travelling the length and breadth of the county with Visit Lancashire to discover the people and places that are turning the area into one of the best places for food and drink in Britain. From Michelin-starred contemporary dining to friendly pubs and inns specialising in local, seasonal cooking, I absolutely fell in love with everything Lancashire has going for it. It’s been likened to the Dordogne in France before and I can completely see why – there’s some stunning countryside to be discovered, and instead of vineyards there are fields full of incredible vegetables, little microbreweries and inns serving simple, rustic, seasonal fare. Why it doesn’t conjure up the misty-eyed romanticism we get as we talk about similar places in Europe, I have no idea.
It was impossible to see everything the county has to offer in such a short space of time, but the following restaurants, producers and people made my trip there very special indeed. If you’re planning to visit this part of England, are lucky enough to live there already or are simply wondering what Lancashire has to offer, read on.