There are good gastropubs all over the UK, but it’s rare to come across one that really stands out. The Cartford Inn, however, is definitely one of them. Dating back to the seventeenth century, it ticked along as a run-of-the-mill inn until 2007, when Patrick and Julie Beaume took it over, completely refurbished it and stamped their own unique style all over the walls. It’s won floods of awards – and rightly so – but there are three things that, for me, make The Cartford one of Lancashire’s most prized culinary gems.
The first is the people who work there. The hospitality really is second to none, with Patrick and Julie welcoming everyone in with open arms and talented head chef Chris Bury (a born and raised Lancastrian) keeping an eye on the kitchen. There’s a real sense of family at The Cartford Inn and everyone genuinely seems to love working there, which clearly comes through in the service.
The second is, of course, the food. Chris and Patrick have worked hard to make the menu familiar enough to please the locals but interesting enough to make a meal there worth a trip into the Lancastrian countryside. You’ll find all the classic pub favourites prepared to a very high standard, but a browse through the rest of the menu throws up some seriously impressive cooking. Smoked Jacobs Ladder with beer-braised onions; crispy snails with cashew nut purée; glazed bacon knuckle with a salami and bean cassoulet; banana savarin with rum ice cream and pecan brittle – this isn’t your average pub grub. Chef Chris has worked in places like Claridges and The Fat Duck and his technical skill is obvious in the menu, which is incredible value for money seeing as the team focus on using only the very best of Lancashire’s produce.
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The Cartford Inn: Lancashire's quirky home of hospitality