FANTASTIC MR FOX!
Henry and Judy Conran enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in the stunning new Ribble Valley countryside inspired rooms at the Freemasons
From check-in to check-out the ‘full monty’ experience at the Freemasons was nothing short of stellar. The eagerly anticipated rooms were recently opened, and Judy and I were to be one of the first to road test these luxurious and timeless additions, borne out of the demand from guests near and far wanting accommodation to complete the full Freemasons’ experience.
The first four rooms are now available and are literally a hop, skip and jump from the pub itself. Our home from home for the night was the aptly named Mr Fox, with Mr Hare, Grouse and Partridge all housed in the same building. Mr Fox was ‘fantastic’ if I can take the title of the famous Roald Dahl book! Beautifully appointed, stylish yet understated, it didn’t take us long to start to explore the room, which included a super king bed with crisp white linen sheets and a stunning en-suite. There was added luxury on the mezzanine floor with a roll-top bath which had Judy’s name written all over it. What better way to luxuriate and unwind before dinner in the pub?
We loved the décor, the touches, the art with all the small details adding to the ambience of the room – gowns, hot coffee and home-made biscuits and the many other things that gave the room such a wonderful welcoming feel.
Give yourself time to settle in and pamper yourself in this stunning environment – technology is on hand with a SONOS sound system with music to suit the mood and a 50” smart TV to complete the entertainment options. The rooms offer everything you’d expect and more besides.
With dinner booked for 7.30pm and our breakfast choices made (more of that later) we wandered into the pub, relaxed and ready to enjoy the seasonal bounty on offer. We were in for a real treat as we sat at the Kitchen Bench in Mr Smith’s where an evening of true skill and interaction with the chefs was about to unfold. The ethos of the kitchen is seasonal, progressive, passionate and humble and that is exactly the evening we enjoyed. It was both exciting and educational to watch such skills first-hand. Each delicious course was served with aplomb and complemented by the wines from the ever-attentive Mario Martins. The opportunity to be up close and personal was a joy to behold.
After a delicious dinner and a deep sleep in our comfortable bed we joined our fellow guests at the Chefs Table for breakfast, Steve Smith was spot on when he told us that breakfast was certainly not an afterthought – more of a fitting end to any stay. This was another gastronomic success as a series of small plates were presented to our delight, having chosen our main dish – full English of course for me, and Judy opting for an avocado with sour dough and perfectly poached eggs. We were all united in our thoughts – that this was indeed a fitting end to a perfect stay.
Freemasons at Wiswell
8 Vicarage Fold
Wiswell BB7 9DF
01254 822218
www.freemasonsatwiswell.com
