Reviews in Clitheroe

The best Chinese food I have eaten

We called in at the Three Fishes a few weeks before Xmas, but just missed the Saturday close of play. Even so, the staff were happy to accommodate us - although restricting us to starters or cold meals, we enjoyed a selection of cured and pickled meats, home-made bread, chutneys and particularly excellent piccalilli. Anyway, it wetted our appetite, and last weekend we returned for another showdown, having noted that on Sunday, unlike Saturday, Nigel elects to stay open all day - wonder if he's a footie fan? If you haven't yet been, what you're missing is a superbly renovated old country pub, with yards upon square yards of neatly lain slate floor tiles disappearing into the perfectly lit distance. Everything smacks of quality and taste, particularly when seated, as the chairs and table are extremely sturdy and comfortable. Let's hope that lasts. The remainder of the interior decor is very much in keeping with Nigel Haworth's approach to dining; the quality - and local derivation - of the ingredients is difficult to ignore, with a collection of snapshots of the pub's suppliers lining the walls and adding somewhat to your enjoyment (and no doubt generating a bit of revenue for the suppliers in question). Nigel - and presumably his new head chef at the 'Fishes, David Edward, - is not one to travel far, and it would appear to take something really special to drag him out of Lancashire or Cumbria. Even then he only skips across the border into God's other county, just far enough to take a deep breath of good air with him, as he scurries back with a few bottles of wine from The Wright Wine Company, Skipton. We called at 3:30 pm on Sunday afternoon, a time when many other pubs seem to suffer from the mid-afternoon lull that can see you drumming your fingers at the bar. However, it was pleasing to be able to say that the staff were attentive and polite, and it was a welcome change to note that they were well dressed in tasteful semi-uniforms, and otherwise neatly turned out. I suspect that we timed our arrival perfectly, for service throughout was prompt - without being hasty - and efficient. Drinks could be served at table though we chose to make the trip to the bar, partly because I retain a real interest in single malt whiskeys, of which the pub carries an impressive array. The menu is moderately extensive; although there are only 7 choices from the starter and mains, there is a separate menu of seasonal alternatives and a selection of sandwiches, salads and 'hot oven bottoms', a term for large teacakes that still reminds me warmly of my grandmother's kitchen and that seems to have died out somewhat in Lancashire over the last ten years. My dining partner elected to forego a starter, but I chose "Andrew Irelands Horseshoe Black Pudding, English Mustard, Onion Relish" to begin. This arrived swiftly in perfectly proportioned tableware - someone has taken a great deal of care over this aspect of the presentation - and accompanied by a proper jar of Colmans English Mustard, which gave me a tiny little thrill. Someone appeared to have made the effort to clean the jar as well, which I found pleasing. I don't think I've had better black pudding - certainly not within the past five years. Rich, clinging, perfectly cooked and terribly unhealthy, and I loved it. The onion relish was maybe a touch too highly spiced for my palate - but what the hey, it still tasted superb. For our mains, we chose "Jim Curwen? Bowland Forest Cottage Pie, Soused Strong Onions, Brown Sauce", and "Heather Reared Bowland Lamb Lancashire Hotpot, Pickled Red Cabbage". The cottage pie arrived with a small (glass) bottle of HP brown sauce, which gave me another little thrill. Both dishes were absolutely superb, wonderful. The Hot pot was the best I've ever had: perfectly cooked potatoes, generous chunks of extremely tender beef - seasoned to sheer perfection. Although on presentation it looked a little on the small side, once we had finished we decided that it was actually faultlessly proportioned. The cottage pie was, again, the best I've ever tasted. I'd forgotten just how well brown sauce matches with potatoes and meat, and yet the dish carried its flavour through the condiment so ably that I never felt that I'd cheated myself in any way. Simple, really, truly delightful. The pickled red cabbage and soused onions that accompanied the dishes again demonstrate the attention to detail so evident at the 'Fishes. These could have been uninspiring, or even just acted as a side dish, but, like the piccalilli at our first visit, they contributed wholly to the meal, and in their own right would be worthy of more than a few words. Maybe Nigel should take a leaf out of a certain Bradford restaurants book and start to sell his pickles to a wider audience... then again, maybe not. We finished with a superb rhubarb crumble - crumble caramelised and sticky round the edges, sweet in the middle, and with a shock of rhubarb as bright and pink, sweet and delicious as any I've ever seen and tasted. Delectable vanilla custard served - as it should be - on the side in a little pot again showed that the accompaniments - whether sweet or savoury - are as central to the ethos of this gastro pub as the main act. All in all, we had a first-rate, top class meal, and despite arriving late always felt welcome and at ease. The price, including £12 worth of drinks and a well-deserved tip, was a very creditable £42. For me, I think that if one word or phrase can sum up the experience of dining at the Three Fishes it has to be honesty; honesty with his suppliers, honesty and simplicity with the menu, honesty with presentation and execution. And I can 'honestly' say that - for the price - the Three Fishes is damn near perfection.

The Emporium.... ladies who lunch, the soccer-mum set, X5s and Porsche Boxsters.... you name 'em, they're there. Regardless of the clientele, the Emporium has been absolutely exceptional in the past. Once they know you, you're pretty much guaranteed a good dining experience. We used to hide ourselves in there on a Sunday afternoon and spend a good few hours reading the papers and abusing the staff's good will. The menu is varied without being eclectic, and we would recommend going for the larger dishes as some of the smaller portions can be a little on the begrudging side. I had a rare rib-eye steak on a number of occasions and considered it exceptional, served simply with slender, crispy salty French fries and a sprinkling of salad leaves. The cheese platter used to be a sporting stand-in for less substantial diners, and is dished up with a variety of cheeses and pate. Some of which could have come from the adjoining Sainsburys, but the majority were good to excellent. Their pasta is generally very agreeable and comes with what appear to be semi-cuit tomatoes - whatever they are, they're damn good. Drinks are served well and efficiently, and the glassware is perfectly proportioned. Iced-water is provided promptly when asked for, in the correct glasses and with the right amount of ice and lemon. Cutlery is of an appropriate standard, and the napkins are clean, crisp, white linen. The place itself is maybe a little cluttered, particularly so on the ground floor. If you don't smoke, make the journey upstairs where the atmosphere is much more pleasant. The building is air-conditioned, although it was always light and airy when we were there. Decoration is provided by the adjoining furniture / bric-a-brac shop - worth a look if you have more money than you know what to do with - and everything is for sale. Sometimes the tables can be a little on the 'aged' side, with creaking joints and wobbly legs. However, the furniture is re-varnished and repaired on a fairly regular basis, and anyway, the judicious use of a few beer mats (or discarded sections of your Sunday Times) will prevent your chicken ragout from taking a dive... However, in the past year it appears that the magic formula has lost it's sparkle; the staff are occasionally surly, the food is occasionally un-inspiring. Last time we visited (3-4 months ago) we witnessed one of the female staff (why do they always want to show us their bellies, even when they've got bigger ones than mine?) actually arguing with a customer over the size of a salad portion.... unthinkable! Seems to me that whoever ran the place between 2002 and mid 2004 took their eye off the ball. Maybe the franchise is spreading a little too fast.... James Warburton, please make sure that you don't neglect your existing customers in the rush for further expansion! Go when it's mid-busy; too quiet, and the staff get bored. Too busy, and you may want to nip next door to Sainsburys for a snack in-between courses. In summary, I hope that the management get to grips with the (minor) problems that have crept in over the 12 months, because it really used to be an exceptional place to 'do lunch'.

What a fantastic gastropub! They have made a great job of renovating an old boozer into a choice dining venue. The place has a modern feel but has retained its original rustic charm. I went for lunch and had an amazing fish pie and top wine by the glass. Thankfully the place is completely non-smoking as well!!

Good authentic Italian food at a price you would expect to pay. Amico Mio isn? going to break any records, or be the finest Italian restaurant you have ever eaten at, but, you certainly won? be disappointed.

Worth every penny

Very comfortable. Excellent food and service. Set in la quiet village in ovely countryside. Large dining area, but check that they don`t have a function on before you turn up!

Set in beautiful surroundings. The food was excellent, well presented and reasonably priced, Complimented by an excellent choice of wines. Very impressed with the level of customer service. We could not have asked for anything more! We will definetly visit again. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Wonderful food served in a beautifully appointed restaurant, situated at a bend in the river Hodder. You should try and stay the night as the rooms are truly unique.