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Savoring the Flavors of England: A Foodies Guide to the Ribble Valley

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Vegetable beef stew with potato, carrots, tomatoes, onion and herbs served in a clay pot with white bread rolls. Selective focus, horizontal.

Lancashire, a North West England county, is home to the Ribble Valley District. Aside from amazing sights and sounds, locals and visitors can feast in some of the top restaurants in the world. Many also call it Britain’s gastropub capital.

Ribble Valley Is A Top Destination For Foodies

Downham Village in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire

Also called Lancashire’s food capital, Ribble Valley is home to many pubs, restaurants, and food joints. Here, you can find cuisines originating from different locations around the globe.

For instance, sink your teeth into savory steaks at the Black Bull Inn.

If you desire a taste of Asian cooking, head to the Yu and You bar and restaurant.

The district also holds many attractions and offerings for guests from near and far. Different lodgings are available for guests that want to enjoy an extended stay. Various events are also available, such as the Cloudspotting Music And Arts Festival and The Beat Herder Festival.

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Food As Far As The Eye Can See

Enter the Ribble Valley District and it greets you with different food options that can take your culinary cravings to new heights. Some of the top restaurants that you might want to include in your food crawl are:

The Parkers Arms

 

 
 
 
 
 
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After battling with different obstacles, the Parkers Arms Country Inn opened its doors in January 2007. Its origins come from long labors of love and the help of different like-minded individuals.

Aside from homey rooms, the inn has a restaurant that serves modern British food. Here, you can satisfy your cravings by sampling their dishes like Braised Bowland Beef, Charcoal Grilled Tomahawk steak, and the layered creamed potato terrine pie.

At the time of writing, Parkers Arms is also the Top 1 gastropub in England! It has succeeded in staying at the top for many years. Here's an interview with the restaurant's chef-patron Stosie Madi when the establishment won the rank in 2017:

Freemasons At Wiswell

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Coming in at 3rd place among the Top 50 Gastropubs is Freemasons at Wiswell. Unlike the standard hotel with a restaurant, this establishment has it in reverse. In particular, it’s a pub with rooms.

The restaurant has a mission to provide the best slice of country refinement with a mix of modern imagination and style. Aside from the standard dining and resting experience, Freemasons at Wiswell also have events lined up for customers.

One particular event is Valentine’s dinner at the restaurant. The establishment invites couples, families, and friends to dine on February 14, 2023. Interested customers can book a table by emailing: [email protected].

Don’t forget that guests can sample the restaurant’s delicacies at any time of the year. Here, customers can satiate their palates like the Velouté of Wild Mushroom and the Guinea Fowl. Desserts are also available, such as Lemon Meringue and Homemade Tea Cakes.

Boiler House Bowling

Have you tried waiting for your food while bowling? Boiler House Bowling in Clitheroe, Lancashire will give you that experience.

The dining area has two bowling lanes wherein you can play the activity while waiting for your food. You can also play a round after you eat if you desire.

Aside from the bowling lanes, don't forget that you can savor the flavorful treats the restaurant has to offer. Some of these delicacies include cheese garlic bread, pizza fries, southern fried chicken burger, and Cajun chicken wrap.

Related Read: "Pizza Hut Makes History With Record-Breaking 13,990-Square-Foot Pizza."

Enhancing Flavors With Locally-Sourced Ingredients

Ribble Valley District’s flock of food establishments source their ingredients from local suppliers. Restaurants and food joints count on establishments like beer breweries, cheese factories, and dairy farms to produce mouth-watering masterpieces.

Locals and visitors may also go to these establishments to purchase their wares. For instance, head to the Beltin Good Beef at Slaidburn for high-quality meat. Coffee enthusiasts may also head to the Exchange Coffee for freshly roasted beans.

Food-Themes Activities Abound

Clitheroe food festival set up in readiness for the arrival of the Prince of Wales braving winter weather at Clitheroe, Lancashire, UK

Planning to visit Ribble Valley soon? You may want to schedule your visit based on certain district events. One food-themed event to watch out for is the Clitheroe Food Festival.

It’s an event that has been attracting visitors from different towns, cities, and counties since 2011. The food festival is also one of the top 10 food festivals in the UK, according to Eventbrite.

The video below showcases a look at the 2015 Clitheroe Food Festival, which should also offer you a quick peek at what to expect for this year’s festivities:

Traveling To Ribble Valley

Clitheroe Castle, Lancashire, United Kingdom. The norman keep at Clitheroe in the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire which dates back to to the 11th century

Interested visitors can travel to the Ribble Valley District from the Greater Manchester area by either bus, train, taxi, or private car. It’s a 55-minute drive by taxi or driving a private vehicle.

On the other hand, the public commute is possible by taking the Line 143 bus and transferring to two train lines to reach the district. This travel option takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete.

The Line 280 night bus is also available for guests to reach Ribble Valley after hours. However, this bus route takes approximately 3 hours and 34 minutes to complete.

 
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