03/07/2024

Eating Out Recommendations July 2024

I’d love to be able to write full blog reviews of all my eating out recommendations. But, timewise, it’s not possible. So, here’s the latest of my occasional round-up posts featuring some of the independent cafes, pubs, and restaurants I’ve enjoyed recently.

Among these highlights from last month are a burger and pint with a view, a hidden restaurant offering popular favourites and modern British dining, hearty pub food, a dog friendly café, and a Middle Eastern feast.

BURGER & PINT WITH A VIEW

Not far from where I live, we must have one of the best pub views in the country. The Black Lion, Consall Forge is not only set in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands countryside, but overlooks the Caldon Canal with narrowboats gliding by and the steam trains of the Churnet Valley Railway.

The first Sunday of the month was bright and sunny. Perfect for a morning stroll with the dog before stopping off for lunch. As the Black Lion was holding a barbecue, other half and I decided to go for a pint and something to eat.

Feeling quite hungry by now, we both had the humungous Black Lion burger (£7.50 each). As well as the juicy, well-flavoured beef patty, it was loaded with cheese, onions, mushroom, and bacon. Between us, we also managed to polish off most of a generous portion of fat chips.

My pint of Black Hole from nearby Peakstones Rock brewery went down nicely too.

GROSVENOR RESTAURANT AT HALES HALL

I’d never heard of the Grosvenor Restaurant near Cheadle until I was tipped off. But it turns out I’d passed the place loads of times without realising. Set in a beautiful Grade II listed former country house, it’s in the grounds of Hales Hall Caravan & Camping Park and invisible from the road.

But with reasonably priced, tasty menus featuring quality ingredients like local beef, I think more of you need to know about it. Read my full review of The Grosvenor here to learn more about their winning combination of popular favourites plus dishes in a modern British style.

ANOTHER CANAL-SIDE LUNCH

With other half taking a few well-deserved days off work, we had a second canal side lunch later in the month.

The Holly Bush at Denford is a former flour mill right next to the Caldon Canal. There are great walks on the doorstep and it’s a popular place to sit out front and watch the narrowboats go by. There’s more seating round the back, plus a play area for children.

The Holly Bush serves hearty pub food, and I went for a nicely griddled gammon steak (£15). It came with good skin-on chips, onion rings, juicy mushrooms, and salad garnish. For another £1 each, you can add pineapple or egg. I added both!

I particularly liked that the pineapple had been given a good charring in the same way as the gammon.

For pudding, I had red velvet cheesecake with two generous scoops of vanilla ice cream (£6.50).

I think the Holly Bush is a great spot whether you want to eat or just have a drink.

RETURN TO HALES HALL

After writing about dinner at The Grosvenor at Hales Hall, a number of readers recommended to me the breakfasts. So I went back to try one after we’d been for a walk with the dog at nearby Hales Hall Pool Nature Reserve. Having the dog with us meant this time we were seated in the beautiful Library Room.

The Grosvenor serves a good range of breakfasts including a small (£7), medium (£11), and large (£17) traditional English, plus veggie and vegan alternatives, oatcakes, various goodies on toast, sandwiches, and waffles.

Believe it or not, what you see below is my MEDIUM breakfast!

But this wasn’t a case of quantity over quality. I thought the ingredients were of a good standard and everything was cooked perfectly.

As they also do takeaway breakfasts, I think this is going to become a regular stop when we’re out that way.

DOG FRIENDLY EATING & DRINKING

I’ve been lucky enough to find more dog friendly places to eat and drink recently. And it’s made me realise that it’s time to do a major update of my Guide to Dog Friendly Eating & Drinking in Staffordshire. I’m in the process of removing those that are now closed and also some that have changed hands so I need to check again. But I’m aiming to have a thorough overhaul completed in the next few weeks.

One venue I’ll definitely be adding is the coffee shop at Hotel Rudyard. It’s around the back of the hotel and is a great place for refreshments after a walk at Rudyard Lake.

At a brunch there, I had well-filled, tasty cheese and mushroom Staffordshire oatcakes. Double oatcakes with cheese plus one other filling are just £4.95. Extra fillings are available for 75p. Other half went for the Full English (£10.95) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The current owners of Hotel Rudyard seem to be doing a great job of updating it, inside and out. I’m planning to go back soon to try the restaurant too.

MIDDLE EASTERN FEAST IN MACCLESFIELD

Middle Eastern cuisine is one of my favourites. So I’m really pleased to include in my latest eating out recommendations Elaf Lebanese & Syrian Restaurant in Macclesfield.

I only discovered it by chance but loved the great range of authentic small plates to create a mezze feast, tender and juicy charcoal grilled kebabs, fresh salads, plus traditional desserts.