30/07/2022

The Manifold Inn, Hulme End

The Manifold Inn is in a great location in the Staffordshire Peak District, popular with locals, walkers, campers, and holiday makers.

I ate lunch there and found a friendly pub that welcomed my four-legged friend, plus satisfying, reasonably priced home-cooked food.

THE MANIFOLD INN

After walking in the lovely Staffordshire Peak District today, other half and I headed to The Manifold Inn for lunch.

Not far from home, the Manifold Way is a regular weekend dog walking spot for us. We’ll often park at Hulme End, do a linear walk then trace our footsteps back and have a late breakfast at the fab Tea Junction.

But, as we’d started out later today, it was more like lunchtime by the time we’d finished our walk. So I suggested a change. Months ago, we’d stopped for a drink at the Manifold Inn and had always meant to go back to try their food. Today seemed like the perfect opportunity.

The 200 year old coaching inn is in a great spot by the River Manifold. But it’s not just a pub. You can stay in one of their twelve ensuite rooms (some of them dog friendly) or a holiday cottage. If camping’s more your thing, then the Bank House Farm campsite is just over the way, and you can take advantage of the Manifold Inn’s camper’s breakfast menu.

LUNCH AT THE MANIFOLD INN

As it was a spur of the moment thing, we hadn’t booked a table for lunch. Luckily, there was space for us and our pooch in the dog friendly, traditional bar. There’s also lots of dog friendly space outside.

Settling down with the menu, I enjoyed a pint of Hen Cloud from one of my favourite local breweries, the Wincle Beer Company. On the lunchtime menu you’ll find lots of crossover with the main evening/dinner menu, plus hot and cold sandwiches, and jacket potatoes. I decided on a starter, plus a main from the ‘Classics’ section of the menu.

CRAB PATTY

I admit I was a bit disappointed when, a little while after placing my order, I was told that my first choice of starter wasn’t actually available. The smoked ham hock and chicken terrine had sounded right up my street. Not very enthusiastically, I chose a deep-fried crab patty (£8) instead.

But when it arrived, I was more than happy. The patty was a substantial size and had a nicely crispy breadcrumb coating. Inside, the flavour of crab was quite subtle but good.

I loved the thin slices of sweet, pickled cucumber on top – it reminded of a sweet pickle I used to make years ago and must do again, Beneath the patty was refreshing crème fraiche flavoured with lemon. Both the pickle and the crème fraiche were a good contrast to the rich crab.

HADDOCK & CHIPS

For my main course I went for a pub classic. Beer battered haddock, chips, mushy peas, and tartare sauce (£16). The fish was a good size, but not so large that it made me think ‘oh no, I’ll never finish that’.

The haddock tasted very fresh. The expert cooking meant it was still nicely moist too. The batter was just right for me: not too thick and good and crispy.

The chips were excellent. They were those ones with the middle scooped out – are they actually called ‘scoop’ chips? I never know. Anyway, the idea is that this gives them even more surface area to get crispy. An excellent innovation!

The mushy peas were just the kind I like: properly mushy rather than almost whole in a thin liquor. The tartare sauce was good too with the right balance of richness and tartness.