When you think of Cumbria, you think of the Lake District. When you think of Carlisle, you think of that place you always pass, but never visit, on the way to and from Scotland. Farlam Hall Hotel and Restaurant however, is providing a reason for everyone to slow down and explore.
This year, its resident restaurant Cedar Tree received a Michelin star, a mere 18 months after Hrishikesh Desai took the helm as Chef Patron.
His innovative style of classic British cuisine with surprising twists has helped put this already beautiful hotel firmly on the map, being named the best foodie hotel in the UK.
With delicious food, stunning gardens and history on its doorstep, Farlam Hall is not to be missed.
Farlam Hall dates back to 1428 and has been in the Thompson family for its entire existence. Guests can stay in the main hall, or indulge in one of the converted stable suites, where family and friends can gather and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of having their own space within the beautiful grounds.
The bedrooms in the main hall are warm and comforting, with some modern twists like a TV in front of the bath (not all rooms have this, but mine did and it was honestly a highlight of the trip).
Bedrooms at Farlam Hall. Credit: The Manc Group
As you may have guessed by now, Farlam Hall is home to the multi-award winning restaurant Cedar Tree, but it is also home to Bistro Enkel, their more relaxed and accessible restaurant for guests to enjoy from Sunday to Tuesday. The menu has many classic bistro-style dishes for guests to indulge in, but I’ll tell you more about that later.
The welcome to Farlam Hall is second to none. You’re greeted like one of the family who has been away for a while and now you’re returning home.
We went to see what Farlam Hall is all about and why you should add it to your bucket list to visit.
Farlam Hall and Gardens
The grounds at Farlam Hall. Credit: The Manc Group
Coming up the drive to Farlam Hall is like entering a story book, everything is so neat and picturesque, like it has been illustrated into existence.
The iconic cedar tree, which is seen in the Farlam Hall logo and from which the Michelin starred restaurant gets its name, stands proudly in the garden to greet you. There is so much to explore, with the hall set in six acres of manicured grounds, with a half acre kitchen garden, and guests encouraged to get out and wander around. The stress of the outside world seems to just melt away instantly.
To the rear of the hall and behind the stable suites, lies the kitchen garden. The space has been lovingly cared for and curated by the fantastic gardener Penny. Her passion and knowledge for her craft shines out of her like a warm sunbeam, you can’t help but want to bask in her, taking in all she has to say.
We got to pick ingredients from the garden to make some of their signature cocktails, whilst learning about the different produce and flowers growing in the garden and their purpose.
Hrishikesh and Penny are working towards becoming almost completely sustainable from the garden, with all fruit and vegetable waste being returned to the garden and as much fruit and vegetable produce coming from their own doorstep, whilst encouraging a whole host of wildlife to call their garden home.
Farlam Hall’s kitchen garden, featuring Penny the gardener. Credit: The Manc Group
There’s a large number of rooms to choose from at Farlam Hall, catering to all needs and budgets, everyone is welcome. We explored the homely stable suites, which have been impressively styled to be an elegant twist of modern and traditional. The private spaces are the perfect getaway for a family or group that want to enjoy their own space away from the main hotel.
I was lucky enough to have a junior suite during my visit and it was divine. The bed was enormous and out of this world comfy. I had a pleasant seating area to enjoy a cup of tea and watch the Olympics (no no, not just the French pole vaulter on repeat, I swear) and a view of the surrounding gardens.
The bathroom was big enough for a whole olympic gymnastic routine and the bath… it had a TV in the wall in front of it! This innovation absolutely blew my mind, there was no awkward balancing of phones or laptops for me tonight, I’d be bathing in luxury.
I nipped back up to my room during dinner too, and someone had been in to close all of my blinds and curtains, turn down my bed and lay out my robe and slippers for me too. This VIP treatment for guests really sets Farlam Hall apart.
Bistro Enkel
Mozzarella and tomato starterInside the restaurant spaces at Farlam HallThe chocolate delice – it did not last longCredit: The Manc Group
Farlam Hall has two on-site restaurants, with Cedar Tree serving guests Wednesday to Saturday, and Bistro Enkel is available Sunday to Tuesday. Enkel (the old Nordic word for “simple”) has a more accessible menu for guests in an a la carte style rather than a tasting menu.
There are many bistro classics like the prawn ‘Marie Rose’, smoked ham hock and chicken terrine and featherblade steak, but still have Hrishikesh’s signature twists and creativity to keep it interesting.
I opted for the mozzarella and tomato starter, with the tomatoes having travelled a mere 10 metres from garden to kitchen. Their freshness was sublime and the dish was light on the palate.
I was fortunate enough that a member of our party didn’t want dessert, which meant I could indulge in the cheese plate AND the chocolate delice. The cheeses were all British farmhouse cheeses, carefully curated so one never overpowered the other. The chocolate delice however was a gut punch of chocolate deliciousness with a smooth texture that envelopes the tongue like a wave of cocoa nectar. It did not last long.
The surrounding area
Talkin Tarn Country Park is a short drive from Farlam Hall. Credit: The Manc Group
After a quick indulgent breakfast (I treated myself to the rarebit on toast with poached eggs and highly recommend you do the same), we went for a walk around the lake at Talkin Tarn Country Park. This beautiful mix of woodland and farmland is just a short 10 minute drive from Farlam Hall and the perfect spot for a gentle stroll to soak up the surroundings and work off some of the food we had been consuming endlessly (and with glee) since we arrived.
Karen Baybutt, who joined Farlam Hall with Hrishikesh after they both left the Gilpin, joined us for a natter and a potter around the lake, chatting all things Farlam. It was obvious that Karen lives and breathes Farlam and it was so pleasant to hear of all the different ways she is getting involved in her new community and sharing what Farlam Hall has to offer.
Our walk was led by the magnificent Min. She spoke with such knowledge and fervour about her surroundings and the local area that I couldn’t help but have a smile on my face. Being in the company of such passionate people whilst visiting Farlam was quite invigorating for the soul. Min has plenty of suggestions for places to explore while you’re visiting the area, with plenty of walks to enjoy and the historic Hadrian’s wall is a mere 15 minute drive from the hotel.
The Cedar Tree
Long-horn beef Wellington. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Farlam Hall Garden Tomato. Credit: The Manc GroupParts of the playful menu at Farlam Hall. Credit: The Manc Group
The piece de resistance of Farlam Hall is of course the Michelin starred Cedar Tree restaurant. Found in the same room as Bistro Enkel but with a slightly different layout and table setting, you can feel the step up in luxury.
The kitchen is of course headed up by Hrishikesh Desai, the Chef de Patron, and his menu is playful with signature twists that he has become to be known for. There is certainly no stuffy feeling about what we are about to enjoy.
We start the afternoon in the bar, a comfortable and relaxed space to unwind with a glass of fizz and enjoy our first two courses (of eleven if you include the petit fours).
We are served a warming cone of garbanzo bean chaat to begin, transporting us to the streets of India before jetting off to where I assumed was the Mediterranean but my senses are unsure. We are served Hrishikesh’s ‘olives our way’, which at first glance appears to be a tasty looking olive in a delicate pool of hay-coloured olive oil. However what I had seen and what I was tasting were entirely different. I don’t want to spoil it for you by over describing the dish, but I was both confused by and pleased with what I was eating.
The chilli butter that made me want to move in
We then moved into the dining room, where the staff were calm, personable and relaxed. Hrishikesh himself came and explained each dish to us, his knowledge and love for his craft and ingredients added some extra seasoning to the food which made everything taste just that little bit better.
There were stand out dishes, like the Gazpacho made from herbs from the garden; the ‘Farlam Hall Garden Tomato’ stuffed to the brim with, you guessed it, tomatoes from the garden, all impressively presented like an actual tomato on a bed of spiced tomato jelly that turned into a consume as you eat it; the long-horn beef wellington with a tandoori spiced fillet of beef that had been cooked on charcoal before being delicately wrapped in pastry (this was enough to make this vegetarian of 25 years jealous); and the chilli butter. THE CHILLI BUTTER. There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe the magnificence of this chilli butter. Poets will write about. The butter even looks like a chilli, encased in chilli from Hrishikesh’s home in India. Honestly, I’d have moved in just for the butter.
Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant is an absolute gem of the north filled with passionate, lovely people and fantastic food. You can find out more and book your stay here.
Mélange by Red Hall is a jewel in the crown Bury’s burgeoning hospitality scene
Danny Jones
We recently had the pleasure of staying at the understated and most definitely underrated Red Hall Hotel over in Bury, and got to try their stunning new Mélange restaurant while we were at it.
Now, we say underrated not because it hasn’t received glowing reviews in the past; the AA-star hotel has enjoyed plenty of plaudits over the years and currently averages 4.5/5 from over 900 reviews.
However, what we will say is that the food now being served from this quaint little outpost located in the tiny hamlet of Walmersley, just on the border of Ramsbottom (regularly voted one of the best places to live in the UK), is well worth more than the hotel’s three-star rating on it’s own.
Not only did we have the pleasure of staying in this charming little village getaway, but we were treated to a whopping 11 courses, followed by a morning meal, for a truly wonderful bed and breakfast vibe with all the added luxury of a Kayak Awards and 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice-winning destination.
The Mélange restaurant at Red Hall HotelSuch a striking room when you first walk in.Credit: The Manc Group
The first thing that struck us about the local favourite venue is that, despite being located beside Manchester Road, once you’re inside, it’s a quiet, tranquil and calming little escape from what is already a nice out-of-the-way escape from the bustle of the city and even Bury town centre.
Even if not, how inviting the actual Mélange restaurant itself is definitely will; the golden sign glistening from the soft white dangling bulbs immediately catches your eye, and then you walk in to see the big conservatory and almost orangery-esque windows, with sloped ceilings and lots of light.
You get just as warm a welcome from the staff as well, which is a feeling maintained throughout your entire dining experience, as they really do communicate that sense of comfort whilst “drawing from mamma’s childhood memories and unforgettable holidays” through the food.
Speaking of which…
Mélange – which quite literally translates to ‘a mixture’, often even hinting at things that don’t usually fit together – promises a fusion of British and Mediterranean cuisine, and delivers both familiar flavours but with plenty of contemporary punch and visual appeal.
We may have begun our meal with something as simple but satisfying as a mini round loaf of bread freshly baked in a cast iron pot with some acidic, tapenade-esque chutney, along with a couple of very refreshing and lemon-forward spritzes, but it didn’t take long before we dove headlong into indulgence.
See, the trouble was the mezze: we wanted to try a little bit of something from each section of the menu, but we couldn’t help but be drawn in by starting with three selections from what was advertised as ‘small plates, big flavours’.
In actuality, what happened was a board featuring our trio of choice appeared, and the bowls that sat upon it were pretty filling on their own. It’s a good job we didn’t spring for the eye-catching charcuterie board as well, otherwise we really would have struggled to finish this feast.
We went for these naughty ‘nduja arancini, some ever-so-smoky chicken wings in a slightly spiced aioli, and quite literally the best halloumi fries you’ll ever try; we don’t know if it was the light fried batter, the perfectly tearable texture of the cheese, or the subtle hot honey dip, but they were incredible.
We also opted to try two more delicate, lighter bites to somewhat cleanse the palate – the corn and duck salad, both of which were fantastically balanced and still not skimpy on the portions either.
The point being is that, at this stage, we started to worry this, plus our main courses of maple-baked salmon (paired with the most impressively smooth and sweet potato purée imaginable), gambas al ajillo (giant black tiger prawns in garlic) and a stuffed, herbaceaous, rolled pork number might be overkill…
Perfectly soft, gooey arancini with a slight heat to them.You could see the quality of the prawns before tasting it.That tweal on top alone was packed with flavour.Light, seasonal and yet more than a few mouthfuls.
Having said that, we still found time/room for another round of cocktails – again, sticking with the spritz theme (’tis the season, after all) – and just about managed to squeeze in two desserts.
The lemon posset was just tangy enough without being too tart and was devoured within seconds, while the cheesecake with an extra dusting of pistachio on top was superb. Topping each with a thin, honeycomb-design biscuit felt like a nice little Manc finishing touch as well.
We’ll confess, a fair few belt notches were loosened throughout the duration of this meal, but we kept persevering for a number of reasons: we wanted to get a comprehensive sweep of what’s on offer, we didn’t want to waste a morsel of food if possible, and most importantly, it was stunning.
Honestly, there wasn’t so much as an average mouthful of food all night. We can’t believe it’s taken us this long to try what’s being served out of the Mélange kitchen; pair that with a brilliant breakfast and relaxing stay at Red Hall itself, and it’s up there with one of the best hotel packages in the area.
Plenty of food and drink spots help, but the great in Greater Manchester, and we can’t say where exactly we’d rank this amongst all 10 boroughs, but we firmly believe you won’t find many better all-round hospitality offerings in Bury – if, indeed, at all.
There are plenty of lovely day and evening walks nearby.Or you can just curl up content on the sun-soaked terrace.
Manchester Airport is hosting a summer sale with bargain return flights for under £80
Danny Jones
If you’re in need of a sunny escape but are looking to keep things within your budget as much as possible, the current summer sale on flights at Manchester Airport should get your attention.
Best of all, not only can you make the most of this opportunity right now and whisk yourself away pronto, but the deals for a complete return trip.
And when we say this is an offer you can’t refuse, you really will have a tough time resisting the urge on this occasion, because some of the flights in question will set you back less than £80.
We reckon it’s time you book in some annual leave, don’t you?…
Flight deals from Manchester Airport – Summer 2025
So, you’re obviously wondering, ‘Where can I fly to? And for how much?’ Well, let’s not waste any more time. Here’s what is on offer.
1. Majorca – Balearic Islands
Monika Guzikowska via Unsplash (supplied)
First up is Majorca, where you can fly via Ryanair on Wednesday, 9 July and return a week later on 16 July from just £28pp return. With more than 90,000 making the trip to the regular Spanish destination last month alone, its reputation speaks for itself.
Whether you want to be at the heart of the party scene in Magaluf, popular parts like Palma or Cala Millor, or more family-friendly areas like Puerto Pollensa and Alcudia, there’s something for everyone.
2. Naples – Italy
How about visiting the home of the now four-time Italian football champions and the land where pizza itself was invented? Napoli is on many people’s travel bucket lists, and now you fly there with Ryanair on Saturday, 12 July and return on 25 July from just £49pp return.
Tom Podmore via Unsplash (supplied)
It’s the gateway to the Amalfi Coast and the isle of Capri, where fresh gelato, ice cream and Aperol flow like the Sarno River, not to mention it has some of the best street food in the world. With Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii also looming over the city, the place needs little advertisement.
3. Brindisi – Italy
Sticking with Italy, why not consider a trip to the Puglia region, which you can fly to (once again with Ryanair) from just £49pp return.
This particular part promises some of the country’s best sandy beaches and a balmy Mediterranean climate, as well as plenty of wine, olive oil and fresh-baked focaccia. It was even the home of Ernest Hemingway for a time, with the city even naming a beach after him.
How about visiting a French region that’s not only known for centuries of fine wine, a stunning coast with top-notch seafood and popular resorts like Valras and Cap d’Agde, but is also twinned with… Stockport?
That’s right, located in the southwest of the country, this underrated destination already has connections to Greater Manchester, not to mention famous water parks, white beaches and an archaeological site named Ensérune, located just outside the city. Return flights start from £56pp.
Pixabay (supplied)
5. Jerez – Spain
Jet2.com are up next are they’re offering you return travel to Jerez from just £77pp,departing on 12 July and returning on 26 July.
Southern Spain is usually as pretty busy in the summer, but Jerez’s position on the country’s Atlantic coast – between southern Portugal and the Strait of Gibraltar, rather than on the Med – means it’s not too crowded, plus it’s well worth a visit to nearby Cadiz.
Jordi Vich Navarro via Unsplash (supplied)
6. Pula – Croatia
Over to Croatia now, and you get to one of the best value-for-money parts of the country compared to tourist traps like Dubrovnik or the Dalmatian coast, starting from as little as £59 per person, flying with Jet2 on Thursday, 10 July and coming back on 24 July.
Two weeks on the Istrian peninsula may not be as well-trodden as its counterparts, but the view across the Adriatic and some of the world’s best preserved Roman arenas should at least be considered.
Pixabay (supplied)
7. Rhodes – Greece
From ancient Greece to ancient Rome, Rhodes is known as one of the greatest cities that ever was, and besides the heaps of history to be soaked up, there are also 300 days of sunshine, plus plenty of shopping in the Old Town, stunning classical architecture, not mention the famous ‘Butterly Valley‘.
Once again with Jet2, return flights are going for £58pp and upwards.
Pixabay (supplied)
8. Paphos – Cyprus
Last but not least, we’ve got more gorgeous Grecian territory for you in the form of Paphos in neighbouring Cyprus, which still remains one of the most affordable holiday destinations going – and that’s even before the summer sale on flights from Manchester Airport.
You’ve got beach resorts and some of the best Mediterranean cuisine at your fingertips. Fly with Jet2.com this July and return from just £58 per person too.
We all need a break sometimes, and with prices like these and the weather across Europe looking great this season, no one could begrudge you getting away from it all for a bit.
Meanwhile, these aren’t the only destinations that might tickle your fancy this summer, especially if you’re prone to those lazy lounging on a beach type holidays.
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston -
15th August 2024 
