Duke of Portland

Pub Details

Address
Holmes Chapel Road
Lach Dennis
Cheshire
CW9 7SY
Telephone
(01606) 46264
Opening Times
Weekdays
12 - 3, 5 - 11
Sundays
12 - 10.30

Location

Good Pub Guide Recommended

Good food in stylish upscale dining pub which doesn't neglect the beer side The carefully prepared food tends to be the main draw at this civilised pub, but you are equally welcome to sink into one of their comfortable leather sofas to enjoy a relaxing drink. The bar area is decorated in calm beige, grey and creams, with square leather pouffes opposite sofas, chunky low tables on neutral carpets and nicely framed prints above its panelled dado. Friendly young staff behind its handsomely carved counter serve five ales from handpump, including Brakspear Oxford Gold, Jennings Cocker Hoop, Marstons Pedigree, Ringwood Best and a guest such as Jennings Cumberland. The interesting changing choice of about ten wines by the glass is fairly priced; daily papers. The main dining room, with its lofty ceiling, sturdy balustrades and big pictures, gives quite a sense of occasion, but keeps a fairly relaxed feel - perhaps because of the friendly mixture of styles in the comfortable dining chairs on its floorboards; piped music. Outside, a neat terrace has picnic-sets among modernist planters and lovely countryside views. This is the sister to the Belle Epoque in Knutsford.

Good Pub Guide Food

They take great care over sourcing really good ingredients from named local suppliers, and take pride in their meats and cheeses; even the chips come in for admiration and are cooked in beef dripping, and bread is home-baked. Dishes might include mushroom and chive pancake, curried cauliflower risotto cakes, olive, lemon and parsley polenta cake with goats cheese fritter and basil pesto, lemon and thyme roasted chicken breast and wings with tapenade and mayonnaise, steak burger, and lamb rump with baby greek salad and dauphinoise potatoes.

Bar food times: 12 - 2.30, 5.30 - 9.30; 12 - 9.30 Fri, Sat; 12 - 8 Sun

Good Pub Information

Dogs allowed in: Dogs Bar

Rating

  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
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Rating: 3/5 (120 votes cast)

Reader Comments

Bathchap

Wednesday 14 April 2010 4:49:49 pm

We called in recently to sample the food on the basis that it was recommended in the guide but unfortunately and contrary to the entry they do not accept dogs in the bar. It looks like there are newish owners and they seem to be trying to take the place from pub to restaurant; unable to try the food so cannot comment but did have a drink in the outside seating area/edge of car park.

noodul

Sunday 05 July 2009 9:56:31 am

Perhaps contrary to the Pub Guide review I found this pub trying more to be a restaurant, which just doesn't work.

Upon entering we were ushered to find a table and given oversized (literally), complicated menus. We couldn't order at the bar and had to wait for table service which was annoying as it slowed down what we had hoped to be a quick in and out lunch.

A range of 4 well kept beers kept us happy while waiting for food but unfortunately couldn't compensate for our disappointment when it finally arrived. My wife had ordered a Feta salad from the 'Mains' section of the menu which consisted of 5 small cubes of Feta cheese, 1 sliced Tomato and some side salad. Needless to say she had eaten it all in under 1 minute, leaving me feeling awkward eating my meal which I eventually left in sympathy.

We paid and left hungry.

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