Review: Redwell Inn, Arkholme (From Lancaster And Morecambe Citizen)

Review: Redwell Inn, Arkholme

6:12pm Wednesday 2nd February 2011 in Leisure By Allan Tunningley

THE Redwell Inn, between Arkholme and Over Kellet, is that sort of country inn you can so easily drive by without giving it a second thought.

Indeed, I have done so on numerous occasions.

However, having discovered the place had recently been taken over by new owners, I decided it would be worth checking out.

I was not disappointed.

But first let’s deal with the Redwell Inn’s internal appearance, which has been finished like something out of a Grand Designs renovation. It is obvious that a lot of money has been spent and the attention to detail, particularly in the decor, is impressive. The place is also spacious.

My other half and I visited on a particularly cold evening and the large industrial wood burning stove provided a welcome glow - especially as we were given a table just a couple of strides from it.

So, the setting was spot on. Now, what about the food? Well, as already indicated, it was not disappointing. As usual, we decided to share a starter and a pudding, only going our own ways with the mains.

The starter was pan-fried tiger prawns with a Thai dressing, sticky Thai rice and cucumber salsa. The prawns were quite smokey, which Natalja didn’t like as much as I did, but she certainly didn’t dismiss the dish as a failure.

For her main, she chose a delicious butternut tortellini, curried carrot cream with candied pine nuts, while I settled on line-caught haddock in real ale batter, chunky chips and mushy peas. The haddock was one of the biggest I’ve seen on a plate and it was spot on. The accompanying seasonal vegetables were beautifully cooked and flavoursome – a real complement to the meal and not just, as in many restaurants, a token contribution to the five-a-day tally.

The shared pudding – baked passion-fruit soufflé, white chocolate sauce and orange sherbert – was also a delight.

Altogether, a very pleasant experience and not out of the way at £35, including drinks.