Even Moor success for Hall restaurant
AWEST Lancashire restaurant is one of just three venues in the North honoured in the Best Restaurant category in the 2017 Obsever Food Monthly Awards.
And there was double cause for celebration for Moor Hall restaurant with rooms in Aughton last weekend, when it was also named by The Sunday Times as one of the 100 best places to stay in the UK.
It caps a great season for the venue, which was awarded its first Michelin Star earlier this month.
The transformed historic manor house opened earlier this year and is owned by local couple Andy and Tracey Bell who bought the 120-acre site two years ago before leading a multi-million pound regeneration project in partnership with friend and business partner Mark Birchall, the chef patron.
Together they have created a fine restaurant with luxury rooms, while the converted barn will follow later this month as a contemporary casual dining experience.
The Observer said: “Newly renovated 16th-century manor house. The kitchen is headed by Mark Birchall, previously exec chef at Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume.”
The two other northern restaurants recognised were Peace & Loaf in Newcastle and Straith House in North Shields.
This year’s overall winner was Pidgin in London.
The Sunday Times praised Moor Hall as one of its 100 Great British Hotels.
It said: “Mark Birchall spent nine years at the two-Michelinstarred L’Enclume, in Cumbria, before opening this restaurant with rooms in a 16th century manor in Aughton, near Liverpool.
“A fortnight ago, it won its first Michelin star.
“The food is superb: oysters with dill ‘snow’ and duck with smoky crisps are among the dishes, all served in a glass-walled dining space with its own cheese room.
“The seven bedrooms have 500-year-old beams. lavish velvets and silks, lacquered furniture and suede wall coverings.
“And for breakfast, it’s the prettiest fry-up imaginable – worth the stay alone.”
Mark Birchall said: “The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind for Moor Hall and we are absolutely thrilled with the positive attention from Michelin, the Good Food Guide, and now being recognised by The Observer and The sunday Times as well.
“Any success has been a tremendous team effort. We are a young business, but our chefs and frontof-house staff have remarkable backgrounds and experience that has come together to make Moor Hall absolutely focused on delivering a special customer experience.”