Countryside hotel with star appeal...
DIANNE BOURNE travels down to Derbyshire to a hotel with a restaurant that’s held a Michelin star for 24 years
ANOTHER year passes and it’s another year without a Michelin star awarded to any restaurant on Manchester’s dining scene.
But, thankfully, we don’t have too far to travel to see exactly what it is we’re missing - and to find the standard of fine dining that meets with those elusive Michelin inspectors’ approval.
Out in Derbyshire, around an hour by road from Manchester, it is more than ‘worthy of the detour’ as Michelin would put it, to sample the cuisine at Fischer’s at Baslow Hall.
The team here has held the Michelin Star for 24 years. How do you maintain that for so long? By maintaining a consistent level of incredible dining and service that makes you feel like royalty.
Having arranged a babysitter for the weekend, the Other Half and I were able to thoroughly enjoy our break up in the hills of the Peak District - with the absolute highlight our evening meal inside the famous Fischer’s at Baslow restaurant.
This is an independent, family-run hotel, and it really shows with the warm welcome on arrival.
It is a formidable looking place, approached up a sprawling uphill driveway which provides a true wow factor as we arrive at the door of the Grade II-listed manor house.
Dating back to 1907, Max and Susan Fischer fell in love with the place when they first set eyes on it back in 1988 and transformed it into a fine dining restaurant with rooms which first opened in October 1989.
Their son Neil has now joined them at the helm, and has plenty of plans to take the business forward including a new private dining Wine Room.
They have kept a very traditional country house look to the place, which we loved, and the gardens – all landscaped by owner Max himself – are truly splendid.
There are 11 luxury bedrooms, and for our stay we are shown to a garden room, with a more contemporary look, out in the private walled gardens.
It’s a huge room, with lovely extra little details like a Nespresso coffee machine and truly divine artisan shortbread biscuits to munch on while we wait for our dinner.
And what a dinner it was. They promise an ‘unforgettable experience’ and it certainly was that - the best food I’ve eaten all year.
The kitchen is helmed by award-winning head chef Rupert Rowley, who honed his craft in the kitchen of Raymond Blanc’s Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons in Oxford, John Burton Race at 2 Michelin starred L’Ortolan restaurant in Reading and prior to joining Max Fischer at Baslow Hall in 2002, braving the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay at his flagship eponymous three-Michelin starred Chelsea restaurant.
Here at Fischer’s we have a menu celebrating local produce - including many from the manor’s own kitchen garden. You can choose from the classic menu (two courses £62.50, three courses £78) or go for the 9-course tasting menu for £85.
We were tempted by dishes on the classic menu, and it was a meal that will long live in the memory - every single mouthful we tasted was sublime, from our starters of pan fried scallop and goose liver with a chocolate brioche through to mains of dry-aged Derbyshire sirloin and saddle of wild venison and on to a huge baked apple tartin that we shared - the cooking was faultless.
Yes, the pricing makes this an expensive treat, but dining at somewhere like this is so much more than eating, it’s a true gastronomic adventure. I feel excited just thinking about it all again.
The following morning, after a fine Derbyshire cooked breakfast back in the dining room, it was time to try and work off some of the calories.
And this place is certainly situated conveniently for those of you who like a good walk.
The splendid stately home of Chatsworth is within walking distance of Baslow Hall if you’re a keen walker, otherwise a convenient five minute drive down the road.
Also worth a visit is the estate farm shop which has won awards thanks to its range of local and artisan produce, and local delicacies like Derbyshire oatcakes. During our pre-Christmas visit there was also a huge Christmas marquee just bursting with goodies to take home for all the family.
And if you’re stuck for a last- minute Christmas present for that special foodie in your life? Book a stay at Fischer’s at Baslow, and plot a dining adventure you’ll never forget.