The Inn at Whitewell

The Inn at Whitewell is a stunning country hotel overlooking the river Hodder a few miles outside Clitheroe. It's frequently featured in the national press as being a fantastic place to stay, but being local, we're far more interested in it's worth as a pub.Happily, it doesn't disappoint, though a little of the character was lost due to recent refurbishments that increased the size of the bar area. Previously, it was almost impossible to find a table if you arrived a few minutes past 12, but now there is abundant space.

The Inn at Whitewell is where the 'smart set' go, but we've frequently turned up with muddy boots. Wear your country casuals and you'll fit in, though many tend to dress up for the occasion.
It certainly is a fine place for people watching.

The beer is always good and they have an interesting selection of bottled ciders and lagers (rather expensive). They frequently have Skipton's Copper Dragon on tap. I asked for a pint and was told it was the second best thing to come out of Yorkshire. "What's the first?" I asked. "The A59" was the reply. Food is also excellent, and locally sourced. In my eyes it beats the much-lauded 'Three Fishes' hands down for local food.

It's worth wandering out the back just to take in the view of the Hodder. It's got to have one of the finest views of any pub in the UK, but they don't seem to make the most of it. A few tables and chairs recently arrived, but there's not even a handle on the outside door to get back in again! One other minor gripe is that when a wedding is on (frequently), the music from the marquee tends to drift far and wide. And watch out, they stop serving food at 2:00pm on a Sunday.

This is our favourite pub for a bit of a treat, when we are dressed a little smarter than usual!

The Calf's Head Worston

Ah, the Calf's Head, one of 4 pubs that I consider to be my 'local' despite it being a short car or bike journey away. (The other 3 being the New Inn in Clitheroe, The Waddington Arms, and the Inn at Whitewell. See above for reviews of these in the fullness of time) . Worston is a tiny village at the base of Pendle Hill, near to Clitheroe, and The Calf's Head is the most imposing building in the village - virtually impossible to miss.

http://www.calfshead.co.uk/

The Calf's Head is a vast pub, converted from a hotel a few years ago, with a large, family-friendly garden. We arrived once to find a coachload of pensioners had got there minutes before us, but the whole lot of them vanished into the vastness that is the Calf's Head. It has a couple of smaller 'pubby' rooms for drinking or eating bar snacks in, a large dining room, a popular conservatory area, a busy garden and other rooms that I've not even ventured inside.

Beers on tap at last visit were Jennings Spitfire, Cumberland bitter, and Marston Pedigree (which I suspect was the guest).

People go for the good quality (and value) food such as their famous Worston Whale, which is a vast plate of fish and chips at £7.95. We like it as it's open all day for food, busy without being hectic, and it's got the best pub garden in Lancashire.

*Edit Oct 2009*
While we often find ourselves at the Calf's Head due to the multitude of work/social events that lead us there, it's no longer a pub we tend to go to of our own accord. The plastic menus are tacky and the sheer numbers eating there can get overwhelming. Friday lunchtimes can be extraordinarily busy. It could probably do with a bit of a spruce up too. On the plus side, the food does represent good value and I don't know if anyone who's ever eaten there has left not feeling full! My tip is to go on a sunny day and sit outside in their garden with a pint or two. On a cold day, their full English breakfast comes with a pot of tea or coffee, so no need to buy a drink.

Dog & Partridge Hesketh Lane Chipping

The Dog and Partridge is actually located about a mile south of Chipping itself, facing Longridge (the hill). We went on a Sunday afternoon in search of a pint and lunch, but the set menu was £15 with no bar meals available. We settled for a couple of pints of Black Sheep (Tetleys also on tap).

It's certainly a popular spot with a few families and a lot of older folks out for a Sunday treat. Dressed in our walking gear, we stuck out a bit, but were treated well by the barmaid, and were able to sup our beers without being made to feel like cheapskates. It's got that 'Hunting Lodge' feel found in a few Ribble Valley pubs, which isn't really to my taste, but seems to get those "in the winter of their years" going.

I'm never too sure what these kind of pubs are going to be like outside Sundays and perhaps it's a little unfair reviewing them on their busiest day when they get customers that aren't there 95% of the time. C'est la vie.