The Ultimate Indulgence Break at Northcote.

The Ultimate Indulgence Break

Celebrate the good times with the Ultimate Indulgence Break

To celebrate coming to an end of nearly a year of renovations, Northcote has launched its Ultimate Indulgence Break: a no-holds-barred, two-day gourmet extravaganza for foodie friends. Whether birthday, anniversary or family celebration, the luxurious package is priced at £875* each based on a group of ten* and starts from the moment guests step through the door on Friday.

And now with a stylish new-look restaurant, four more fabulous hotel rooms and an interactive cookery school, Northcote has become the go-to destination for gourmands looking for a little luxe away from London. With the rise of the ‘near-away’ – a growing trend towards mini-breaks within a 50-mile radius – the hotel has become a retreat for locals, too. Included in the super-stay is a gorgeous guestroom complete with king-size beds, fine thread-count sheets and rain showers. After slipping into something stylish, guests will descend the stairs for a glamorous reception Louis Roederer Champagne reception both nights* followed by a glorious five-course dinner on the first and an incredible seven-course tasting dinner on the second – both designed by chef patron Nigel Haworth and head chef Lisa Allen.

The first night is enjoyed in the new restaurant with windows overlooking the countryside whilst the second night takes place at the Chef’s Table in the Michelin-starred kitchen. Groups will gather to enjoy the menus together with perfect pairings courtesy of director of wine Craig Bancroft. Dishes from the gourmet menu include the likes of wood-burnt Wye Valley asparagus, milk-fed Salt Marsh lamb and Yorkshire rhubarb & custard; whilst highlights on the tasting menu include squab pigeon, beer-fed Dexter Beef rump and chilled coconut rice pudding. And with everything overseen by a dedicated front-of-house team and private sommelier, guests are sure to be kept in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed. There’s even an al fresco courtyard for a digest if under the stars.

Northcote famous breakfast is served on both mornings and is sure to take the edge off any heavy heads. Served on white-clothed tables, choices range from traditional English – Thin Link Cumberland sausages, home-cured bacon, R.S. Ireland’s Famous black pudding – through to lighter options like Lancaster Smoked Salmon and Mrs. Kirkham’s Melting Lancashire Cheese Soufflé.

What guests do during the day is completely up to them; surrounded by the rolling green hills of the Ribble Valley, take a walk in the Forest of Bowland, pay a visit to historic Stony Hurst or play a round on one of three championship golf courses. Alternatively, enjoy a stroll to nearby Chapels Spa and make the most of the treatments exclusive to those staying at Northcote. For everything else, the hotel’s guest relation’s team is on-hand to help organize a range of activities, from cycling through to fishing.

The Ultimate Indulgence Break at Northcote – the glamorous getaway for groups of foodies.

*Prices vary according to room type: £875 per person based on five Deluxe Rooms on a Friday & Saturday break when two  people sharing, including VAT and service. Single occupancy is also available – price on application.

*The minimum group booking for the Ultimate Indulgence Package is eight. Bookings can also be taken for ten and twelve.

*The first reception is five bottles of Louis Roederer Brut Champagne based on a group of ten; the second reception is five bottles of Louis Roederer 2006 Brut Vintage Champagne based on a group of ten

Prices based on two people sharing for two nights, arriving Friday and leaving Sunday.

Breakfast included on both days; Gourmet & Tasting Menu with wine flights and service included.

For more details or to book your stay, head to http://www.northcote.com/

A Postcard from Italy - Nigel goes olive tasting and truffle hunting in Italy.

A Postcard from Italy - Nigel goes olive tasting and truffle hunting in Italy.

Sunday

It was finally here our autumn trip to Italy, Tarracina to be exact ,truffle hunting, virgin olive oil pressing, tomato canning to name but a few of the activities. The trip was organised after a papparadelle and quick olive oil tasting at a fabulous local Italian restaurant in Gisburn, owned by Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi We were accompanied by Paul Heathcote and his wife Gabbie.

We met at Manchester airport for a very early morning flight, having risen from my bed at 2.15am for a 6.15am flight. We were met at Leonardo da Vinci airport by Gino and Simone and their two sons Danielle and Simone, a great welcome from the owners of the hotel where we would be staying for the next four nights.

We arrived at Hotel Centrosenica just after noon and after a warm welcome from everybody we were thrown into our first tasting of the food from the region of Lazio. Now this introduction was supposed to be a light lunch! Course after course flowed from the kitchen starting with rosemary and garlic bread (which was sensational) and then ending with a stiff coffee and some wonderful homemade shortbread. The courses you missed in-between were some wonderful smoked local ham, sheep’s milk cheese, local squid, pasta with clams, then when we all thought our light lunch had finally ended, in came the Rib of Beef followed by a larger than life Rum Baba…wow what an introduction.

Monday

We left the olive oil farm and went on to a Buffalo Mozzarella Farm in Terracina. I have to say, there were some mighty impressive Buffalos, we were tempted to get closer, but there was an unfortunate incident with Paul when one of the buffalos whipped his tail and splashed quite a considerable amount of Buffalo dung on his white shirt, unfortunately not his Bolton shirt. Anyway revenge was had as Gabby and I were bitten all over our legs by the local Mosquitos! A quick cheese tasting and back to the hotel. Dinner began with the rosemary bread; a stunning special

ovulo mushroom (small egg like mushroom very rare and very sought after in this part of Italy) salad with rocket and parmesan; tomato torpedino and buffalo mozzarella salad with Orsini olive oil, clams and oysters; then more oysters! Tuna with white aubergines, olives and tomatoes; pasta and prawns; the courses just kept coming with true Italian passion. Finally…fresh fruit, prickly pear, coffee and almond wafers. Of course, I should not have been surprised this is the Italian way, great food, great company, beautiful wines, and before you know it at least five hours have passed! Then bed.

Tuesday

An early start was scheduled, we had to be on the beach for 6.30am to do our run have a quick swim and ready to leave at 8.00am. Another highlight of the trip - truffle hunting and for white ones. Can you imagine finding a little dusky white ball that could be worth £4000 per kg. We were going to the borderlands on the edge of Lazio, an area called Alvito where we were to rendezvous with a truffle hunter (who turned out to be a solicitor) in a motorway service station an hour away from our location. All sounded a bit cloak and dagger. We rendezvoused with our hunter then followed him for about half an hour in cars to a cement factory and by this time Paul, was looking a little

agitated and his imagination was going into overdrive as he pictured Gabby burying him in a load of cement and

truffles, never to be seen again…if only !!

And the journey continued, a further drive of twenty minutes until we parked up in the hilly region of Alvito, it was absolutely teeming down, which we knew was not a good thing for the dogs or the truffles. We donned raincoats, boots and hats, and the rain just poured and poured. Our truffle hunter took us into a large insignificant looking field and the hunt began. His dogs Bobby and Nero set about their work and within minutes Truffles were in abundance, alas black ones and not the white, we were told this was because of the rain and perhaps we were a little too early in the season.

So what should we do now? Let’s head off for lunch! We dined at Osteria Del Tempo Perso where the Chef Mattea Patso looked after us royally. To start, sheep’s cheese curd; pecorino cheese, salami and lots of fantastic Italian bread; truffle and potato soup with white beans; ravioli with beef; home made sausage meat with thick spaghetti like pasta and black Italian truffles; sirloin served very rare from locally reared Italian beasts; chocolate and hazelnut tart, and all washed down with plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese wine. Then there was just enough time for a quick visit to the local butchers where Matteagets all his meat hung and cured. Again, It was fantastic to see regionality so strong, the passion is just outstanding. Back home was a two hour journey and then dinner was a light affair with plenty of chilled local beer and pizzas which were nearly as good as the ones I remember in Belagio on Lake Como. Oh, they were so good!

Wednesday

Another run and swim, necessary to keep up with the eating and drinking! The weather had turned again and with Terracina being in such a vast open area of sea it was deemed too rough to venture out fishing. Plans were made to visit The Temple of Jove Anxur, perhaps Terracina’s most famous historical site, built by the Romans in the 1st century. Here we found the most incredible romantic view, apparently it’s the site of countless passionate encounters over the past two thousand years... and if only if those temple walls could talk! Then finally the fishing trip could happen but in a much smaller vessel than anticipated. Nevertheless, we had three rods, one for Paul, Maurizio and I and we managed a few hours fishing but it wasn’t what you might call big sea fishing. I caught nothing! Paul caught a Whitebait and Maurizio caught a Sardine - all in all, not the killer whales we were expecting! Then it was back to the hotel for a well deserved chill and get our bags packed for departure the following morning. Our genial host Gino seemed a little tired, understandable really, as we hadn’t stopped for the whole 5 days. So dinner was a casual affair as we reminisced over the last four days. It was the end of a beautiful trip to Italy, where the hospitality had been second to none. The simplicity of the Italian food is wonderful, its all about the ingredients and the passion for regionality. Thank you Italy, thanks also to Maurizio for organising the trip and to Gino, Cinzia and his family for looking after us so well. Caio…till the next time.

To read more about news and on-goings from the hotel, head over to http://www.northcote.com/blog

Northcote Scoops Best UK Restaurant in 2014 BMW Square Meal Awards!

About the award.

"The BMW Square Meal awards recognise all-round excellence across the UK’s restaurant scene. The top accolade is Restaurant of the Year, which is given for the finest overall package, while Best New Restaurant is awarded twice yearly to the most outstanding London restaurant launched during the given period. The Best UK Restaurant title goes to the establishment outside London that has most captured the imagination of diners."

Northcote - Winners 2014

Northcote has been recognised by a combination of readers, bloggers and Square Meal reviewers from all over the nation. This recognition lead to the restaurant winning the prestigious BMW Square Meal award as the Best UK Restaurant 2014 

Notable is the fact that Northcote managed to win the award despite tough competition from heavyweights such as L'Enclume, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and The Fat Duck. All hugely successful & well-regarded in the industry.

The editor of Square Meal, Ben McCormack said: 

“In Northcote we have somewhere that exemplifies everything that British restaurants are doing so well. Nigel and head chef Lisa Allen turn the fantastic produce on their doorstep into stunningly presented, deeply satisfying cooking with a strong sense of locality. And it’s served with true professionalism by Craig Bancroft and his front-of-house team in an atmosphere of genuine hospitality."

If you would like to find out more about this story please feel free to take a look at our latest news page on our website.

For more details on visiting Northcote Luxury Hotel Lancashire, please visit http://www.northcote.com/