Freemasons at Wiswell

There is something unique the about the moors, hills, and pink-coloured buildings of the Ribble Valley in Lancashire. Many farms and villages are constructed from Pendle Grit stone, including the picturesque medieval village of Wiswell (pronounced Wizel), where the Freemason’s Arms is located. Tucked down a lane in the middle of the village, this is not only a locally renowned place to eat, it's also a comfortable base for what is a very underrated spot in the heart of Lancashire's most enticing region.

Hundreds of years ago, the Freemasons was actually three cottages, one of which was a lodge for Freemasons. Nowadays it's the food that is the star of the show here – under head chef, Steven Smith, serving ultra high-end gastropub fare of Michelin star quality in lodge’s upstairs dining rooms (indeed it has just achieved 5th place in the Estrella Damm’s Top 50 Gastropub Awards). Local fresh produce is always part of the menu so expect the freshest veg, Lancashire beef, Manx lobsters and scallops, plus unusual signature starters like truffle cheese hot dogs and lamb fat & rosemary brioche. You can even book a table in the kitchen if you want to be close to the action!

That it's a terrific place to stay, there's no question, not only for the food and the overall feel of being thoroughly pampered, but also because The Freemasons is such a great base for the countryside around. There are fabulous walks straight from the pub into the nearby Wiswell Moors, you're very close to the glorious landscapes of the Forest of Bowland AONB and it is only about a 15-minute drive north to the handsome town of Clitheroe for shopping and the Bowland Food Hall.