Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms

Our Inspector's view

Set in five acres of stunning gardens just outside Ormskirk, Grade II* listed Moor Hall dates back to the mid-16th century. Andy and Tracey Bell took over 2015, overseeing a multi-million pound renovation, and, along with head chef Mark Birchall, they’ve created a stunning destination restaurant with rooms. The house itself is warmly traditional, with oak beams and floorboards and open fires, beautifully decorated and furnished with wonderful attention to detail. This focus can also be seen in the modern, glass-walled extension that houses the restaurant and state-of-the art open kitchen. Everything, from staff uniforms to light fittings, chairs and table settings, has been carefully chosen. Many of the vegetables in summer dishes are grown in the impressive kitchen gardens and feature on the constantly evolving menus. The eight-course taster, served at both lunch and dinner, and a four-course lunch option are dynamically modern with pin-sharp contemporary interpretations, influenced by Birchall’s time at Simon Rogan’s highly acclaimed Cumbrian restaurant L’Enclume. You can expect extremely thoughtful, often virtuoso cooking, running from Crown Prince squash, chorizo, egg yolk, cod roe, chicken, chervil and caviar through to smoked eel, potato, fermented garlic and flowers before taking in Scottish langoustine, raspberry, radish and nasturtium. A meal might continue with turnip and crab, anise hyssop and sunflower seeds before tartare of Moorfields Jersey beef, BBQ celeriac, mustard and shallot. Main courses could take in a beautiful piece of turbot cooked on the bone and teamed with artichoke, mussel and roe sauce or Berkshire sika deer, kale and blackberry ragout, liver parfait and truffled honey. Gingerbread roots and pine is a delightful dessert of caramelised ginger topped with a carefully judged gingerbread ice cream and pine powder. Or you can end with forced rhubarb, peach leaf, yogurt and blood orange.

Awards, accolades and Welcome Schemes

5 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence

AA Chefs' Chef of the Year

AA Notable Wine List