THE GASTRO GRAZER
by Carl Housbey
I was trying to decide which of the many venues on my
list that I should write about this month, but as soon
as I glanced out of the window of my office and saw the
leaden grey sky full of hail and freezing sleet I instantly
knew it had to be Hipping Hall.
Hipping Hall is a 15th century country house that has been
converted into a restaurant with rooms. It is situated in a very
picturesque part of the country on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales
National Park just down the road from the market town of Kirby
Lonsdale.
At this time of year they always have roaring log fires lit in the
lounge and dining room, and I could just imagine myself sat on
one of their very comfortable sofas with my wife perusing the
menu with a glass of Champagne and some canapés whilst trying
to decide what to have for dinner.
It’s always so hard to choose what to eat here, as every one of
the dishes created by Head Chef Oli Martin and his team are
absolutely superb, so much so we usually end up opting for the
nine course tasting menu with matched wines so that we can have
a bit of everything. Typical seasonal dishes might be Cartmel
30 wirrallife.com
Valley rabbit with lardo, celery, and borlotti beans, or perhaps
pheasant with walnut and mushroom, all locally sourced to ensure
every ingredient is in peak condition.
However, it’s not just meat eaters who dine well at Hipping Hall,
as they can also provide a full vegetarian tasting menu prepared
with the same level of care and attention should that take your
fancy. One thing is certain whichever menu you choose you will
dine very well, and by the time it comes to having coffee with petit
fours back in the lounge you will soon find yourself struggling to
stay awake, which is not a problem as your superbly appointed
bedroom with its incredibly comfortable bed is just a few yards
away. When your head hits the pillow you’re not going to need
to count any sheep to get to sleep, in fact you had better set that
alarm because there is no way you will wake up of your own
accord, and you don’t want to miss breakfast.
So, what are you doing still reading this article, put down the
magazine, switch on your computer and click on
www.hippinghall.com or telephone 01524 271187 and go and
experience this place for yourself - you won’t be disappointed.
To stay up to date with my adventures follow @carlhousbey