Clough Manor is an excellent place to eat (Clough Manor (Saddleworth))

Member Name: dooyoojv2009

Product:	Clough Manor (Saddleworth)
Date:	27/04/09 (77 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quality, setting, food, chef and host

Disadvantages: The possible wedding functions when you meet in the toilets, read my review for full details

Went for a special meal on Saturday 25th April, upon arrival the taxi was met in the car park to ensure parking was organised and we could be dropped off near the entrance. Good first impression! Went into the bar and found the decor modern, tasteful and sophisticated. Drinks were priced as per any good restaurant or hotel, Guinness slightly warmer that I would have liked but not an issue. The Head Barman come Chief Guest entertainer Alex was a superb host who made you feel relaxed and important as a customer straight away. He used a mix of humour and perfect restaurant etiquette to start off the evening. Alex was able to talk through menu in detail and even recommend suitable food combinations. The food was served timely but not rushed and was to the highest quality. Taste and seasoning was perfect and surpassed my expectations. As a regular traveller I eat at many hotels each month and do find it hard to find places the stand out. To find this one and being local maybe fatal for my waistline and appreciation of my wife's cooking! We enjoyed the starter and main course fully but had no room for deserts. We retired back to the bar and enjoyed some good chat with Alex again and good selection of whiskey. What was interesting was the offer of complimentary oysters after the meal which was a nice gesture that my wife accepted and pleasantly enjoyed. If there was any down side it would have been the shared bathroom facilities with the wedding function running in a separate room next door. Though the wedding did not direct interfere with your evening the inebriated state of some of the wedding guest is what you expect at a wedding but not a restaurant. Maybe toilets for the wedding function separate would help keep the much sought atmosphere intact. Overall an excellent place to eat, in a great rural setting with a superb host!

Summary: Get this place in your list of places to eat