vividventures

Hotel Review:

Overview:

The Fenwick is a historic pub full of character dating back over 250 years making it the perfect place for a cosy short break in north west Lancashire.

Location:

The country inn is located in the village of Claughton (pronounced Clafton) on the A683 east of Lancaster, just north of the Forest of Bowland.  It’s a Designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB) attracting walkers from far and wide.  Claughton is accessible by road from the M6 motorway, from the south take Junction 33 or Junction 34 if coming from the north.  For visitors arriving by train the nearest station is Lancaster on the West Coast mainline with frequent services between London and Scotland from where a taxi can be taken for the 15 minute journey to the hotel.

Arrival and check-in: 

We arrived at the Fenwick around half an hour before check-in time so were pleasantly surprised to find our room ready.  There is a reception desk to one side of the bar where we were attended to promptly by Scott, the duty manager.

The Room:

The Fenwick has nine rooms, all accessed from outside the main bar/restaurant.  As it was raining, Scott handed us umbrellas and although it was only a few steps, he insisted on carrying our bags up to our room on the first floor.  We had been booked into one of the Fenwick’s superior rooms which oozed country house charm with its wood panelling and muted tones of grey and cream.  Plaid curtains, a super-king size comfortable bed complete with a huge padded headboard, wool throw and matching cushions added to the stylish decor.  With ample room for a sofa and armchair, it felt more like a suite than a bedroom.

The room had double aspect windows, one overlooking a stream whilst the other overlooked the quiet road.  Being winter, we sometimes come into rooms finding them cold but this wasn’t the case at The Fenwick as it felt warm and snug with the radiators already turned on full ahead of our arrival.

The tea tray was stocked with delicious Brontë biscuits, coffee sachets and a selection of English Tea Shop teas so we popped the kettle on soon after arrival to enjoy our afternoon treats.  Also at our disposal was a Netflix enabled television, powerful hairdryer and a large fan.

Moving into the spacious bathroom, this came equipped with a large bath, power shower, rattan armchair and side table stocked with four thick, fluffy towels and plenty of room to store our wash bags and cosmetics.

Five bottles of fragrant Noble Isle toiletries were set out on a shelf ready to pamper ourselves with.  I’m always a big fan of their Rhubarb Rhubarb shampoo and shower gel collection with its fresh and zesty aroma.

Dining: 

Dinner: This is served in the cosy dining room which had a roaring log fire burning in its large cast iron fireplace.  Meals are available throughout the day with the menu very much focused on fresh, seasonal produce from the ‘land and sea’.  Alongside their pub classics of pot pies, steaks, burgers, fish pie and fish and chips there’s a daily specials board featuring the catch of the day.

The Fenwick’s talented chef speaks each morning with fishmonger Chris Neve who has a reputation for supplying the finest fresh fish and seafood from his base in nearby Fleetwood.

A few days prior to our visit a new menu had been launched so we were eager to try out some of the dishes on offer.  From the Starters menu we settled on Vietnamese chicken skewers and crab paté which were both delicious but it was a difficult decision with Korean fried king prawns, Queenie scallops and Kimchi fritters also available.

The inn offers a good selection of beers, wines and spirits, with wine reasonably priced and available by the glass or bottle.

Moving on to Mains, I opted for the Seafood Skewer with cauliflower tabbouleh, aubergine, chickpeas and a yoghurt dressing.  My skewers were packed with salmon, king prawns and cod and tasted fresh and flavoursome served on a bed of vegetables.

As The Fenwick is highly regarded for its seafood dishes, my husband was also in raptures over his seared cod served with cannellini beans and chorizo which he selected from the Specials Board.  As well as daily specials, a Fruits de Mer platter is available which we noticed a couple on another table enjoying.  This looked, and no doubt tasted amazing comprising a whole lobster, oysters, crab, crevettes and mussels.  If you might be tempted with this seafood extravaganza please bear in mind that it needs to be ordered 48 hours in advance to avoid disappointment.

After a short break we were eyeing up the desserts and I initially requested the black cherry Clafoutis from the Specials Board but as there were no more left I had to think again but was more than happy with my warm chocolate fondant served with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.  Across the table, there was no dithering as Mr. C. had his eyes set on the apple and blackberry crumble served with a jug of custard which was comfort food at its best on a winter’s evening.

Breakfast: This is also served in the inn’s dining room with a table laid out of fresh fruit, cereals and hot drinks.  Stacey was the morning waitress on duty and welcomed us with a warm smile, handing us our cooked breakfast menus.  These included a full selection of favourites from traditional cooked to vegetarian options, eggs Benedict, omelettes, etc.  Our full English and vegetarian choices were perfectly cooked and followed by more coffee, toast and marmalade, set us up nicely for the day ahead.

The Facilities:

The Fenwick boasts two cosy bars, one on either side of the bar together with a smaller room which is also suitable for private parties and functions.  Meals can be taken in the bar lounge as well as in the dining room.  During the warmer, summer months it’s also pleasant to sit outdoors on the terrace enjoying views across the Lune Valley.

Wi-Fi was simple to connect to with a strong connection in both the bedroom and public areas.  The inn has its own off road car park and although located close to the road, we weren’t aware of any traffic noise during our stay.  The Fenwick is dog friendly with furry friends allowed in all the public areas and some of the bedrooms.

Out and About:

Claughton is an ideal base for walking in the nearby Forest of Bowland.  The historic city of Lancaster is just a 15 minute drive and has much to offer.  Here are my suggestions of some interesting things to see and do in the city.

Lancashire Police Museum: the castle was home to a working prison between 1955 and 2011 and more recently it has been transformed into a museum.  Admission is free as it is run by a team of volunteers most of whom are retired members of the Lancashire police force and warders who served in the prison.  Lancashire Police Museum.

Individual cells have been repurposed as themed galleries covering the history of the Lancashire Constabulary, police training, forensic development and an overview of some of the police departments.

Judges Lodgings Museum: housed in the city’s oldest townhouse built around 1625 by Thomas Covell, Keeper of the castle.

From 1826 the house became a lodgings for the travelling judges of the Assizes Court who would usually spend around a month at one time living there.  The museum is set out as it would have been in those days.  Judges Lodgings Museum.

Museum of Childhood: located on the upper floor of the Judges Lodgings and included in the admission fee.  It comprises a series of rooms displaying the development of toys from the 18th century up to more recent times.

There’s a collection of toys and dolls, a Victorian classroom with old fashioned wooden desks with brass inkwells and a day nursery with a double seated rocking horse.

Lancaster City Museum: based in the former Town Hall overlooking the market square. The museum documents the city from the pre-historic era through to the present day.  Its varied collection showcases the city’s social history and the industries and people who helped to make the city what it is today.  The museum is also home to the Kings Own Regiment Museum detailing the military history of the city’s own regiment from 1680 onwards.  Admission free.  Lancaster City Museum.

Maritime Museum: located in the former Customs House dating back to 1784 on St. George’s Quay overlooking the River Lune.  Its galleries tell the story of the history of the Port of Lancaster, the local fishing industry and the town’s relationship with the sea.  Lancaster Maritime Museum.

Ashton Memorial: towering over the city and visible from afar, is the Ashton Memorial taking pride of place in Williamson Park and set in 54 acres of parkland.  From the hilltop there are magnificent views across to Morecambe Bay and the Lake District fells beyond.

The Butterfly House and Mini-Beast Centre: located next to the memorial in what was at one time an Edwardian palm house, is the Butterfly House, a rainforest inspired building filled with tropical plants, winding paths, a waterfall and home to numerous brightly coloured butterflies, koi-carp and tortoises.

Adjacent to the Butterfly House is the Mini-Beast Centre with meerkats and small mammals.  Entrance to Williamson Park and the Ashton Memorial is free, with combined tickets to the Butterfly and Mini-Beast House £4.  Williamson Park.

Overall:

For a comfortable stay with stylish rooms, good food and friendly service you can’t beat The Fenwick.  We were made to feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble from Scott, Chloe and Stacey who all looked after us during our stay.  Do check out the Fenwick’s website for special deals and offers.  For instance, they currently have a  ‘Stay for Free’ offer if you book in advance and spend £120 on food and drink.

Details:  The Fenwick, Lancaster Road, Claughton, Lancaster LA2 9LA

During our stay we were guests of The Fenwick and Visit Lancaster and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.

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