Northcote
Northern country house with genuine warmth — not stuffy, not corporate. Log fires, roaring hospitality, and cooking that takes real skill. The building mixes Victorian manor bones with sharp contemporary interiors in the Garden Lodge.
Book the Chef's Table for groups of up to 8 — but note there's a minimum spend of £650 at lunch and £1,300 at dinner.
Why It Matters
Continuous Michelin star since 1996. Home to the annual Obsession food festival — 17 nights every January/February that routinely pulls in 20+ Michelin-starred guest chefs from around the world. Award-winning wine programme led by Craig Bancroft. AA Hotel of the Year England 2016. New owners (Alf and Clare Ellis, from April 2025) are planning 10 new rooms and a new wellness centre.
Northcote is a 26-room country house hotel in the Ribble Valley, sitting just off the A59 on the edge of the Forest of Bowland. The restaurant has held a Michelin star without interruption since 1996 — one of the longest-running in the North of England. Chef Patron-Director Lisa Goodwin-Allen runs the kitchen; Managing Director Craig Bancroft, who's been at the helm since 1983, keeps the wine list legendary. It's a food-first destination that also happens to have seriously comfortable rooms.
Where You'll Stay
6 room types available
Classic Room
Sleek, contemporary designs in the Manor House with a shower room. The entry-level option — still individually designed with all the key in-room tech. Good for those who are here primarily for the food and want a comfortable but not extravagant base.
Deluxe Room
Generous living space in the Manor House with a king-sized bed, separate bath AND a double shower — a notable upgrade from the Superior. These feel like proper luxury rooms, not just 'the better version of the same thing'.
Garden Lodge Junior Suite
Seven junior suites sit in the Garden Lodge, a separate building across the hotel gardens from the Manor House. Ground-floor rooms open directly onto a terrace. First-floor rooms have a balcony. All have a living-flame fire, which on a cold Lancashire night is hard to beat. King-sized bed, lounge area, large bath plus double shower.
KingGarden Lodge Mini Suite
A compact suite category in the Garden Lodge — luxuriously appointed with terrace or balcony access. Good entry point into the Lodge experience without the footprint of a full junior suite.
KingMaster Suite
The top-of-the-Lodge option — the most spacious suite with a separate lounge, guest WC, and large luxury bathroom. Sits in the Garden Lodge with its own terrace or balcony. This is the one to book for anniversaries, birthdays, or if you simply want the best room in the house.
KingSuperior Room
A step up in the Manor House with more living space. King or queen-sized beds with a bath or shower room — one of the most popular choices for a gourmet weekend.
The Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Car hire available through the hotel for exploring the wider Ribble Valley, Forest of Bowland and beyond.
Clay pigeon shooting excursion available nearby at Kelbrook Lodge — a natural complement to the gun cabinets and boot room in the Garden Lodge.
Several premier golf courses within easy reach, including Pleasington Golf Club, Stonyhurst Park Golf Club, Royal Lytham & St Anne's, Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Clitheroe Golf Club.
Gin-making workshops at the nearby Cuckoo Gin distillery — a popular local excursion bookable through the hotel.
Full-day hands-on cooking courses in the Michelin-starred kitchen, led by Head Tutor Bruno Birkbeck and a junior tutor. Beginners to confident cooks welcome. You cook seasonal dishes, eat them, and take leftovers home.
Complimentary bike hire for guests. The hotel also provides cycling guides with routes at various difficulty levels and ages, showcasing the best valley views.
The hotel provides walking guides for guests exploring the surrounding National Landscape. The Forest of Bowland is right on the doorstep — moorland, river valleys, woodland, and fell views. A proper workout before dinner.
Off-road Land Rover driving experiences available in the surrounding countryside — bookable through the concierge.
Annual 17-night gastronomic festival held each January and February. Each night, a world-class guest chef (typically Michelin-starred) takes over the Northcote kitchen and serves a one-night-only tasting menu. Widely regarded as one of Europe's most prestigious food festivals. In 2025, 22 chefs with 27 Michelin stars between them cooked across 17 nights. Tickets allocated by ballot — apply at northcoteobsession.com. Tickets for Obsession26 were priced at £235 per person.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Facilities for guests with disabilities. Set evacuation procedures in place.
Private dining and event rooms named the Louis Roederer Rooms. Suitable for celebrations, small weddings, private dinners and corporate entertaining. Private cocktail bar and Champagne terrace included.
Complimentary Wi-Fi available throughout the entire property including outdoor terraces.
Small and intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions in the Private Dining Room with Champagne terrace. Also available for exclusive hire.
Full concierge service including walking, cycling and driving guides, activity bookings and general local knowledge.
Evening turndown service provided while guests are at dinner.
Landscaped hotel gardens surrounding both the Manor House and Garden Lodge. Sunny terrace for drinks, snacks and al fresco dining. Popular on warm days — book a terrace spot ahead.
Northcote does not have a swimming pool on site.
Located in the Garden Lodge for guests venturing out into the countryside. Signals the hotel takes the local outdoor pursuits (shooting, walking, fishing) seriously.
Private helipad in the hotel grounds. Coordinates: 53 48.5N, 002 26'80W, NGR (103)-706349, 300ft AMSL, 5 miles NNE of Blackburn. Open grass field marked H to the east of the hotel adjacent to the A59.
EV charging points available on site.
Ample complimentary private parking on site. Easy car access directly off the A59.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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