Fox & Barrel

The Fox & Barrel is a traditional Cheshire country pub with seasonal food, a good wine list, and some very good gin, too.

For the most part, it offers exactly what you’d expect and a bit more – cracking Sunday roasts, an open fire with snug seating, handpumps on the bar and tables on the terrace.

Food is at the ambitious end of the pub grub scale and nicely done. Typical dishes include roast cod with mussel chowder, cauliflower purée and charred sweetcorn or pork sausages with buttery savoy cabbage and mash. There are also starters like beetroot carpaccio with goats curd or twice baked cheddar soufflé with pear chutney.

However, Fox & Barrel really stands out with its ‘Hide’ offering. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can dine out in the open under starlit skies (weather permitting). The retractable roof of the Hide comes back, meat is cooked on a Josper charcoal grill, cocktails are consumed and snuggly throws are provided if needed. Watch out for foxes.

There is also the ‘Den’. Posh pods are available for overnight guests. It’s like camping in the trees, but Cheshire-swish. Baskets of goodies and premium soft furnishings await.