The Saddleworth Hotel

Licensed for civil wedding ceremonies, civil partnerships, vow renewal and baby naming, and with plenty of room for a proper knees-up, not to mention a great view of Castleshaw Valley, The Saddleworth Hotel is a popular venue for parties and family celebrations.

It also has an Italian ristorante, Scarlotti’s, serving small plates of pesce, carne and vegetariano. Five to six of these small plates per couple are recommended, served and shared tapas style. Antipasti lists various breads, including tomato bruschetta, and a margherita pizza; pasta is lasagne and carbonara, but with penne rather than the more usual spaghetti. For the pescatarian, seafood includes three king prawn dishes, two mussel options and one squid, while fish is covered by Parma ham-wrapped cod chunks. Classic meat dishes such as flattened and breadcrumbed veal Milanese and pork and beef meatballs are here; there’s also chicken in white wine and garlic sauce and spezzatino di manzo all’italiana, or beef stew to you and me. Salsiccia Siciliana, or Sicilian sausage, makes it into arancini balls and also ravioli, and the grill gets busy with rump steak, fillet steak and pork fillet. For vegetarians, there are a couple of salads, including the classic tricolore combo of avocodo, buffalo mozzarella and tomato, as well as two ragus: fagioli misti (mixed beans) and ceci e spinaci (chickpea and spinach).

Desserts are where it’s really at (and you don’t have to share): tiramisu oozes with boozes and pannacotta gets its wobble on, there’s crème brûlée and, of course, gelato: vanilla doused in Italian brandy, which we won’t complain about. Still, it’s the Sicilian lemon cheesecake baked al forno we’ll be making the trip for. That, and the Malfy gin.

Want to be the first to receive all the latest news, tips, articles, guides and updates from Confidential Guides? Sign up here.