Based in the beautiful Bolton-by-Bowland in the heart of the Ribble Valley, The Coach & Horses is an award-winning traditional coaching inn, offering seven unique bedrooms, all individually decorated in a style befitting the historic building.
Menus for all with Head Chef Ian Moss at the helm, formerly of Northcote, The Ledbury and The Harwood Arms, the pub has two AA rosettes to its name and serves a number of different menus, including a casual fine dining menu, a Sunday Lunch menu, a Favourites menu and an informal sandwich menu. Menus focus on quality, seasonal ingredients, using local ingredients where possible, to create dishes worth writing home about, including dishes such as crab, watermelon, pea puree, wasabi mayonnaise, brown crab cigar and suckling pig, wild mushrooms, courgette, mini roast potatoes & whole grain mustard jus.
During the pandemic lockdown, the team reviewed their offering and felt that a tasting menu would not only enhance their existing offering, but it would also see the pub reach new audiences. A 6-course tasting menu is now also available at the pub, for £55 per head, with an optional cheese course (£9.50) and a wine flight for £30 per head.
Ian Moss said: “Our menus at the Coach have evolved a lot in recent years and during the lockdown, we spent a lot of time looking at what we wanted to do next. We have a lot of ambitions and with Lancashire establishing itself as a real foodie hotspot, we felt a tasting menu would be well received both locally and beyond. It’s already been incredibly popular, and really takes our offering to the next level.”
For those who want to just nip in for a quick drink, there is a cosy bar area, complete with a roaring fire and copper-clad bar, ideal for catching up with friends over a pint or a glass of wine. Where possible, local spirits are available, with gins sourced from the Fylde Coast. As well as a wine menu, which includes a number of English wines, there is also a cocktail menu, which changes according to the seasons.
Unique Design
Owned by husband-and-wife team Ko Labeij and Susan Lord, the Grade 2 listed pub had been closed for three years when they bought it. They spent nine months lovingly renovating it, creating seven beautiful bedrooms, a new kitchen, restaurant, bar and beer garden, all of which opened in 2017. Dogs are welcome in both the pub and two of the bedrooms, making the Coach & Horses the ideal choice for walkers visiting the Ribble Valley.
Winner of the Lancashire Tourism Award’s Perfect Stay category in 2021, each of the Coach’s seven bedrooms is unique in both design and character. From Rose, a spectacular room with a beamed ceiling, open fire and stunning copper bath, to Blue, a cosy room with a walk-in shower in a modern bathroom, each of the seven rooms offers a super king-size bed, Molton Brown toiletries, bathrobes and a Segafredo coffee machine.
Two of the bedrooms are also designed to cater for families, with Mouse having a mezzanine layer with a kids’ den and cushion beds and Swallow having two bedrooms and a mini kitchenette. Pheasant and Feather have an adjoining door, which is ideal for when you’re away with friends and family but also allows for some privacy when required.
All overnight stays come with a hearty a la carte breakfast cooked to order, which is served in the restaurant the following morning, with the menu including full English breakfast, pastries and a range of teas, coffee, and fruit juices.
The pub also features its own micro-brewery 4 Mice Ales, where it brews Goldie, using English hops and Bolton-by-Bowland well water. With a brewer now on-site, there are plans for a second ale to be introduced in the summer. During the summer, the Coach makes the most of its beer garden situated at the back of the pub, with views out across the Ribble Valley countryside. Those wishing to eat outside can enjoy the more informal sandwich menu.
Hiker’s Paradise
The Coach is ideally situated for those wishing to hike in the local area. There’s a three-mile walk that starts and finishes at the pub, with maps available at reception. For those who wish for something a little longer, Pendle Hill is a short drive away and takes approximately two hours to climb and descend. And it’s not just a walk – Pendle Hill has a history well worth exploring, which includes it being home to the Pendle Witches, who were tried and executed in 1612.
The Tolkien Trail is a 5.5-mile circular trail which starts and finishes at Hurst Green. During the Second World War, J.R. Tolkien spent a lot of his time at Stonyhurst College working on Lord of the Rings and with his love for nature and wooded landscapes, this trail explores parts of the Ribble Valley which may have inspired him.
And for those who want something to really challenge themselves, there is the Clitheroe 50k, which means through the heart of the Ribble Valley countryside, providing some truly wonderful vistas throughout.
The village itself has a fascinating history. Record as Bodeton in the Domesday Book, which means bow in the river, it has two village greens, with the smaller green containing the remains of a 13th century stone cross and old stocks. Its most famous resident was 15th-century landowner Sir Ralph Pudsey, who was renowned for taking the risk of hiding King Henry VI who was fleeing his Yorkshire enemies after being defeated at the Battle of Hexham. King Henry’s Well is located a few yards from where Bolton Hall once stood.
Things to do
Located in Clitheroe town centre, sits Clitheroe Castle. Over 800 years old, the award-winning Clitheroe Castle Museum delves into the history of Clitheroe and explains why the Ribble Valley is a safe haven for Lancashire’s wildlife. Free to visit, it also offers a gift shop and café and is open daily, making it a lovely day out for all the family.
With its magnificent architecture and over five centuries of fascinating history to immerse yourself in, a day out at Browsholme Hall is a must for history lovers. View the antiquarian collection during a one hour guided tour and enjoy a stroll around the grounds and gardens before enjoying some homemade refreshments in the beautifully restored 18th Century Tithe Barn.
Enjoy a picnic on the grounds of Sawley Abbey and soak up its history at the same time. Founded in 1146 on land given by William, third Lord Percy, after its dissolution in 1536, the monks returned to the abbey for a brief period during the Pilgrimage of Grace and stayed until the insurrections collapse and the execution of their abbot.
Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life with a visit to the Bowland Wild Boar Park. There are plenty of activities to enjoy, including farm animals that you can pet or observe. There’s a huge Kids Adventure Play Area and a myriad of woodland and river walks.
From Goat Yoga to award-winning ice cream and bottle-feeding lambs to wallaby walks, there’s something for everyone at Mrs Dowsons Farm Park.
Based in Brindle, visitors can enter the incredible world of the honeybee at The Bee Centre. Full of information which provides a fascinating insight into these wonderful insects, the centre’s glass observation hive enables you to watch, up close, the workings of a honeybee hive. For those feeling adventurous, there is the ‘Beekeeping Experience’, which lasts for 90 minutes and provides an introduction to honeybees and beekeeping from one of the centre’s experienced beekeepers, before putting on a beekeeping suit and getting ‘up close and personal with the bees!
For those who want to make the most of the countryside, Inch Perfect Trial Bikes offers a full range of experience and training days, for ages 7 and upwards, and for all levels of experience.
Alternatively, visitors to the area can make the most of the Ribble Valley Countryside with an e-bike. Perfect for cyclists of all abilities, enjoy that extra bit of gusto to help you tackle the hills and forests and choose from a half-day, full-day and discounted holiday hire, before retiring back to the Coach & Horses for a well-deserved night’s sleep.
Coach and Horses
Pricing details: Rooms start from £75 per night and include an a la carte breakfast
Address: Main St, Bolton by Bowland, Clitheroe BB7 4NW. Parking on-site.
