The Devonshire Arms Brasserie & Bar — Restaurant in England

Let’s start with the food—because, thankfully, that’s where this place shines. Our table tried a solid range: fishcakes, focaccia, mackerel, charcuterie, surf and turf, and the lamb trio. Each dish hit the mark. Flavours were well-balanced, ingredients fresh, and presentation better than the vibe deserved. Honestly, the kitchen deserves a raise. Or at least a table of their own to sit at and mourn the rest of the experience.

Now, onto the ambiance, or as we like to call it: “Who left this gastropub in café mode?” For a place billing itself as a brasserie, we expected something… brasserie-ish. Instead, the décor felt more “weekday lunch at a mid-range garden centre” than “pricey evening out.” Lighting? Flat. Tables? Small. Atmosphere? As confused as we were when our starters were dropped on the table while we were still figuring out how to eat our nibbles (and wondering why our booking felt like a surprise to the staff).

Speaking of staff, they were friendly—very friendly. All of them. To all the tables. All the time. We were served by roughly every human in the building at one point. No dedicated server meant everything came a bit scattershot: booking? Not acknowledged. Timing? Chaotic. Space on table? Fictional.

Drinks were solid though, especially the wine list. Whoever curated that deserves applause—and possibly a different job at a restaurant with some actual ambiance.

Verdict: Great food in a setting that feels like a hospitality school group project. Go for the food, lower your expectations for the rest, and maybe bring...

Underwhelming experience, overpriced, not as good as we remember. The bao buns starter did not live up to the high expectations set by the outrageous cost of £17 (for a starter…what on earth was I thinking), served in a tiny bamboo basket with no plate, presumably I was supposed to eat it with my hands like a McDonalds burger...for £17...really!! BTW there was no coriander!! The steak, chorizo and mushroom pie was also not good value, whilst tasty it was small and there were only two tiny pieces of chorizo amongst the steak and mushroom, the chips were nice but appeared to be mass produced probably cut by a machine. The four of us originally intended to have desserts but we were so unimpressed we bought brownies and flapjack from one of the Christmas market stalls in the grounds, generous in size, delicious and a third of the cost of the Brasserie desserts at 3 for £9. Sorry Devonshire Arms, didn't hit the spot for us, we were a little embarrassed that we'd recommended it to our friends, wasn't worth the 2.5 hour round trip and doesn't compare well to other quality eateries we like to visit. We...

Enjoyed a Sunday Lunch at The Brasserie at The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa recently, after a picturesque walk at Bolton Abbey. We ate as a party of ten, with six adults and four children, all under ten, as well as two dogs. The food was extremely good, decent menu, plenty of choice for old and young. One of our party was Vegetarian and to be super-critical, there could have been an additional option to accommodate vegetarians. The service throughout was friendly and proficient and there was a warm glow from the internal, wood burning stove. I enjoyed the Duck, others had Sunday Roasts, alongside a burger, chicken and fish and chips. Given the location, it is nice that ‘well behaved’ dogs are welcome in the bar area of The Brasserie. We made the venue aware at the time of booking that we would have two dogs, and I believe that two dogs per table is the maximum - you do need to let them know, at the time you make your reservation. We will certainly be back and would recommend The Brasserie at...