Bowland Food Hall at Holmes Mill — Restaurant in Ribble Valley

The staff are efficient and really nice. It was a confusing experience because the owners appear to have an aversion to providing the most basic signage to help customers navigate the place. The different seating areas suggest different food outlets but this wasn't the case. There's a salad bar which looked really nice but it's takeaway only. Again, no signage, or if there is, I missed it. The food arrived quickly but the thick slab of quiche I was expecting turned out to be a small, round single one. The salad wasn't very big, either. Fries were good but annoyingly pre-salted. The same meal of quiche, salad and chips/jacket potato can be had much more cheaply and much, much nicer in other eateries. I was horrified to see the condiments were all served in single-use plastic pots. Unforgivable, unneccessary and bad for the environment. There are no signs to the toilets. You have to follow a small corridor that looks as though it's staff only, then take the left hand door (again, no signs). After wandering around looking for till, we had to ask where to pay because guess what? No signs. The food in the deli looked great and the old Citroen van was really cool but the overall experience was a...

ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL !! I went to the cheeses counter lady on the deli counter was cutting pork pie WITH BARE HANDS NO GLOVES !! Came to serve me … never washed her hands!! I asked whether the Singletons cheese was vegetarian. NO IDEA !! As it happened I knew the brand was. I asked for a piece. It was wrapped in cling film. STOP I said I am vegetarian and you have just handled cooked meat !! Doesn’t matter she says it is in film !! OH YES IT DOES I SAY !! You should wash your hands and wear gloves !! She said Well do you want it or not !

I complained to manager… she says she will get me another piece cut. Girl with gloves THEY WERE AVAILABLE … cuts cheese. Ok ?? I was in the shop an hour …. The manager did not take the original girl out and speak to her. For the next hour she handled cooked meat and cheese with bare hands , never washed them and no plastic gloves!!

Now reporting it to Ribble Council.

Loads of stuff not marked with prices and other shoppers getting irritated !!!!

Breaking food handling rules …. Management that don’t know the rules …… inflated prices and prices not shown all over the place. THE WORST SHOPPING EXPERIENCE EVER!!

DON’’T GO...

Market style hall with classy butchers, artisan bakers , lovely enticing cheese stall, great delicatessen and all manner of lovely food items available to make you part with your money. If you are looking for a present for a foodie friend, go here. Also very nice cafe set up within the hall, all the food comes from the various stalls around the place ( Ibelieve ) which gives you an opportunity to try before you buy . Shared a charcuterie board with my friend which was very tasty and a good selection of meats , some sundried tomato , and some marinated feta, all accompanied by lovely granary bread and a gorgeous pat of local butter. Good quality wine was available by the glass, and I would recommend the Malbec. Nice surroundings and good food. Plus Clitheroe is an interesting market town to explore with a good selection of independent shops and a micro brewery. Good place...