The Barn at Moor Hall — Restaurant in West Lancashire

Today I had the pleasure of dining at The Barn at Moorhall, a Michelin-starred gem that truly lives up to its reputation. From the moment we stepped inside, the warm, inviting atmosphere set the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey.

Our experience began with an artful selection of nibbles. The charcuterie board featured expertly cured meats paired with a luscious crab cream that brought a delicate brininess to each bite. The accompanying canapés, crisply baked sourdough focaccia spread with garden herb butter and topped with a silky oyster cream mousse, offered a delightful contrast, where the tang of the herbs perfectly balanced the rich, oceanic mousse.

For the starter, we were treated to an exquisite plate of Isle of Mull scallop and cured seabass. The scallop’s natural sweetness and tender texture, combined with the subtle, nuanced flavors of the cured seabass, were elevated by the addition of a vibrant jalapeño, fresh radish, and crisp cucumber. The interplay of spice, freshness, and delicate seafood flavors created a harmonious dish that was both refined and memorable.

The entrée was a masterclass in balance and technique. The butter-poached turbot was incredibly tender, its delicate flavor enhanced by a luxurious butter poaching method. It was beautifully complemented by sweetbell turnips that added a gentle sweetness, while sunflower seeds and brown shrimp provided delightful crunch and bursts of savory intensity. Every component on the plate was meticulously prepared, showcasing the kitchen’s commitment to precision and culinary artistry.

The side dishes were crafted to perfection and served as ideal companions to the main course. The cavolo nero, dressed in a vibrant anchovy, lemon, and garlic dressing, offered an earthy, tangy counterpoint that cut through the richness of the turbot. In parallel, a crispy potato terrine drizzled with brown butter hollandaise delivered comforting textures and flavors that brought the entire dish together in seamless harmony.

No dining experience would be complete without a show-stopping dessert, and the garden apple mille-feuille did not disappoint. Layers of flaky pastry, fresh garden apple, and a velvety buttermilk custard were elegantly interwoven, with a drizzle of whey caramel adding just the right touch of sweetness to conclude our meal on a high note.

Following dessert, we indulged in a thoughtfully curated cheeseboard that provided the perfect finale. Our selection of British farmhouse cheese offered robust, authentic flavors that harmonised beautifully with the crisp, poppy seed crackers. The inclusion of traditional bara brith added a subtle spice and fruity warmth, while the tangy onion and port chutney brought a savory-sweet balance to the ensemble, rounding off an already exceptional meal.

The service throughout the evening was as remarkable as the food. José ensured our dining experience was flawless with his attentive and knowledgeable approach, while sommelier Grace elevated the experience further by expertly pairing each course with wines that enhanced every nuance of flavor. Their professionalism and warm demeanor truly embodied the high standards expected at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

In every detail, from the artfully prepared dishes to the exceptional service, The Barn at Moorhall delivered an extraordinary fine dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a sophisticated, yet welcoming,...

Excellent start to the meal. I had duck parfait starter, my favourite dish. I enjoyed my cod main. The Sunday roast style main was alot of food. Glazed carrots were amazing. Some of it was salty. Not balanced if you're looking for something to cut through the richness. Childrens menu wasn't good. Chicken goujons were dry, tastless coating, no veg or salad on the plate, I regretted trying it. Spaghetti bolognese was salty. My son just picked out the spaghetti. It ended well for the kids who loved their desserts. For me and my husband it went downhill from the main. Until this point we would have returned. We ended up with 2 issues. 1 was how thirsty we ended up, the other was with one particular member of staff. Now, this was our first time visiting the The Barn, we got it wrong and thought it was a tasting menu, that's what we're used to in other places, so we ordered 3 courses at the start. Half way through the main we were getting full and didn't want dessert. Luckily they came back and asked if we wanted dessert, phew! So we said no, kids said yes, we ordered tea and coffee instead, the hot drink snacks are amazing. Unfortunately, by this point we're getting very thirsty, the kind water can't quench. Clearly the salty dishes were kicking in. We were still thirsty hours afterwards. When the bill came, we were billed for what we asked for on arrival, not for what we ended up having, had they plated the cheese board I would have paid, but we made this change in good time, I even pointed out we had ordered on arrival but were too full and I apologised for changing our minds. Not a problem for anyone at this stage. Our nice waiter obviously had to escalate the bill correction to snr staff. Wow, she wasn't happy. She needed a manager to authorise it. While she's stood waiting for him she kept giving our table the side eye, lol. The new bill was still wrong, I didn't say anything because it had taken ages to come back and was clearly a huge hassle for them. The lady who redid the bill and came to take payment stood there giving me looks, held a tight lipped 'smile', generally came across as extremely rude and unprofessional, and for some reason she didn't speak to us. I wasnt sure of contactless limit so I asked, she didnt say a single word, just kept her lips tightly closed, slowly reached out her hand, took my card out of my hand, put it in the slot, she really didn't say a single word the whole time 🤣, it was weird and rude. The same lady took our order on arrival with a smile and without any communication issues, she just turned into a mean girl at the end and couldn't bring herself to utter a single word to us. Honestly, we wouldn't let rude staff stop us from going back, because why should we miss out because of them, the real deal breaker was how some of the dishes were not as good as they should have been, children's menu didn't go down well, and we just don't want to be that...

A group of us lunched at The Barn, Moor Hall, on a Friday in May. Each person in the group ate different combinations of dishes, and the initial experience seemed pleasant. However, after the meal, one member of our party developed symptoms consistent with gastroenteritis, including severe stomach upset and diarrhea. These symptoms persisted throughout the evening and night, resulting in a sleepless night and multiple trips to the toilet. The illness continued into the following day and was severe enough to require postponement of planned flights by two days, until the following Monday. This individual has no food sensitivities, regularly dines out without issue, and consumed no other food after lunch at The Barn and before becoming ill. Based on the timing and circumstances, there is a strong likelihood that the illness was related to something consumed at the restaurant, food handling practices, or contact with the facilities. When we raised our concerns with the restaurant’s manager, we were told that the establishment was "fully confident” that the illness was not caused by anything served at Moor Hall. It was twice suggested via email that the manager speak directly by phone with the affected guest to better understand what had happened, but these requests were ignored. Instead, the manager insisted that a GP appointment be made for lab testing—an impractical step over a weekend, especially as symptoms had resolved by Monday. Given the unpleasantness of the illness, the disruption it caused, and the lack of any other plausible explanation, we found the response from The Barn’s management disappointing. A goodwill request for a refund of the affected guest’s meal—without assigning blame—was also declined. On the restaurant’s website, the manager describes Moor Hall as offering “an outstanding, world-class dining experience” where guests will be “looked after by a team searching to be the best in their trade” and promises “a restaurant that you would want to come back to again and again.” Regrettably, our experience did not live up to these assurances. The illness, the poor follow-up, and the unwillingness to try to make things right turned what should have been a special occasion into a miserable ordeal. As a result, we do not plan to return to The Barn at Moor Hall and cannot recommend it based on...