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MICHELIN Guide's Point of View

This riverside pub stands beside a small toll bridge and comes with a deli, an art gallery, a farm shop, and 5 greenhouses for all-year dining. Cooking...
Read more on MICHELIN Guide
PRICE RANGE
£16 - £39
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
CUISINES
Bar, British, Gastropub
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Reviews (1,167)
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All reviews oxtail suet pudding french onion soup fish pie calamari mash beef sunday lunch specials board fabulous food family meal wyre deli lancashire ales blackpool toti
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Reviewed yesterday via mobile

Booked on the last minute on our way back from The Flower Bowl. All the staff were great, very friendly, helpful and polite. The food was delicious - starters, mains and desserts. The ambience of the place was great too.

Date of visit: March 2024
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile

I was bought a gift voucher for the value of £150 from colleagues I didn’t look at the expiry thinking it would be for a minimum of 12 months. I saved it for a special occasion and on booking I realised it was only valid...for six months. I explained my over-sight & was told rather abruptly that six months is six months. Having issued vouchers myself I’ve never known a six month voucher or any company who would not honour this amount. Really disappointed that the voucher system is not for the customers benefit.More

Date of visit: March 2024
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 2 weeks ago

Brilliant every time we go Can’t fault it The ambience ,the Staff, the setting Excellent food Would highly recommend this family run Inn

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 5 February 2024

Just to be clear - I rarely post reviews on Tripadvisor but I was surprised at some of the negative reviews that I have seen appear recently. We booked the option with the Robin's Nest cabin + 3 course dinner @ £30/head. Check in was...simple and quick and we were shown to our cabin overlooking the River Wyre. Spacious, it was decorated with thought and originality. Great sound system operated by an iPad + a vinyl record player. There were lots of tasteful ornaments. A balcony with heating and sheepskins topped it off. Definitely not an anonymous business location! Full choice was offered for dinner. Not, as you usually see, a stripped out version that you can sometimes see when you prebook on an offer. By prebooking, we saved at least half on the final bill. Like the room, the food was original, thoughtful and delicious. All of this was served by a team of charming team of waiters that were professional and efficient throughout. Breakfast, the next morning was equally delicious. All in all, this was a perfect stay. Thank you !More

Date of visit: February 2024
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 27 January 2024

Something's changed at the Cartford Inn. We've eaten here lots of times and it was always our favourite place, but today everything we ate was average. For the prices, it needs to be top quality cooking but today all 3 courses weren't great. Very disappointing....I'm guessing there's been a change of chef along with the new discretionary food charge. It's a real shame.More

Date of visit: January 2024
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 3 January 2024

We booked the Penthouse for an overnight stay with the dinner included. The Penthouse was a lovely room, with full amenities, which we loved. I'm sure on a warm summer evening it would be idyllic, but in December during the cold and rain, the balcony...went unused. The food was good, really enjoyed the tastes and the cooking of the food was spot on, with good choices on the menu. The ambience of the place was great, with a duo playing that evening, with the staff attentive and there was nothing they wouldn't do to help you enjoy your meal and stay, excellent service from arriving to departing.More

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 15 December 2023 via mobile

Business lunch meeting took some clients out. Food was good but the service doesn’t match the price tags. Waitresses offering a service level you would expect from a cafe on Blackpool prom not when the starters are £12 and the steak is nearly £40 Drink...was wrong - no apology Cleared half the plates only I had to ask them to clear the rest and provide a dessert menu Asking us to pass to menus to them instead of walking round the table to collect them Just get the impression staff feel customers are inferior to themMore

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 26 November 2023

The food here is excellent. We have visited a number of times and always had a great experience. The menu is unique and changes with the seasons. Highly recommended.

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 28 October 2023

I’ve eaten in the Cartford arms a number of times, always pulled back by the look and feel of the place but to be honest have never been blown away by the food. After my experience on Monday I honestly can’t think I’ll be going...back. I’m a huge fan of belly pork and have had it every which way you can, so as it was on the menu it was for me a go to. It was described as being braised pork belly, my understanding means it should melt in your mouth. It couldn’t have been further from reality as unfortunately it was basically a few slices of belly that looked like and had the consistency of something that had been flash fried to the point, I mentioned this to the waiter, that it was inedible. I had a mouthful and left the rest. When we got the visit to the table to ask if all was okay I explained it was very tough and he said straightaway that a few other people who had it also said the same and said it wasn’t crispy or cooked enough. Also when ordering, I wasn’t sure what to order, surely if they had already had complaints they should have encouraged me to have something else?! In attempt to appease me the waiter said I could have a cup of coffee almost as a way of brushing it away. Appalling on all counts, the food was inedible, the waiter’s response to my comments was to offer me a coffee and then to top it all off the coffee, I exchanged for a pint of beer, was then added to my bill which I had to point out to him…. Sorry I don’t care how good everything looks if you can’t follow it up with at least cooked food and decent waiting staff you won’t be getting my business anymore…. A very, very poor experience !!More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?6  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 21 October 2023

Wow! Amazing food on every plate. Oysters, cod with dahl, black pudding. The food we did not want to end. Staff were very attentive. Love the eclectic feel of this place too. One of my faves

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 20 October 2023

First impressions were good, lovely situation by he river, quirky decor… expectations were high …. 8 adults and two children who are used to eating out and very well behaved. We were squashed into a space by the bar not in the restaurant… felt very...claustrophobic…. Drinks were ordered , service was prompt and ok. Menu looked average but not anything special really…Squid was dry and lacked flavour… pork belly was burned in places and inedible…suet pudding was dry and needed more gravy… mash was cold and overall everything lacked flavour… banana flowers were odd …ice cream was very ordinary , one scoop £4…. Coconut panacotta was not nice , overset and rubbery….we were not asked if food was acceptable at anytime. Overall would describe it as disappointing pub food with an expensive price tag of over £400. Wouldn’t rush back .More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 7 September 2023

This establishment is unique and as a colleague of mine used to say 'Top Dollar ' it exceeds expectations and overdelivers in EVERY way from the immaculate appearance inside and out the friendly and warm hospitality and service from the professional attentive upbeat hosts to...the exciting diverse encompassing menu delivering delicious fresh quality food accompanied by a wide range choice of drinks Indeed I can't wait to visit again Thank you and keep your vision focused As I person fortunate enough to experience 5☆ hospitality all over the world The Cartford Arms is world class However I am a little surprised at the lengthy negative reviews I can only speculate that these were left by patrons used to and enjoying a 'different' kind of hospitality each to their own but personally I can't wait to visit againMore

Date of visit: September 2023
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 3 September 2023

We've visited numerous times over the last few years and always been impressed, the food at the Inn was good and TOTI was a great addition for coffee/cake etc. Overall it always seemed a well run business with diverse offerings for a range of customers,...and of course a beautiful location..... However, upon a recent visit there has clearly been a significant drop in standards, both in terms of food quality but also customer service (and logic!). As a family of 3 we drove >30 minutes to the venue hoping to have a coffee and cake from TOTI only to find they no longer offer this (despite a commercial coffee machine being situated directly behind the counter), with the server proudly stating that "everything you see is takeaway only" - no apologies or attempt to engage in conversation despite us being the only customers in there. Regardless, we purchased a cake each with a view to sit outside for 10 minutes before making our way elsewhere for lunch - "no, the seats are for people having lunch only" we were told. This seemed strange as it was only mid-morning and the car park was literally empty, although based on other reviews this now appears to be standard practice. Upon eventually tasting the cakes they were clearly not fresh and felt like a HUGE drop on standards from 12 months ago when I would have considered them to be amongst the best I'd ever had! Overall a really disappointing experience, even more so considering how highly we once rated them! To be honest I probably wouldn't return to either TOTI or for food at the Inn. A few additional points based on our experience and common themes in other reviews: 1. The Cartford Inn was once Michelin Guide recommended - I doubt this will be the case anymore/for much longer. 2. If you own the business I'd seriously consider reading more around how diverse revenue streams, revenue funnels and market-capture techniques can be effectively used in your sector. As well as polishing up those customer service skills a bit. 3. As you clearly no longer need that coffee machine I'll happily disose of it for you 😉More

Date of visit: September 2023
Helpful?12  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 29 August 2023 via mobile

Review Me and my girlfriend arrived for a booking on a Sunday afternoon, our table wasn’t ready so we were told to take a seat at the bar whilst we waited, that being said, the wait wasn’t very long. After ordering some drinks we were...taken to our table to be seated where the waiter asked if we wanted water for the table to which we said yes, this never turned up but after all it’s only a bit of water and I was quickly making my way through a lovely tipple from Farmyard Ales anyway. A short while later a waitress came over to take our order, which after a lengthy 10 second scan of the overpriced menu me and my girlfriend both opted for the Roast Beef Dinner’s, with additional sides of Mash Potato and ‘Local’ Green Beans, (seems if they’re locally sourced you’re charged a pound a mile from a 5 mile radius for these luxurious organic green sticks). A short while later another waitress came over to take away our empty glasses and asked if we’d like some more drinks, to which I replied “YES PLEASE I’D LOVE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE ALE’S IT WAS SUPERB”. 10-15 minutes later no sign of any drinks my mouth was drying up, I started to shake, a headache was coming on…but all of a sudden everything seemed okay, a juicy piece of pink beef was presented in front of me smothered in gravy (I felt that euphoric I forgot to ask where the drinks were). We both dived in head first but to my despair, I suddenly realised everything was cold, not even lukewarm, so we were quick to inform a waiter who took it away for us, as well as the singular scoop of primary school looking mash and the luxurious organic green sticks. A few minutes later the food was back on the table (minus the sides) and we were warned to be careful as the plates were very hot….they’d just been nuked in the microwave but we were past caring at this point, we were ravenous. We asked the waiter who brought the food over the second time for the drinks we’d asked for originally and tucked in. To be fair the beef was well good and top marks for the red cabbage, everything else was mediocre not much care and attention to anything, wasn’t seasoned enough for our liking. That being said I still managed to clear my plate, in record time as well, but to be fair that was just because I’d not eaten all day, it wasn’t much cop and I needed the gravy to quench my thirst as we still hadn’t received our drinks we’d asked for, nor the sides we paid for which mustn’t have been good enough for the microwave. The table was cleared and this time my girlfriend asked where our drinks were to which the waitress handled, she went to the bar and to our surprise came back with nothing, she asked what it was we wanted but I told her it was okay as I couldn’t be bothered waiting any longer, I just wanted to pay and get out, in fairness we’d decided on a drink elsewhere, so I asked for the bill. The bill came to £75 for two roast dinners, two sides and two drinks, I told the waitress that we never received the sides that were taken away the first time to be reheated with the rest of the food. Admittedly she knocked one of the dinners off the bill as well as the ‘discretionary service charge’ which took it down to about £50, better than a kick in the b***ocks but still steep for what was a disappointing drive out to what once used to be a cracking little eatery that we more than likely won’t be returning to.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?13  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 27 August 2023 via mobile

Our visit was on Sunday 27th August and the table was booked for 5pm. We were taken to the bistro and when the waiter arrived, he presented us with the menu and advised they had no roast dinners left. This isn’t particularly good planning for...a restaurant on a Sunday evening at 5pm! The menu was, in my opinion, pretentious and the prices expensive (cheapest main course £23). We ordered 3 beef suet puddings. It took about an hour for the food to arrive and when it did, my friend, who had specifically asked for no beetroot on his because he doesn’t like it, had beetroot, which was touching the suet pudding. Also, the ‘potato purée’ on all 3 dishes was luke warm so we sent them all back. We had ordered a side of chips costing £5, which came in the smallest bowl, definitely not £5’s worth! The food itself was fairly tasty but dry with only a tiny amount of gravy. I asked for more and again it came in the smallest jug…smaller than a small milk jug you give to someone with with a pot of tea! We also asked for salt and pepper but that never arrived so we ended up asking the couple on the next table if we could use theirs. By way of an apology for the poor service, we got a free portion of chips and they knocked the drinks off the bill. When they brought the bill, they also explained they had knocked off the ‘discretionary’ service, like they were doing us a favour! I pointed out that this is discretionary and we wouldn’t have paid it anyway. The couple on the table next to us were also having the same poor experience with part of their mains order not arriving. Overall not a particularly enjoyable meal with very poor service. The setting and decor is very nice but I honestly feel the food and service does not live up to the high quality image they are trying to portray. And, if they are going to put diners in the bistro, they need to be more attentive and not make you feel you’re out on a limb.More

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?6  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Questions & Answers
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agatha q
24 April 2023|
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Response from Maps47553782799 |
No dogs allowed 😞
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stephen w
10 February 2021|
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Response from cjwesty | Reviewed this property |
No dont think so.
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THE CARTFORD INN, Little Eccleston - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Cartford Inn

Yes, The Cartford Inn is taking precautions against COVID-19. A full list is available within the "safety precautions" section of this page.

The Cartford Inn is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4