The Place
In a little-visited corner of the North West, on a peaceful bend of the river Wyre, this place’s real heart, soul and energy is that of owners Patrick and Julie Beame. This husband-wife duo’s passion for their community seeps into every nook of this old 17thC Inn and its assortment of outbuildings.
The hotel and its adjoining bar, restaurant, on-site deli (Taste of The Inn) and art gallery are also an excellent showcase for the local glassblowers, chocolatiers, distillers, joiners, ceramicists, artists, and the list goes on.
Since 2007, the hotel has evolved from a dilapidated old coach house into a trendy boutique. The Beame’s creative restorations have been sympathetic to the building’s history while carving out its own. We stayed in their newly constructed, chic, treehouse-esque rooms, which perch on stilts overlooking the orchard and river. Like the rooms in the main building, these converted shipping containers are decorated with stylish furniture, calming tones and soft natural materials. Throughout the rest of the rooms, all quirky and airy, every artwork and architectural feature has a story the owners are enthusiastic to share.
Similarly, the on-site deli, with a tiled floor, a nod to the Boucheries of Patricks Bordeaux origins, is supplied by Lancashire farms and breweries.
The menu is adventurous and, with locally sourced ingredients, embraces the flavours of different cuisines: tangy ceviche, pakora with zhoug, merguez sausages, French gateauxs and banana blossom. Patrick has also worked closely with a vineyard and a local distiller to develop a unique line of wine and gin that echoes the flavours often found in his kitchen. Breakfast is equally impressive and in the daylight the same space is transformed, with its floor-to-ceiling windows offering dramatic views towards the Bowland Fells.
The Cartford Inn is conveniently located for any travellers journeying north or south on the M6, and for foodies, creatives, and curious explorers, this hotel is a destination in itself.