A unique gastropub in the village of Wiswell has been praised for offering the best gourmet breaks in the North West.

Freemasons at Wiswell, near Clitheroe won the Lancashire Life Food and Drink ‘Restaurant with Rooms’ award for its excellent service and high standard accommodation.

The awards has 12 categories to celebrate the hospitality industry and all the hardworking people and places that makes the county’s food and drink so special.

The Restaurant with Rooms award judges the restaurants and pubs offering the best gourmet breaks where foodies clamour to get a food and accommodation booking.

Freemasons at Wiswell, which placed third in Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2023 list, won the award and staff shared their delight.

Chef patron Steven Smith said: “We're absolutely thrilled to receive this esteemed recognition. These awards celebrate outstanding individuals and businesses, highlighting the incredible value they bring to our county.

“We’ve been here a long time now so it’s really good to get gratification for the team and the hard work they put in. Lots of customers have shared their excitement over this and congratulated us.

"The award covers places from the Lake District and Chesire so this win really does open us up to a wider audience who didn’t necessarily know we had rooms.”

The rooms are designed with a calming and muted colour scheme featuring wood panelled walls, downlights, leather bed headboards, velvet cushions and throws, and marble bathrooms creating a luxurious setting.

Steven continued: “I just think there are no other rooms like it. As a restaurant and a pub we are quite unique and I don’t think there is another one of us. We’ve got an AA five Gold Star Restaurant with Rooms Ratting which is one of a kind so it’s great that we’ve been recognised again.

“Hopefully, in the future we can have some more rooms and continue working as we are. We are very much a place for everybody and we host exciting events and we’ve got plenty coming up this Christmas.”

Freemasons at Wiswell isn’t alone in the list of local winners. The Fell Bistro in Longridge, which opened in September last year, won the Newcomer of the Year award.

The Chef of the Year award went to Oli Martin, chef director at Aven Restaurant, Fell Bistro and Foray Catering, while The Parkers Arms in Newton-in-Bowland took home the Dining Pub of the Year award.

Lastly, the Modern Milkman in Colne, founded by Simon Mellin, won the award for Independent Food/Drink Retailer of the Year.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Life Food and Drinks Awards said: “These are the prestigious awards that recognise the very best in the county’s cuisine.

"We honour the finest restaurants, pubs and tearooms, the people and venues that make Lancashire such a great place to eat and drink.

“We’re grateful to the venues for their continued excellence and to our judges for their diligent, painstaking research and work – it's hard work but they were very quick to volunteer for it.”