Festive Dining At The Midland, Marple Bridge – Stockport

If you have read my blog before, you will know I love a turkey dinner! I’ve already reviewed the Harvey Nichols set menu and was excited to be invited back to the Midland in Marple Bridge for a look at their festive offerings this year. Starting from £25.95 for 3 courses, you can gather your friends for a festive feast until the 30th December.

We kicked things off with a glass of prosecco and crackers, whilst looking over the menu to choose our meal. There are some lovely options and lots of choose from, which is rare for a set menu normally.

For starters I chose the Soup, which has been given a lovely festive twist. Roasted tomato soup is topped with crispy vegetables and pesto before being served with a warm ciabatta and butter, or oil if you are vegan. The soup has a touch of richness, thanks to the roasting and the vegetables are dried for a little texture and a lot of flavour.

My friend chose the Scallops served on a bed of pea puree and topped with crispy pancetta. The scallops are seared so soft and just cooked, the pea puree is incredibly fresh with a hint of mint and some chunkier pieces to make sure it isn’t too sloppy in texture. The pancetta is cut so thinly that is breaks cleanly when bitten and the fat helps to cut through the otherwise fresh flavours of the dish.

Naturally, I chose the Roasted Turkey, which arrived with all the trimmings and a side of seasonal vegetables. The turkey is soft and plentiful whilst the addition of red wine in the gravy adds an extra depth to the flavour. The roast potatoes are fluffy with a crispy coating and the stuffing has a bit of clementine for a fruity touch without being too overpowering. My only complaint about the dish was the bread sauce, which is a little watery and lacked in flavour. It didn’t detract from the dish though and I would personally not include it.

My friend chose the Rump Steak, served with chunky chips and topped with parsley butter. It was cooked as requested with no gristle. The chips still had their skins on for extra crunch.

I usually struggle when choosing a dessert from festive menus as I don’t like Christmas pudding at all. Luckily there is lots of choice at the Midland and I actually struggled to choose one! I settled on the White Chocolate and Hazelnut Praline Tart for something different. On its own, the tart is very rich with a fairly thick pastry case and large chunks of praline throughout. The addition of pears lightens the dish somewhat although they are advertised as caramelised, which mine were not. They were still good though, I am a huge pear fan.

My friend chose the Chocolate Brownie, which was definitely the star of the show. Served warm with vanilla ice cream, not honeycomb as advertised, the brownie is soft and gooey with a lightly crunchy exterior. It would have been nice to try the honeycomb ice cream as the sweeter flavours would have worked well with the rich and decadent chocolate dessert.

If you choose to dine from the extra special festive menu, you can also enjoy a festive cocktail. We tried the Espresso Martini and Festive Bellini, both have been given a Christmassy twist and are more indulgent than the classic versions. You can buy them separately if you don’t fancy the extra special menu, or you may want more than one. I guarantee you will be tempted and what the hell, it’s Christmas. You may as well treat yourself.

THE DEETS

The Midland, 26 Brabyns Brow, Marple Bridge, Stockport, SK6 5DT.

The three course festive menu costs £25.95.
You can upgrade to a four course menu with a glass of prosecco on arrival, more choice of courses and truffles to end for £32.95. Alternatively you can push the boat out and choose the five course menu which includes a glass of Moet on arrival, bread and olives and a cocktail to finish for an extra £15.

I was invited to dine at The Midland as a guest and was not asked to pay.