There are places that we will always remember from those first wild months after turning 18, where we can finally drink legally and have a wild time. For most teenagers in Stockport, that was Bredbury Hall. A club attached to a hotel where we could dance until the early hours to the sounds of our favourite cheesy music. It became renowned for drunken nights and I have been to many a hen night there in the past. Never had I ever considered dining there, so when Marco Pierre White chose it as his newest site, I was intrigued to see how it would work.
The new restaurant is just beautiful. A large, open and light space where you are welcomed by the iconic ‘Marco’ chair, before being whisked to your table to gaze at the local scenes which adorn the walls. I was surprised by the sheer size of the dining room, with different dining areas so you don’t feel like you are on top of the other diners.
The menu is varied yet focuses heavily on the ‘steakhouse’ ethos with various cuts available but also pub classics such as a classic burger range and specials of shepherds pie and cod. We tried to choose items that would showcase the range available on the menu and, naturally, enjoyed three courses.
I started with a classic, the Governor’s French Onion Soup. I can find these a little watery sometimes but this version is far from that. Lots of onion means the soup is packed and the flavours are definitely there, with a slight tang and lots of seasoning to lift the soup. The croutons are topped with gruyere cheese to add richness and I swear, the soup is a meal in itself.
My friend chose the Crispy Fried Calamari, served with tartare sauce and lemon. In true a la carte style, the lemon was wrapped in a muslin, something I am a huge fan of. There are little details that truly make a fine dining experience and I do feel this is one of them. The calamari is delicately dusted with a light batter that melts in the mouth, as does the calamari which is cooked perfectly allowing the rings to be firm but not tough or chewy as can so easily happen.
Onto mains and I chose a classic dish of Roast Rump of Moorland Lamb a la Dijonnaise. The lamb is served pink so soft and buttery, on a bed of buttered french beans with a stack of gratin dauphinoise. The dauphinoise is cooked perfectly, rich and creamy without being overpowering to the rest of the dish. The pan juices finish it off with a hint of rosemary.
One of us had to try a steak, it is a steakhouse after all so my friend went for the 6oz Fillet Steak with a side of Grilled Prawns. I would always expect a steakhouse to do a good steak and Marco’s did not disappoint. He ordered the fillet blue, which can sometimes cause issues in any kitchen but not this one. It is heated all the way through without compromising on how it has been cooked. The meat is tender and well seasoned, served with a side of hot and fluffy chips. The prawns are pump and juicy with a hot garlic butter drenching them and leaving a pool that is perfect for dunking those chips.
With barely any room for dessert, I chose the lightest option I could see which is the Strawberries and Cream. It has a lovely twist, with the ‘cream’ element being a creamy vanilla panna cotta. It is lightly set so doesn’t have that jelly style consistency, rather it is like a light cream with a structure, and it is delicious. The strawberries have a light syrup glaze to bring out their freshness. I thought it would be a fairly boring dessert but it definitely isn’t.
Whilst my dessert wasn’t boring, my friend really hit the big time with his choice. This my friends, is the Marco Pierre White interpretation of Millionaire’s Shortbread. If you have lots of room then this is the dessert for you. A crunchy shortbread base with a layer of rich caramel, a creamy vanilla centre and topped with a rich chocolate decorated with gold leaf. The bitter chocolate ice cream accompaniment is sat on a bed of crunchy biscuit and perfect either on its own or combined with the millionaire’s shortbread.
The service was impeccable and this was evident for the other diners, who I witnessed thoroughly enjoying the new space. The change is truly extraordinary and it is a fabulous new addition to the growing development that is continuing to happen in Stockport. Bredbury Hall has an exquisite space and I for one, cannot wait to return.
THE DEETS
Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar and Grill, Bredbury Hall Hotel and Country Club, Osborne Street, Goyt Valley, Stockport, SK6 2DH.
I was invited to dine as a guest and was not asked to pay.
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