The Refurbished Rams Head in Disley, Reviewed

Back in another life, I used to live in Disley. On a main road is never ideal but winter was always fun as we regularly were snowed in. On those days, we would put on our snow boots and do the only thing possible when you live in the middle of nowhere, go for a walk in Lyme Park and then to the pub to warm up in front of the fire. That pub for me was the Rams Head and I reviewed it in one of my first ever blog posts. It is dreadful, I apologise if you click through for a read!

I will never forget the epic party they through after a refurbishment and they have recently done another one. This time things are a lot different and I was honoured to be invited along for a first look.

The Rams Head is a listed building so they are limited on what they can do structurally but the outside has had a facelift and the most noticeable change when you walk through the door is the bar. It is shorter than it used to be and you can now walk all the way around the side and sit at the bar, should you choose. There is also more seating around the bar now meaning it is the perfect spot for a few drinks, if you aren’t hungry and do not want to dine.

As before, there are open fires dotted around in different areas of the pub and there is that same warm welcome when you step in from the cold. Dogs are still welcome in the bar area and there is lots of different seating areas if you choose to dine. It really helps make the large space more intimate.

At the back is a private dining room. perfect for that special event. The wood panelling on the side of the wall is original, but the renovation has managed to make it a feature that looks modern and in keeping with the soft furnishings of the pub. Think teal velour, monkey wallpaper and silk cushions, just the right amount of luxe fabric to make the space ultra special without taking away from the fact that it is a country pub.

We visited on the press night and the manager had set up the cutest gin station with Tanqueray, their house gin serve and a garnish station. The coconut and lime works surprisingly well!

The menu has also been given a facelift with daily soup and fish specials. The way they order their fish means they only get in what is fresh and it can be tracked back to the exact sea it has been sourced from, even the name of the boat that brought it in to the harbour. It is such a lovely touch and the menu will always list this information. I was so tempted by the lemon sole brought in by Heather Dee but, where possible I do try and review food I know you are going to be able to order when you visit.

Thanks to the dark and slightly moody interior, candle light does not make for great photography so unfortunately some of my pictures are a little dark. Time to invest in a light box of some sort for 2020. That said, I’ll do my best to describe each dish.

My Mum came with me and chose the Massaman Chicken Skewers to start. I was surprised at her choice as she is such a fussy eater but she loved these! The massaman was lightly spiced and drizzled on top of tender chicken which flaked away from the skewers with ease. The chicken was also served on a bed of Tzatziki dip which has been studded with coconut to cut through the rich and spicy flavours of the massaman. I totally didn’t think this would work but it really does.

I chose the Wild Atlantic Scallops that were lightly seared so still tender and juicy. They were served with lobster and crab bon bons, think posh fish cakes, on a bed of pea and truffle oil veloute. It is every bit as luxurious as it sounds and the bon bons really are a thing of wonder. Rich and decadent but with the freshness you would expect from lobster and crab combined.

The Rams Head also have sharing starters, one of which is a cheese board. Next time I go this is top of my list. I always whinge that I love cheese but something sweet is a must for me when it comes to dessert. This way, I wouldn’t miss out on either!

Onto mains and my Mum chose the Dirty Cheeseburger. A just cooked through beef patty is served in a soft sesame seed bun with cheese and the salad items you would expect to see accompany a decent burger. It is served with crunchy fries and beef dripping dip, which is perfect for dunking those fries or the burger if you are so inclined. And I was.

I chose the Four Bone Lamb Rack, which is the classic winter dish I was hoping for. Pink lamb chops are served on butternut puree with cavolo nero, slices of chorizo, shallots, a chimmicurri sauce and dauphinoise potatoes. It is rich and hearty, perfect for winter although I secretly hope that they will keep it on the summer menu as well because it is that good.

To finish, we ordered dessert and my Mum ordered the Lemon Meringue Flamed Alaska, a dish I heard every single table order on the night we visited. I swear, it was gone seconds after it landed on the table but she declared it perfect and something she is going back for, which is a cracking sentiment from my Mum who usually only visits her only tried and tested restaurants!

I went more wintery, in keeping with my main course choice and ordered the Apple, Plum and Damson Crumble. The damsons were the star of the show with a real tart bite, the topping was crunchy and distributed through the whole of the dish meaning each mouthful had a little, sweetness, a little tartness and a little crunch. It was a fitting end to a lovely evening. One that I will replay regularly in the future.

THE DEETS

The Rams Head, Buxton Road West, Disley, SK12 2AE.

We were invited to dine as guests of the Rams Head and were not asked to pay. Previous reviews on this site were paid for.