Review on Swinton Park, Samuel's Restaurant
The ancestral home of the Cunliffe-Lister family since the late 1800s, Swinton Park is lordly grandeur and opulence personified, with its ancient turrets, gatehouse and towers. It stands majestically amid 200 acres of unspoilt parkland complete with a lake, deer park and superbly restored walled garden (the estate itself provides the kitchen with abundant seasonal produce throughout the year).
There are marvellous views from the windows of the stately restaurant, which sports a gold-leaf ceiling and glittering chandeliers, portraits and antique furniture. By contrast, the kitchen delivers high-impact contemporary food driven by home-grown and local raw materials: how about summer garden vegetables 'hardly touched' with chervil mousse and glasshouse tomato water?
Elsewhere, rainbow trout 'from the local lakes' might appear with avocado, foie gras and wasabi mimosa and micro herb salad, while loin of rabbit could be served with Yorkshire ham, confit leg and burnt orange couscous. Fish from the East Coast day boats also gets a look in (turbot cooked on the bone with fresh peas, broad beans and fried potato, for example) while desserts plunder the garden and the larder for, say, pear and almond tart with milk ice cream.
Swinton Park is now a fully-fledged destination for corporate events, entertaining and conferences; it has its own cookery school (housed on the ground floor of the converted Georgian stables), which features guest appearances from big names including TV chef Rosemary Shrager.
Swinton Park, Samuel's Restaurant is also featured in: Michelin Guide, Good Food Guide, AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Modern British
Chef
Jake Jones
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.30 - 2.00pm Sun
Dinner: 7.00 - 9.30pm Wed-Sun
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express
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