You don’t have to spend long perusing The Eagle & Child website to understand the team here take their duties very seriously. A go-to spot in the upmarket Lancashire-Greater Manchester village of Ramsbottom, a semi-rural enclave that has long-since earned itself a reputation as a foodie destination, this traditional pub with charming rooms-turned-contemporary dining spot has an entire page dedicated to the community. Among other things, it lists out some of the regular local suppliers the kitchen orders from, accentuating a commitment to quality and determination to celebrate the area’s exceptional produce.
A historic, detached inn-style building, The Eagle & Child occupies an enviable position overlooking the stunning countryside that surrounds it with floor-to-ceiling windows in some dining areas. Once through the door a hearty welcome awaits, and then the impressive menu beckons. Nibbles and starters include crispy buttermilk chicken thigh, pan roasted scallops, and curried tempura cauliflower, and the chef’s dish the day emphasises how fresh the food here really is. Onto the mains, pan roast fish is a big winner, at the time of writing that could be hake or turbot, while the roasted squash risotto, Mexican refried bean burger, and cheese & onion pie all offer plenty for vegetarians.
Meats are dominant every day of the week (the braised steak, pumpkin & stout pie is a stand out for us) but on Sundays carnivores are particularly well served with a Sunday roast featuring award-winning 28 day aged roast sirloin. As you would hope from a pub of this quality, we could try and list the beers, wines and spirits available but it would be an unending task, so let’s just say there’s a great choice across the board including plenty of new generation hops alongside cask classics. Add to all this a stunning beer garden complete with outdoor bar, teepee and plenty of greenery, all available for private event hire, while back inside you can also pick from five bedrooms, each uniquely designed to a high standard.