Review: The Coach House, Middleton Lodge
We check out the all-day dining restaurant, The Coach House, set in Middleton Lodge’s 200 acre estate
Arriving at Middleton Lodge you’d never believe you were just off the A1 – especially as you drive up through the estate which is stretched across lush open green space and surrounded by wild plants and flowers. We drive past the the Walled Garden, the Orchard and the Farmhouse before parking up among the trees.
The Coach House, which also has a number of bedrooms, is divided between a light and airy restaurant with exposed wooden beams and an outdoor courtyard, partially covered by a large canopy which was originally used for outdoor dining during lockdown, but has since allowed guests to enjoy al fresco meals whist sheltering from the sun or keeping warm by the heaters in the evenings. We take a seat here and each order a coffee before taking a look over the brunch and lunch menus. Although it’s a beautifully sunny day, we’re glad we chose to shelter under the canopy rather than sitting in the full blaze of the sun as the courtyard is its own little sun trap.
Seasonal dishes packed with flavour and an estate-to-plate approach are the focus at The Coach House. The brunch menu includes some of the classics such as baked eggs and waffles, served from 11am until 1pm, whilst a range of vegetarian, fish and meat dishes fill the lunch menu.
I order the Jorvick blonde braised beef cheek with roasted carrots, hasselback potatoes and watercress. The meat falls apart as soon as I dig my fork into it and the potatoes are fluffy inside with a crispy coating. Mum orders something a little lighter and more fitting for the weather – the Whitby hot smoked salmon Caesar salad, which is made into a main meal-sized portion and served with gem lettuce, boquerone anchovies and Ribbleside cheese. The salmon is soft and lightly smoked and there is plenty of it on her plate.
After polishing off our coffees before the mains arrive, we order a couple more drinks. This time we each order the elderflower and cucumber mockito served with lime, mint and soda, and they’re the perfect palate cleansers before we take a look at the desserts on offer.
To round things off, I’m tempted by the croissant pain perdu which is my idea of a dream dessert. A rounded slice of warm French toast with a dash of chocolate in the middle is topped with elderflowers, strawberries and a scoop of strawberry ripple ice cream. Mum orders the gluten- and dairy-free brownie with a side of berry compote – a very decadent and moreish slice (I couldn’t resist a spoonful or two).
The service is friendly and attentive, and nothing is too much to ask. The lunch menu, whilst split into dishes from the garden, the land and the sea, certainly features something for everyone – and on our return visit I’ll definitely be trying the British lop pork belly with walled garden rhubarb ketchup, and maybe my own slice of that brownie for afters.
Kneeton Lane, Middleton Tyas, Richmond DL10 6NJ
01325 377977
middletonlodge.co.uk
