Lancashire boasts some of the most beautiful countryside and finest produce in the UK. Rolling hills, lush forests, windswept coastlines and fertile farmland can all be found within its borders, and the restaurants dotted around the county are nationally renowned for taking the local ingredients and turning them into some very special dishes. There are some seriously good pubs, too, serving local ales and offering all the timber-framed, roaring fireplace charm you could ever want. At the award-winning Parkers Arms in Newton-in-Bowland, chef Stosie Madi (along with business partner Kathy Smith and front-of-house maestro AJ Smith) has created something that offers all of this in one beautiful rural inn – plus so much more.

The produce of the surrounding countryside is the main focus of the menu, be it game when in season, fish and seafood off the coast or vegetables grown in the region’s farms. But while there is a distinctly British (or even Lancastrian) vein running throughout the menu, there’s plenty of international influences too, inspired by Stosie’s Lebanese heritage and time spent travelling and cooking all over the world. This makes the offering at the Parkers Arms distinct from other ambitious ‘gastropubs’ – it’s reminiscent of a French traiteur, a modern British restaurant and a more contemporary establishment all at once, whilst still retaining that warm, friendly, relaxed ambience.

The menu can change up to twice daily, with a simple list of starters, mains, desserts and snacks. There’s always a kid’s menu on offer, plus options for vegetarians and vegans, and a decent wine list plus all the local ales offered in the bar area. Some of the most popular dishes include the pies (often the sole reason some diners make the trip), along with Stosie’s adventurous ways cooking with offal, game and cuts of meat that rarely see the light of day.

Service is a joy to behold thanks to the effortless charm of AJ Smith, who runs the front-of-house in a casual, relaxed manner. There are also two bedrooms available for those looking to stay the night. For a relaxed getaway in a rural retreat with food that’s globally influenced yet also perfectly represents the surrounding area, you simply can’t do better than a meal at the Parkers. Just make sure you get a pie.