Greenery Restaurant at Oak Royal Golf Club, Withnell
By Chris Maguire
Golf club restaurants are a bit like London red buses … nothing for ages and then two come along at once.
Just a month after experiencing the delights of the Greenery Restaurant at Leyland Golf Club, the Maguire family decamped to the Oak Royal Golf and Country Club in Withnell. Inside the Greenery restaurant at Oak Royal Golf Club, Withnell.
If there's a more pleasant place to eat in Chorley and Leyland – at more reasonable prices – then I've not found it. My own fear is that if I shout too loudly, then the Oak Royal Golf and Country Club won't be my little secret anymore. The venue has the freshness of a new building but doesn't seem to lack anything in character.
The nine-hole golf course is the fulfilment of a dream for owner Charles Downes.
The restaurant is on the ground floor of the clubhouse and the function room is on the second. The staircase to the function room is decorated with personalised golf balls and the first 50 players to get holes in one on the course will have the event immortalised on a ball. It's surrounded by 58 acres of lush countryside, which as well as the golf course, also has fly and coarse fishing lakes.
Charles Downes doesn't even play golf, which is probably just as well as the Oak Royal Golf and Country Club may never have come to fruition as he would have found the fairways and USGA standard greens too tempting! Unfortunately I didn't experience the golf course for myself but I can vouch for the food, which was superb.
We went on Sunday so took advantage of the Sunday menu, where a two-course meal between midday and 5pm cost £9.95. I had the creamy garlic mushrooms sautéed with garlic and onions finished with cream. I don't think I've seen as many mushrooms in my life and the fresh crusty roll was a nice touch.My wife had the chicken liver pate, finished with red wine and brandy, served with a dressed leaf garnish and hot toast. She said it was better than my garlic mushrooms, which I find hard to believe. "It's homemade and very smooth," was her description.
There was a children's menu available too but the staff helpfully offered to make my two daughters some tomato soup, which is the only flavour they like. This was none of your tinned variety and was very creamy. Delicious. For the main meal I had the beef roast, which was served with a huge portion of potatoes and fresh vegetables. I don't think I've ever had a bigger portion of roast beef in my life! My children had a half portion of roast turkey and were similarly impressed.Mrs M plumped for the poached fillet of salmon with a lemon butter sauce. "It just melts in your mouth," said Mrs M, "and has a nice citrus twang." I think she liked it! I can't speak highly enough about the food, the surroundings or the staff.
The club opened in August but its membership is already approaching triple figures. You don't have to be a member to eat in the restaurant. Early diners can take advantage of the breakfast menu, which is served between 9am and midday.
Amercian-style pancakes cost £2.95; a bacon sandwich is £2.50; and the golfer's full English – which consists of two pork sausages, four rashers of bacon, two eggs, field mushrooms, hash browns, grilled tomato, baked beans and toast – will cost £5.95 but probably render a game of golf impossible!
There's a light snacks menu available all day between 9am and 5pm , featuring favourites such as ciabatta sandwiches and grilled panini.
From midday to 4pm is a selection of main meals, including traditional Lancashire hotpot (£8.50); homemade steak and ale pie (£7.25) and beer battered cod loin (£7.95).
Mrs M loved the place that much she's now considering taking up golf! |
