At Headlam Hall - County Durham

Sunday lunch yesterday (08/10/23. It wasn't great! Vegetables were very hard... A couple of times i had to pick them up with my fingers, because if i had forced the knife.. they would had crossed the room. Only 1 Yorkshire pudding ... Very minimum over all! There were other vegetables available, but you would have to pay extra for them... because they are classed as sides. Very expensive £19.50. Not worth the money! The serving staff were very lovely.

We booked a lunchtime meal at Headlam Hall today for my birthday because previously we have had very good experiences both for meals and the New Years Eve packages. I would not be writing this if either of the staff dealing with us had asked if we had enjoyed our meal or whether there were any problems-no-one did, hence the review. My partner was delighted with his starter-the salmon, but I was a bit disconcerted to find that a salad with goats cheese turned out to be a whole goats cheese with a garnish. My main problem was with my main course- belly pork with dauphinoise potatoes , cabbage and I think butternut squash. The reason I am unsure is because all but the pork was completely covered by a thick layer of very dark brown, glutinous `reduction`. It was the worst presentation of a meal I have come across in at least 30 years- more like a 1950`s school dinner. For many years now in hotels and restaurants we have been served meals with either gravy or a `reduction` being served in a separate container, with possibly some on the plate underneath the meat and vegetables-never smothered over everything. The offending `reduction`was also far too salty, and gave the impression it had been made with half a packet of gravy browning. Why did no one ask if there were any problems? Are Headlam Hall so complacent that they think there could not possibly be problems? Or are the serving staff-who were lovely-simply intimidated by the chef and unwilling to pass on complaints?

My wife and I like to eat at Headlam Hall every so often. The food is always of a high standard and the service is impeccable. On our lunch visit today we ordered the BBQ food. It was absolutely awesome, just like the food normally is at Headlam Hall. However, the pudding requested was chocholate moose with Raspberries. Yet when it turned up it was creme in colour. There was no sign of anything chocholate and it did not taste like a moose at all. The dish had red currents, one strawberry and one rasperry. We didn't complain, but were quite disappointed!

Yet another fantastic experience in this restaurant. We stayed at the hotel and had dinner and breakfast the two of us followed by lunch with an extra guest before checking out. The dinner menu was totally updated and exceeded both our expectations both in regard to quality and choice. The breakfast was superb as usual. The lunch was also a totally revamped menu and again beyond all of our expectations, including that of our guest who is a succesful restaurant owner! Oh, and not to forget the service throughout; efficient, friendly and customer focussed. Keep it up Headlam, you're on a winner both hotel, spa and restaurant wise. Cannot recommend you enough.

Wwe had the most delicious afternoon tea with a glass of Prosecco. The food was very fresh. Lovely sandwiches scones and cakes. We were served by a very polite young man who made sure we had everything we needed. Nothing was too much bother I would definitely recommend and go again Thank you headlam