The Borough

Dalton Square
Lancaster
01524 64170

Once a bit of a lager den, the lovely old building has been restored and revamped to provide a classy venue for extensive beers and wines, eclectic bar nibbles and excellent restaurant, a cut above the average, specialising in locally-sourced food. Fish and Chips, served in the Borough's own paper, are to die for. The bar and restaurant are very busy at peak times when the mob are released from their office jobs, but preeners and posers eventually bugger off and leave serious drinkers to imbibing at a more relaxed pace. Jazz most Saturday evenings in the restaurant. Family friendly. (Dogs welcome in beer garden but unfortunately children are allowed inside)

HA***** LI***** PM/F RA WGB DF/COL

The Merchants

Market Street
Lancaster
01524 66466

Atmospheric venue located in old castle cellars and used to contain variously booze detained at the Duke's pleasure and clients containing booze detained at their own pleasure. Attractive beer garden with rambling greenery and plenty of seating. Recent change of management has led to a change of menu with more adventurous pub food and a good cheese board. The specials were fresh and interesting. There is a much improved wine list and a wide choice by the glass. Choice of real ales. Husband says that the Guinness was no worse than anywhere else in England. From an Irishman this is praise indeed. RA/WGB, DF/COL HA*** LI**** PM

Quite Simply French

St George's Quay
Lancaster
01524 843199

Food with a French accent (!) and definitely on the gourmet side, they do use good fresh ingredients and fish are a speciality. Pretty restaurant with a view over the river from upstairs for that romantic a deux. Best to book. Excellent wine list. Drinks deals on Mondays.

WGB HA***** LI*** PF

Sun Cafe Restaurant

Sun Street Gallery
Lancaster
01524 845599

Modern, fun and funky:- service in the capable hands of the impeccable maitre d'. Quirky presentation of well presented, imaginative dishes, comprehensive wine list, popular with group bookings but there are quiet corner tables tucked away for couples and solo diners. Book at weekends. WGB HA**** LI*** PM/F

The White Cross Lancaster

Nestled by the side of the canal below the Adult College and smugly basking in the sunshine opposite posh new flats which aren't, the long bar offers a good choice of properly kept real ales and wines. Concentrating on all-day food service) 12-9 on weekdays and Sunday roast 12-8), cooked in house with standards well above the usual pub grub. Range of dish sizes, veggie option on each, very busy at peak times but you are informed of the time your order will take. Staff are friendly, helpful and genuinely care that you enjoy your meal.
Plenty of sturdy outside seating along the waterfront, inadvertent entertainment from passing barge crews.

LI **** RA/WGB HA***** PC/M DF (outside) /COL

Telephone: 01524 33999

The Water Witch

Canal tow path off King St
Lancaster
01524 63828

The long bar meanders from room to room along this very old building, rescued from dereliction by an adventurous management, and close to the ferry stop for the canal barges with which swans, ducks and offspring drift along the atmospheric canal. Plenty of outside tables for summer imbibing and feeding of said ducks and swans. It is now run by a local brewery, is less idiosyncratic, but still provides good real ales, extensive wine list and good pub food in an idyllic setting. Very dog-friendly (in fact quite a meeting place) at the outside tables. Please keep owners on lead.

RA/WGB, DF/COL HA*** LI*** PM

Bistro 26

26 Sun street
Lancaster
01524 846252

Traditional, quality meals using local ingredients and cooked by the chef proprietor.
Intimate dining room. Pleasant service, and a good wine list. Not a fancy gourmet experience by any means, but good produce cooked well. Excellent puddings.
Best to book as it is popular. Wine deals on Sundays.

HA***** LI*****PM/F

The Gatehouse

Whitecross
Lancaster
01524 849111

MComfortable bar area with low seating. Extensive menu features use of local ingredients with the accent on substantial well balanced dishes rather than haute cuisine. Extremely hospitable and helpful staff even when really busy. Cope well with raucous large parties, but there are small intimate tables for two. Ask when booking.

HA*** LI**** PM/F

Mung Mee

6a Chapel Street
Lancaster
01524 64107
Monday-Saturday, 12-3 and 5.30-11

Authentic Thai dishes served by impeccably polite, tiny and welcoming staff. Very relaxing. High quality food served with minimum of fuss. Popular, but they usually have room. No take-away: they have the confidence to serve diners only. WGB HA** PM

Sun Bar and Hotel

Church St
Lancaster
01524 66006

Occupying the ground floor of the Sun Hotel, an attractively refurbished building tucked away on the corner of Church and Sun Street, the bar offers pared back décor revealing lots of character with minimum of fuss. Real ales and an excellent wine list combine well with up-market lunches and simple but substantial supper dishes. Only one person has been able to finish the cheese board unaided:- me. Food also served in the cosy, bookable Meeting Room and there are plenty of tables in the excellent, stylish beer garden.

This year, Christmas at The Sun features a stunning set price menu with imaginative use of ingredients (Wild Boar Pate, Home made Nut and Cranberry Roast, Strawberry and champagne Truffle are some of the choices).
The good news:- £12.50 for two or £15.50 for three courses. The better news:- needs to be a table of 5 minimum. Party, party, party!"

RA/WGB HA***** LI***** PM

1725 Bar. Tapas. Dining

The brainchild of Lounge and Hustle owners Grant and Catherine, 1725 is “a little different” and a welcome addition to Lancaster's eating scene. The discreet entrance leads off Market Square to a little paradise of lovely old beams, smart modern furniture and minimalist décor. Up-beat atmosphere, avant-garde clientele and friendly efficient service. The menu scales from simple two-tapas-and-a-drink deal to three and five course waiter service spreads. Filling up fast so book! The smart place to party.

HA***** WGB PM

Market Square, Lancaster 01524 66898

Sultan Restaurant

The Old Church
Brock Street
Lancaster
01524 61188

An interesting conversion from Methodist to Moorish, the building's minstrel gallery is now the main restaurant, serving traditional Moslem cuisine in a civilised atmosphere. Good service is a point of honour. No alcohol, so no lager louts demanding over-heated Vindaloos to prove their debatable manhood. Close to the Borough, so you can drink there before your meal. Daytime cafe downstairs, fabulous little sweet nibbles, lunches, all sorts of exotic teas, artwork on the walls.....

HA**** PM