Real ale and good food in Lancashire: A country inn with a community side, and a warm welcome

Have you booked a table at Lancashire’s hidden gem, the delightful Hapton Inn?

When award-winning chef Scott Gilbert moved to The Hapton Inn, Hapton, nearly a year ago he was tasked with re-opening the restaurant side of the business. Fast forward 11 months and this countryside inn is wowing both visitors and its village community.

Scott, who started his career at The Angel Inn at Hetton and went on to win Rosette Awards at The Assheton Arms in Downham and Breda Murphy in Whalley, is now the general manager at The Hapton Inn, and is delighted with the success.

With a menu that’s updated up to four times a year, and new experienced local chefs Curtis Sultana and Harry Dinsdale looking after diners, it’s a recipe that’s gone down very well.

The mouth-watering menu is regularly updated

What to expect

“It’s a community hub,” says Scott; that means whether you want a quiet meal in the main restaurant with a gentle atmosphere, relaxing music and an ‘away from it all’ ambience, or a pint of one of the guest special ales in the bar next door with a casual meal while you catch up with BT or Sky sports on the telly, The Hapton Inn has it covered.

There’s regular live music too – be sure to follow the Facebook page to find out more.

And it’s proud to be a dog friendly pub, so Fido and the family can enjoy walkies to somewhere that little bit special and relax by the log burning fire

There’s a fine selection of cask ales, guest ales, wines and spirits, with a beer garden in summer.

On the menu

If ever a menu said ‘something for everyone’ this is it. The menu is packed full of homemade goodness as the kitchen uses local suppliers and produce ensuring nothing is bought in and customers receive top quality food. Popular sellers include their cheese and onion pie, sticky toffee pudding and hand rolled pizzas baked in their own stone-based pizza ovens.

On top of all of this, who doesn’t love a full Sunday roast? The Sunday roast is proving to be the highlight of the weekend with the booking's diary full up by lunchtime so be sure to book early!

Looking for something a little bit different? How about a ham hock and pea terrine, halloumi fries, a spicy bean burger and Asian slaw, or tandoori chipolatas?

There are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options available too.

Remember, the menu is updated regularly, so check to see what’s on offer when you book.

What the reviews say

With mainly four and five star reviews it’s clear to see why this is a favourite – typical comments include.

“Really nice pub. Comfy with friendly staff and good range of drinks.”

“Everything was great from arriving to leaving. The staff can't do enough and the food is excellent and well priced. Good selection of beers.”

Where to find it

If location, location, location is anything to go by, this village inn will be a hit – as the milder weather comes in, the beer garden will come into its own again, and with stunning views out over Pendle Hill this is the get away from it destination that’s actually really close at hand! It’s nestled in a quiet village between Burnley and Accrington, at 2 Accrington Road, and has a strong local following and plenty of diners who travel to enjoy the friendly welcome.

It’s got ample space for special occasions, so it’s an ideal venue for christenings, birthdays, baby showers or any occasion where you want to gather friends and family together in a welcoming, community hub.

Want to know more? You can visit https://thehaptoninn.com/ or call 01282 335070 to book. They are open five days a week, Wednesdays to Sundays.