Food Review: Barristers Restaurant and Bar, Knutsford

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

Barristers restaurant and bar: an arresting location

We stopped off at Barristers Restaurant and Bar in the pretty town of Knutsford in Cheshire for a well-earned lunch after driving down from Glasgow.   What was Knutsford Magistrates Court is now a fine-looking restaurant, bar, wedding venue and now a hotel as well!  No leg irons, jurors or wig clad magistrates here, now it’s cocktails, a roof garden and delicious food. Did you know Knutsford Magistrates Court was where Prof Alan Turing was tried (Find out more about his life here)?

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

The building is impressive,  not surprisingly dominating the local area.  Outside is landscaped with tables and chairs dotted throughout the beer garden.

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

Interior

You really can’t miss that this was once a courthouse.  Order a cocktail from the dock and sit down for dinner where the jurors once sat.

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

Theres a half reverent, half light hearted look at the history of the building.  Various celebrity mugshots from those who have veered on the wrong side of the law adorn the walls. Pay close attention for a few entertaining choices…

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

Like Preston from the Wallace & Gromit movie, A Close Shave!

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

 

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

Barristers lunch menu

From sandwiches to fish & chips via champagne afternoon tea.  There was a lot on offer.  We decide on a couple of sandwiches with Mr Foodie plumping for a half of UnNamed by Mobberley Brew House. A murky, hoppy beer with lots of zesty orange and grapefruit flavour.

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

Provenance

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

The Courthouse ensures that a number of the items on the menu come from the local vicinity.

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

The food

A club sandwich (£9) for Mr Foodie and a pastrami and sauerkraut (£6.50) for me.

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

We thought we were going for the lighter option! The club sandwich came toasted with thick chicken, bacon,  lettuce, avocado mayonnaise, confit onions and was topped with a huge fried egg.

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

The pastrami and sauerkraut sandwich was another belter. Lots of what looked like home-made pastrami with sauerkraut, dill pickle and melted cheese.  Good thick bread filled with tart goodies. We hadn’t eaten since leaving Glasgow but still had no room for pudding!

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

The bedrooms weren’t open when we visited but had they been and I would have gladly stumbled along for a nap after my sandwich!

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

Seven bowler hats hang in the corridor in respect to the seven people hanged outside the court..!

In the toilets, the atmosphere is more light-hearted.

Barristers restaurant bar Knutsford Cheshire

 

Verdict

👍

Friendly service in impressive, historic surroundings.  The location is great for sightseeing and for a pit stop whilst travelling through the area. If we’d known that Knutsford was so nice we’d have stayed a bit longer, the Knutsford Heritage Centre has a massive tapestry too! Toilets clean and looked after. There’s space for 40 cars in the car park, Knutsford train station is just a 2-minute walk away and Manchester airport isn’t far either, should you want to stop here on the way there.

So, our judgement…most definitely guilty of filling our bellies! Great to see local craft brews on tap too!

TL:DR

+ Tasty filling food
+ Good service
+ Historic, well-maintained building
+ Local produce prominently displayed

– Nothing obvious to criticise

Location

The Courthouse Toft Road, Knutsford, WA16 0PB

Contact

Tel: +44 01565 743 333
Email: info@thecourthousecheshire.com
Website https://thecourthousecheshire.com

Opening Hours

Tuesday – Thursday: 11am – 11pm
(last orders for food 9:30pm)

Friday & Saturday: 9am – 12pm
(last orders for food 10:00pm)

Sunday: 9am – 7pm
(last orders for food 7:00pm)

Disclaimer: we received a complimentary lunch but Fred judges (hah) this to be a fair and balanced review.

fred purr of honour

Emma

Emma

Hello!

I am Emma and with my husband Mark write Foodie Explorers, which is a food and travel website.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and British Guild of Travel Writers.

We have a wide range of judging experience covering products, hotels and have judged, for example, for Great Taste Awards and Scottish Baker of the Year.

Along the way Mark gained WSET Level 2 in Wine and I have WSET Level 2 in Spirits as well as picking up an award with The Scotsman Food and Drink Awards.    

Usually I can be found sleeping beside a cat.

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