Last week I was lucky enough to receive an invitation to lunch at Stapleford Country House Hotel. Having visited Stapleford Park on a few occasions before, I was particularly delighted, as the food is always absolutely outstanding, the service second to none and the surroundings delightful. The invitation was part of the launch of a new special weekday lunch at Stapleford Park - 2 courses for just £18.50 in The Grinling Gibbons restaurant, which offers this special price, Monday to Friday 12 - 2pm.

I started with Ballontine of Loch Duart salmon with gravadlax and warm fish cake, which was followed by slow roasted breast of lamb, with turnip confit and rosemary mashed potatoes. The fish cake and smoked salmon was a wonderfully delicious starter and really set the taste buds alive ready for the roasted lamb, which as you would expect from Stapleford Park was cooked exactly as it should be - still slightly pink on the inside. The rosemary mash complemented the lamb extremely well. For dessert, I opted for a pink grapefruit souffle, with basil sorbet - there was much discussion on our table, with the new Manager Rupert Elliott as guests were particuarly taken with the individual souffle dishes, which were miniature copper saucepans. Stapleford Park Chefs can always be relied on to present food in an original way, which is never overdone. We just about had room for coffee and petit fours......

It was a super lunch and I shall definitely be taking friends and business contacts to enjoy lunch again. So if you are looking for a lunch venue, whether for business or pleasure (if you notify staff when you book or when you arrive, you can let them know if you are looking for a leisurely lunch or are on a schedule - and they will serve you accordingly) I cannot recommend Stapleford Park highly enough. If you've never eaten there, but feel tempted, why not book one of their weekday lunches?.....however, I guarantee that that will only be the start of your relationship with Stapleford Park Country House Hotel!

Stapleford Park lunch sample menu

Starters

Wild mushroom & tarragon veloute
Ballontine of Loch Duart salmon with gravadlax and warm fish cake
Terrine of corn fed chicken with leek, truffle mayonnaise

Main Courses

Slow roasted breast of lamb with turnip confit and rosemary mashed potatoes
Whole roasted bell pepper with basil & tomato risotto
Gilt Head Bream with crushed black olive potatoes, fennel & sauce vierge

Puddings

Pink grapefruit souffle, with basil sorbet
Warm chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream
Glazed lemon tart, mango ice cream

Any two courses - £18.50
Third course £5.00

Coffee & petit fours £3.85

To make a reservation, contact:

Stapleford Park - Click here to view their website
reservations@stapleford.co.uk
01572 787000