Before you become swept away on thoughts of flash red automobiles, it's not like that at all, even if a few of them appear in pictures hung round the hotel. It is a charismatic Italian family, working hard to offer their take on the country house hotel experience in a delightful corner of the fiercely rural Ribble Valley, one of the most beautiful parts of Lancashire, but only a mere ten minute drive from the M6.

Several different menus are offered but the daddy of them all is the Saturday night job when, in common with the rest of the county, hair is let down. Start with a duo of pates, a composition of chicken liver, port and Stilton, served with salad and melba toast, or the delicious Medaglione di Bue, beef patties wrapped in bacon, slowly oven roasted with red wine and rosemary, then drizzled with horseradish cream. Those with a fish addiction may prefer the brioche de Coulibiac, a combination of salmon, boiled egg, parsley, saffron rice, tomato and onion, wrapped in puff pastry and served warm with salad and balsamic vinaigrette.

Main courses are robust, with a frisson of Italian finesse to ensure generous and attractive presentation on the plate. The sirloin steak on a bed of shallot confit is accompanied by a Guinness and red wine jus, whilst the loin of pork arrives astride a sautéed black pudding, finished with a grainy mustard cream.

Service is full of Italian charm and the Italian family atmosphere comes though strongly.