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The Three Fishes at Mitton near Whalley in the glorious county of Lancashire is owned by Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft of Northcote fame and described as ‘a pub as it would have been 40 years ago’, but with the vital addition of an excellent tastebud-tickling menu of modern British and classic food 'with a twist'. The survivals include traditional slate floors, a medley of mellowed wooden furniture and log fires, as Granny used to say, 'with heart'.

There is an air of relaxed enjoyment on the part of a clientele that covers most relevant age groups, though Ozzy would not feel at home here so book now. Actually booking is not too much of a problem with 40 tables, but the place is highly popular and our recommendation is not to leave it to chance.

The menu contains a whole range of locally sourced or related dishes starting with nibbles which might be Ascroft's deep fried cauliflower fritters, curried and with wicked mayonnaise, before moving on to starters of treacle baked free range Middlewhite ribs with devilled black peas; smoked mackerel pâté with capers and warm toasted crumpets, or warm Morecambe Bay shrimps with blade mace butter and toasted muffin.

Their supplier’s names are invoked with glee, which is good for everybody concerned. Amongst main courses you will find The Three Fishes pie baked with mashed potato and sprinkled simply with Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese, or braised skirt of Ribble Valley beef and potato pie with creamed hesketh Savoy cabbage. For a grill that will set you up for the day order the 10oz Lake District farmers rump with real chips in dripping, slow cooked flat mushrooms, watercress and battered onions.

The heather reared Lonk lamb contributes to a Lancashire hotpot with pickled red cabbage, and vegetarians are well looked after with Leagram's organic, creamy curd cheese and onion pie, covered in short crust pastry with sour cream jackets and Ascroft's beet salad.

Puddings maintain the same robust momentum with mulled lemon meringue pie with Simpson’s cream and candid peel, while traditional English pancakes are served with a choice of delectable fillings.

A traditional Sunday roast menu is available weekly with a different roast being served at each of the Ribble Valley Inn Pubs.

An excellent wine list reveals the work of somebody who knows and loves wine. Junior members of the family are by no means forgotten, with their own menu and distractions to keep them happy. The Three Fishes is all about the future of eating out in Britain.

Their Website, a model of its kind, embraces a broad church, with due homage paid to all concerned in making this attractive country pub into a place of pilgrimage for those who like the genuine article. And find out more about Northcote by visiting their listing.