Carden Arms Malpas, Tilston

Reviews

1. Francois Xavier ★★★★★

   As I was travelling from France to Ireland, I made a small detour from my route to visit this address, recommended warmly by The Telegraph. A fortunate decision, it fell well. The pub has that particular English warmth, friendly faces, a gentle buzz, and a dining room with paintings that catch the eye and chairs with a little personality of their own. The meat comes from the owner’s organic farm, which already tells you that things are done with the spirit of the house. As it was December, the pub offered their Christmas menu. We began with the Beef Bon Bon and horseradish emulsion. A familiar flavour, yes, but here it was well married, the crispy and creamy textures meeting each other with a harmony. A fine beginning. For my main course, I chose the Beef Wellington with potato terrine. A dish of tradition, executed with care and elevated with a smoked garlic flavour, even a Frenchman must admit the beef was cooked right. My partner chose the Lemon Sole Bonne Femme, a light and pleasant plate, nothing too much, nothing missing. Exactly as it should be. Dessert brought two final pleasures: the Pumpkin and Ginger Brûlée, gentle and seasonal, and a White Chocolate Torte with dark chocolate and coconut tuile, a combination that could have gone in all directions, but here it was held with a master’s hand. The staff were attentive and in good humour. The barman, with that calm English assurance, encouraged me to try a local cask ale. It is not a drink I know well, but the wonderfully named Barnsley Bitter was a surprise, round, agreeable, the sort of thing that goes down all alone. I ordered two more without hesitation (my partner, fortunately, had the wheel). A small detour, yes, but one that left me with the feeling of having made a beautiful escape along the long road.

   almost 7 months ago
2. Rachel WB ★★★★☆

   Very cute pub in the Cheshire countryside, we were 5 friends staying over for a Christmas break. Nice rooms, with great showers, however quite dark lighting and no water/ glasses (does have espresso machine). Nice decor and Bluetooth radio. Friendly helpful staff (did keep forgetting our drinks at dinner however), fab bar staff when we moved to the bar area. Meal was lovely, however the Christmas menu dishes were a tad small, I’d go for a couple of sides, the normal menu dishes looked big (from what I could see coming out of the kitchen). Breakfast options limited, full English or cereal, the cereal options weren’t great, I’d expect sourdough (or similar) toast, a nice granola and some fruit yogurt etc however it was just boxed cereal. Full English was good (apart from toast was brioche bread) if you like a meaty breakfast. Overall I would recommend and good value for money.

   almost 7 months ago
3. Lee Graham ★★★★★

   I’ve eaten at The Carden Arms several times over the past few months, and it continues to impress every single time. The food is superb far better in quality, flavour, and presentation than any other pub I’ve been in Cheshire. In fact, it’s on par with top restaurants you’d expect to find in Manchester or London. The ambience is amazing cosy, relaxed, and full of character. The staff are genuinely top-notch, striking the perfect balance between friendly and professional, which makes every visit feel special. One of the highlights is the use of local produce from the owners’ farm it really doesn’t get much better than that. Whether you’re nearby or not, The Carden Arms is absolutely worth the drive. Lee, Janine, Ethan & Callum

   almost 8 months ago

1. Steve Lendrum ★★★★☆

   Fantastic pub. Great beer and lovely hotel rooms. Staff are the best I've ever come across in a pub and I've been to a lot of pubs right across the UK. Only downside in the hotel part was headroom but most people aren't as tall as me.

   almost 3 years ago
2. Tom Morgan ★★★★★

   Great pints and tasty nibbles. Good range of cask ale on the bar and the bar snacks we had were superb, I will definitely be back to try the food properly.

   almost 3 years ago
3. Cliff Ettridge ★★★★★

   We stayed at the Carden Arms on a Friday night. The welcome was wonderful. What a lovely inn, beautifully restored and designed with a great ambience and a fantastic menu. The rooms were stylish, comfortable and everything from start to finish was superbly delivered.

   almost 3 years ago

1. Peter Simpson ★★★★★

   A lovely traditional pub which is the heart of the village. Delicious freshly cooked food which was served piping hot. This is a great place to take a dog as you can either sit outside or away from other diners in the library area. The staff were very friendly and eager to provide excellent service. Thank you to everyone for a lovely evening.

   almost 3 years ago

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