Bank House lunch review

excellent food and a superb starter

Bransford, Worcester, WR6 5JD

the restaurant

The Garden Room restaurant was once a large, multi-function room – Christmas parties, dinner-dances, weddings, corporate meetings etc. However, it has undergone a significant upgrade and is now a dedicated restaurant. Refurbishment of this room started in November and included redecorating, adding french doors to the gardens and a new window dining bay. The hotel plans to make further improvements soon. But today it was the location for my Bank House lunch review. The tables were nicely laid and each had an attractive flower arrangement. The room is smart and spacious enough to allow lots of room between tables. We were fortunate to be able to sit at one of the bay window tables.

Despite having been to functions at the Bank House a number of times over the years, I had never thought of booking a table here for lunch. However, we had a lovely, relaxed lunch in nice surroundings.

If I had one issue, it is a strange one. The soap in the gents’ toilets was fragrant, so much so that after using it after the meal, I could still smell the aroma an hour later. Had I visited the gents’ prior to eating, I feel the aroma would have marred the enjoyment of the food. Like I said, a strange complaint.

We benefitted from a generous December offer of a 25% discount on food.

lunch

starters

For the third time in as many months, I ordered Ham Hock Terrine for starters. Served with pea purée, piccalilli purée and croûtes, this dish was attractively presented and looked great. If I was disappointed in anything, it was the lack of a small side salad. Nevertheless, the terrine was tasty – probably the best of the three I have tasted recently. The contrast between the pea and the piccalilli purées worked well. The Bank House Hotel compares pretty well in my blog post the best ham hock terrine in Worcester.

Christina chose the Superfood Salad. This dish was a huge portion which looked amazing. Quinoa, spinach, soya beans, pomegranate seeds, pumpkin seeds, avocado relish, tenderstem broccoli and asparagus with lemon sherbet dressing. Christina liked this dish. In fact, she loved it. She said that as it was a cold, refreshing dish it would also make a great meal on a hot summer’s day. I did try a few forkfuls and have to agree that it is a great dish. When I see lots of seeds listed on a menu I always think dry, gritty food. On the contrary, this dish was anything but. And I haven’t even begun to discuss its health benefits!

main course

Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder for me. Peas à la Française, mashed potato and redcurrant jus. This was a good portion of lamb on a bed of mashed potato in a rich jus. The lamb was tender, the potato creamy, and the jus dark and full of flavour.

The Beer Battered Onion Rings were thick cuts of onion in a crispy batter. Furthermore, they had no greasy aftertaste which is the ruin of many an onion ring.

Christina felt her Grilled Plaice Fillet needed something else on the plate, and I would agree. However, she could not fault the quality of the food. The fish was served with brown shrimp butter, parsley mash and pickled cucumber. The fish was succulent and the shrimp butter tasty. The contrast between the parsley mash and the pickled cucumber worked well for Christina.

Both the Bank House Fish & Chips and the Mixed Seed & Lentil Burger have been recommended, so perhaps we will try these on our next visit.

dessert

When writing a review, it is not ideal for both diners to choose the same dish. So I was pretty miffed when Christina ordered Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert. In fact, the situation was made worse when she offered me a spoonful and it was gorgeous. Texture and taste were spot on. It was served with toffee sauce, honeycomb and vanilla ice cream.

I took a risk with the Lemon Posset. I say “a risk” as lemon desserts are often too lemony for my taste. In this case, the lemon was subtle and the texture divine. The accompanying blueberries and shortbread biscuit played their part in creating a very pleasing dessert.

around and about the Bank House

The first things to discuss are on the doorstep. The Bank House features ‘a luxury spa, 18-hole Florida style golf course, business and conference facilities’.

If you like walking, the town of Malvern is just five miles away with the hills immediately to the south west.

The Knapp and Papermill Nature Reserve is less than four miles away. This reserve is managed by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and it is the best of the nature reserves I have visited in Worcestershire. That said, there are some I haven’t visited. What I like about the Knapp is the variety of meadow, orchard, woodland and the lovely brook that runs through the reserve.

facilities

parking

The hotel and restaurant has its own car park.

disabled access

This restaurant is suitable for wheelchairs and there are disabled toilets.

children

High chairs are available.

toilets

Being a hotel, the toilets felt a little ‘corporate’. That said, they were modern and spotless.

take-aways

Take-away food is not available.