The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping – A Review

On By Little Miss TravellerIn A weekend in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire, North West, Recommended Stays, United Kingdom

Location:

Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping Lancashire
The Gibbon Bridge Hotel

The Gibbon Bridge Hotel & Restaurant is located on the edge of the charming village of Chipping in the picturesque Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within the Ribble Valley, Lancashire.  The hotel is set in 23 acres of beautiful gardens in a secluded position yet is easily accessible to the motorway network being only 10 miles from Junction 31A of the M6 and 15 miles from Junction 7 of the M65.  The delightful market town of Clitheroe is just a 20 minute drive with its own station and on the Ribble Valley rail line connecting to Manchester.

Arrival and Check-in:

Reception, Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
The hotel’s reception area

We arrived at the hotel late afternoon, leaving the car in one of its two large parking areas.  On arrival at reception we were greeted  by a helpful member of staff who welcomed us to the Gibbon Bridge, checked us in promptly and enquired if we would like a table reserving in the hotel’s restaurant for dinner.

The Rooms:

The Staple Oak Suite, Gibbon Bridge Hotel
The Staple Oak Suite lounge area

The hotel has 30 rooms, the majority located in a separate building just a few steps from the reception area.  We had arranged to stay in one of the hotel’s split-level suites, each of them with its own lounge and separate bedroom.  Our room, the Staple Oak suite was extremely spacious with a feature fireplace and wood burning stove, red leather sofas, oak dining table and matching sideboard.  The suite was elegantly decorated in shades of red, green and gold with a glass paned door leading out to a secluded private garden with table and chairs.

En-suite bathroom at The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
Our en-suite bathroom with whirlpool bath

To one side of the sitting room was a large bathroom with whirlpool bath, luxurious Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, dressing gowns and a pile of lovely thick, soft towels.  A well stocked hospitality tray with home made biscuits was laid out ready to use so we settled in with a pot of tea whilst taking a look at the hotel’s useful guide of suggested things to see and do in the area.

The Staple Oak Suite bedroom, Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
The Staple Oak Suite bedroom

The sumptuous decorative theme continued upstairs to the bedroom with a large Renaissance styled bed taking centre stage.  There was also a dressing table with a pair of matching stools, a second red leather sofa and an additional large television to the one downstairs.

Dressing room/walk in wardrobe, GIbbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
The spacious walk-in wardrobe

I loved the walk-in dressing room/wardrobe with more than enough storage space even for guests like me, who find it impossible to travel lightly.  To complete the picture in one corner of the room there was a small en-suite WC and ample wall sockets and USB points throughout the suite for overnight charging of our numerous devices.  Wi-Fi was strong throughout the hotel and we only needed to connect once during our stay for continuous use.

Individually styled bedrooms at Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
Another of the individually styled bedrooms

Dining:

Restaurant, Gibbon Bridge Hotel
The hotel’s restaurant

The restaurant extends through into the conservatory with delightful views of the beautiful gardens and the rolling fells of the Forest of Bowland through its floor to ceiling windows.

Bar lounge, Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
The hotel’s cosy bar

It’s accessed through a cosy bar, perfect for pre-dinner drinks whilst perusing the menu.  Starched white tablecloths and vases of fresh flowers picked from the garden adorn the tables.  Service is attentive but informal with friendly waiters and waitresses offering helpful suggestions from both the menu and wine list.

Fillet of Hake wrapped in a herb mousse, Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
Fillet of Hake wrapped in a herb mousse

Everything is cooked to order and locally sourced with vegetables and herbs coming straight from the kitchen garden with other produce supplied from local farms and dairies.  Dinner is priced at £30 for three courses from the a la carte menu including some daily specials.  I’d heard that people come from far and wide to enjoy a meal here and I’m not surprised as it’s fine dining at its best, but at a very reasonable price.

Creme Brulee, Gibbon Bridge Hotel & Restaurant
My delicious Creme Brulee dessert

Our starters of Twice Baked Cheese Soufflé and Beetroot Cured Salmon followed by mains of Fillet of Hake wrapped in a herb mousse and Pork Fillet in a cider sauce with crispy crackling and spring onion mash were beautifully presented and tasted delectable too.  We couldn’t resist a dessert and my Creme Brûlée with its creamy custard filling and caramelised sugar topping was crisped to perfection.  Each spoonful of the sunken chocolate gateau oozing with a rich sauce was also being savoured by my guest across the table.

Gibbon Bridge Hotel Breakfast
Breakfast in the hotel’s conservatory

Breakfast is served between 8.00 and 9.30 each morning with freshly baked bread from the hotel’s own in-house bakery.  From a buffet selection we started with fresh fruit and yoghurt before moving on to an expertly cooked breakfast, toast, homemade marmalade and jam.  It was so pleasing to be asked when we preferred our toast to be served as it invariably arrives too early and has gone cold by the time we are ready to eat it.  A selection of teas and coffees are available and our barista style cappuccinos helped to bring us to life for the day ahead.

The Facilities:

Gardens, Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
A section of the beautiful landscaped gardens

In addition to the restaurant and lounge bar the hotel has numerous rooms of various sizes available for small intimate gatherings, meetings and conferences.  For those wishing to arrive in style there is also a helipad in the hotel grounds.

Private dining area, Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
One of the hotel’s private dining areas

The award winning gardens feature ponds, nature walks and several secluded al fresco dining areas suitable for private parties with their own bars, outdoor kitchens and pizza ovens.

The Wedding Bandstand, Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
The bandstand is a beautiful setting for an outdoor wedding

The Gibbon Bridge hotel is licensed for weddings with an attractive bandstand and delightful gardens creating an idyllic setting for summer nuptials.  During the rest of the year or when the weather isn’t at its best the light and airy Orangery is a fabulous alternative.

The Orangery, Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping
The Orangery, perfect or indoor weddings and other functions

Out and About:

This beautiful part of East Lancashire known as the Ribble Valley is famous for its scenery, historic landmarks and locally sourced food.  The Gibbon Bridge is an ideal base for touring the area with distances to all places of interest being relatively short.

Clitheroe Castle
Clitheroe Castle

I suggest starting with a visit to the attractive town of Clitheroe to explore its castle and for a wander along the bustling high street.  Make sure you include a visit to Holmes Mill on Greenacre Street.

Holmes Mill, Clitheroe
Holmes Mill, Clitheroe

Entrepreneur James Warburton converted the town’s Grade II listed former textiles mill into a tastefully renovated hotel, brewery, beer hall, food hall, cafe and restaurant.  It’s a wonderful celebration of all things Lancashire and the perfect place for a bite to eat.

Views across the Forest of Bowland from Jeffrey Hill
Views across the Forest of Bowland from Jeffrey Hill

Take a scenic drive to the summit of Jeffrey Hill (also known as Longridge Fell) which rises to 1148ft (350m).  From the small car park, enjoy a walk taking in the breathtaking views down to the Vale of Chipping and across the fells of the Forest of Bowland.

Browsholme Hall, Forest of Bowland
Browsholme Hall, Forest of Bowland

Explore Browsholme Hall, a Grade I listed historic house set within the Forest of Bowland.  It’s approached by a sweeping driveway and surrounded by extensive gardens and parkland.  Standard admission is £10 for a one hour guided tour.  The house was built in 1507 by Edmund Parker and has been occupied continuously by 16 generations of the same family.

Ribble Valley E-Bikes based at Dunsop Bridge
E-Biking through the scenic Forest of Bowland

Rent a bike from Ribble Valley E-Bikes and let the bike take the strain up the steep hills of the Forest of Bowland.  They are based in Dunsop Bridge, a picture perfect village famous for being the geographical centre of the United Kingdom.  It’s also home to the gorgeous Puddleducks Tea Room, a great spot for a well earned drink and slice of cake after cycling.

Dunsop Bridge, Forest of Bowland
Dunsop Bridge, the middle of the United Kingdom

Other ideas include spending time at the Bowland Wild Boar Park, walking up Pendle Hill and exploring the pretty villages of Downham, Waddington and Hurst Green, the latter being home to the famous Catholic boarding school, Stonyhurst College.

Pendle Hill in the Ribble Valley
Views of Pendle Hill

Overall:

Gibbon Bridge Hotel & Restaurant, Chipping
The hotel’s terrace overlooks the beautiful gardens

A stay at the luxurious Gibbon Bridge Hotel was a perfect way to unwind and to soak up the local atmosphere.  This charming, privately owned hotel offers a warm welcome with the staff genuinely pleased to help in any way they can.  The hotel offers the best of both worlds with its peaceful, secluded setting yet is just a few minutes drive from places of interest.

Snuggled up in front of the Woodburning Stove at the Gibbon Bridge Hotel Staple Oak Suite
We snuggled up in front of the wood burning stove in our suite

The room, service and dining all exceeded expectations and I can understand why a local farmer told us that for a family celebration he wouldn’t consider anywhere else.  We didn’t get an opportunity to meet the chef, but hat’s off to him for his excellent cuisine, surely more richly deserved accolades will be arriving shortly.

Details: Gibbon Bridge Hotel & Restaurant Green Lane, Chipping, Lancashire PR3 2TQ

 

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Gibbon Bridge Hotel

 

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43 thoughts on “The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping – A Review”

  1. The Forest of Bowland looks fabulous, not heard of it before, and that hotel is wonderful. What a lovely place to stay and return to after days out exploring. Lovely part of England that we just haven’t had the chance to see. Have to put that right.

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  6. Loved the hotel and its setting. The pictures of farmlands reminded me of my young years growing up on various farms my father would buy and sell after fencing, cropping, planting and stocking. He found more money could be made from this than actually trying to run a farm through good and bad seasons. Rural life is so peaceful.

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    1. Thanks Leighton, the Gibbon Bridge Hotel is gorgeous! Yes, we are now settling into our accommodation in Helsinki. Arrived without problem albeit by a round about route as BA and Finnair haven’t resumed their flights from Manchester yet so we ended up going Manchester, Paris, Helsinki with Air France I.e. we went south to go north! But it was great to,be taking to the skies once more and to be back here. I hope you also get to visit sometime! Marion

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    1. Indeed we have! but over the years we’ve become more discerning and try to only stay in places that we think will come up to expectation! Thanks for your interest. Have a great weekend. Would you believe that we are in CDG airport right now transiting through! M.

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        1. Yes, we are now in Helsinki but as Finnair haven’t resumed their flights yet from Manchester we had to go Air France via Paris ie totalling in the wrong direction but I don’t care, we’ve arrived now and are happy! CDG was so busy, everyone seems to be on the move. Hope you are having a good weekend too.

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  18. While you were staying in such a beautiful hotel, I’m surprised you went out to visit all the nearby attractions in stead of just enjoying this lovely hotel (and their delicious looking food) 😊.
    The Gibbon Bridge Hotel definitely falls in the category of excellent style and comfort – with your suite being so stylish, yet cozy with the wood burning stove. Love everything about this hotel and glad you enjoyed your time there!

    Liked by 4 people

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