A stay at Gibbon Bridge
If you’re looking for a hotel in the heart of the beautiful Ribble Valley in Lancashire, with classic bedrooms and traditional British cooking at a reasonable price, then Gibbon Bridge hotel could be the hotel for you.
Just seven miles from the bustling market town of Clitheroe, and 13 miles in the other direction to Preston and the M6 motorway, Gibbon Bridge has been welcoming guests for 40 years but with its low wooden beams, cast iron pillars and gothic stone masonry acquired over the years from other locations, the hotel could pass for twice that age.
The hotel is privately-owned by the 82-year old Janet Simpson, who over the years has overseen the transformation of Gibbon Bridge from a six-bedroom venue into one with 23 acres of gardens, a bar, restaurant, bandstand licensed for civil ceremonies and suites for private function and weddings.
Some of the gardens surrounding Gibbon Bridge hotel
Thanks to the friendly and attentive staff and the bedrooms which have been newly refurbished, Gibbon Bridge was a relaxing rather than formal hotel in which to spend a weekend exploring the beautiful Forest of Bowland.
I had first visited this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – now renamed National Landscapes – a year or so ago when staying at the excellent Northcote, a luxury hotel with a well-deserved Michelin star.
Looking for more great wedding hotels?
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To compare the two would be unfair, especially as one is a little pricier, but it’s great to know that whatever your budget there are a variety of options from which to explore the area, which is fast getting a name for itself for its excellent walking, hiking and biking trails as well as having a growing artisan food scene. Judging by the number of diners in the Gibbon Bridge restaurant each night, the hotel is a popular choice with leisure travellers and business people alike.
Bedrooms at Gibbon Bridge
There are 30 bedrooms at Gibbon Bridge located both in the main hotel building and in the large extension next to the car park. The hotel is currently in the process of refurbishing its bedrooms so it pays to contact the hotel in advance to discuss your requirements if this kind of thing is important to you (as it is to me).
Gibbon Bridge in currently modernising many of its 30 bedrooms to give them a lighter, more boutique feel
For example, our spacious room, number 29, had recently been modernised and would have looked in keeping with any boutique hotel, with its stylish furnishings, scattered lights, wardrobe, coffee table, comfortable armchairs and large bathroom (with a rather unnecessary whirlpool bath which was incredibly loud).
I would have preferred a modern coffee machine and fresh milk alongside the kettle, sachets of instant coffee and packets of milk, but it had a nice, relaxing feel and had all the storage, mirrors and plug sockets you could wish for.
Book Gibbon Bridge on Booking.com
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The neighbouring bedroom, number 28, on the other hand, would not have been my preference but might be someone else’s, being laid out over two floors with a dated and sparsely-furnished lounge area downstairs and bedroom area upstairs.
The older-style bedrooms tended to be split over two floors, with the bed on the upper floor
Our room had a lovely large bay window which let in lots of light, but thanks to sensible planting had total privacy even with the shutters open. The quietness of the countryside meant for a good night’s sleep, once I’d replaced the overstuffed pillows with a flatter cushion from one of the armchairs.
We had a tour of some of the other bedrooms in the morning, and they are all individually designed with their own quirks and features. The more modern rooms have prettily decorated wallpaper and bleached wood wardrobes and side tables, while the more traditional ones are darker and more formal, with even the occasional trouser press and bidet on view.
The Bridal Suite at Gibbon Bridge is made up of several rooms, perfect for getting ready before the ceremony
Gibbon Bridge’s top Staple Oak Suite is traditionally stayed in by the groom before the wedding day and the happy couple afterwards and is very masculine in tone, with deep red colours, brickwork round the open fire and dark furniture, while a multi-bedroom bridal suite is full of light colours.
The Staple Oak Suite at Gibbon Bridge has a downstairs lounge with open fire
The bedroom at Staple Oak Suite is traditionally where newly married couples would stay
The grounds at Gibbon Bridge were very pretty in the spring sunshine, with large grassy lawns, a wedding pavilion, a water feature and several outdoor drinking and dining spaces, perfect for multi-generational gatherings.
There were many large outdoor spaces dotted around the gardens at Gibbon Bridge, perfect for summer gatherings
Gibbon Bridge restaurant
Clues that the hotel is run on more traditional lines came with dinner time at its on-site restaurant, which serves 6pm until 7.30pm, which felt a little early, especially for a Friday night.
The restaurant at Gibbon Bridge makes the most of the views onto the garden during the daytime
We arrived just before 7.30pm as people were being served their post-dinner coffees but we didn’t feel rushed, but were instead encouraged to read the menu while having a drink by the open fire as we made our choices.
The lounge at Gibbon Bridge was a great spot for pre and post-dinner drinks
The menu was clearly laid out and offered Nibbles, Wooden Boards or either Seafood or Meat to share or as a main course, Starters, Salads, Sandwiches, Mains, Steak & Chips and Sides.
We ordered some crispy pork crackling to have with a drink while we chose from the large range of classic British fare, including fish and chips, crispy duck leg, fish pie and salmon.
We ordered ‘nibbles’ of pork crackling before dinner
We decided on scallops on cauliflower puree with crispy bacon and truffle oil, which was good if very light on the truffle oil, and a light and tasty gin-cured salmon with dill cream cheese and shaved fennel.
It was just as well we were hungry after the long drive as the main courses were rather hefty, with a vast homemade fish pie and peas, and duck breast with dauphinoise potatoes and pomegranate dressing, which sounded like it shouldn’t have worked but it did.
My starter of scallops on cauliflower puree with crispy bacon and truffle oil
Main course of duck breast with dauphinoise potatoes and pomegranate dressing
Paired with an excellent Lebanese red wine, we had a pause before powering on to desert. I ordered a vanilla crème brulee which mistakenly arrived as a lemon meringue roll instead, but staff replaced it instantly and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out as the crème brulee was excellent, made on-site at Gibbon Bridge’s own bakery and patisserie.
The excellent Creme Brûlée which is made onsite at Gibbon Bridge
The cheese plate was composed of local Lancashire cheese and homemade biscuits
We took our cheese board of local Lancashire cheeses and the rest of the wine to our room which rounded off an excellent evening.
Exploring the Ribble Valley
During our stay at the Northcote we had embarked on a food tour of Ribble Valley, visiting local producers making everything from cheese to gin. This time we went it alone, guided by the excellent guide to the area written by Gibbon Bridge staff and left in every room.
There are footpaths which lead straight from the hotel itself across the local fields and along the river, or just a few minutes drive from the hotel is Justin’s View, where you can park the car and hike along the Ridgeway, soaking up the excellent views (we were lucky with the weather) which stretch all the way to Blackpool Tower.
Brabins Shop and Cafe is Britain’s oldest continually trading shop and is in the pretty village of Chipping
We walked to the nearby village of Chipping, home to several pubs and Britain’s oldest continuously open shop, Brabins, revisited the delights of Clitheroe, including its excellent Bowland Brewery and Beer shop, and walked around Clitheroe castle as the sun set, to the musical accompaniment of a nearby busker.
The view of Clitheroe from Clitheroe castle
Gibbon Bridge breakfast
Breakfast at Gibbon Bridge was perfectly adequate, with a selection of yoghurt pots and cereal at the buffet bar alongside eggs, sausages, bacon, black pudding and baked beans.
You could order freshly-cooked eggs and try and get the timings right with toast, butter and eggs all arriving at different times, and the coffee could have been a lot stronger, but you could help yourself as much as you liked which went down very well with a table of rugby fans.
The buffet breakfast at Gibbon Bridge hotel
The fact that Gibbon Bridge is heading into its fifth decade – with some staff members having been there as many years – is testament to how well the hotel knows its guests and its place in the marketplace.
It isn’t on the luxurious side, nor does it try to be, but it is a popular wedding venue in the Ribble Valley and a friendly and affordable option in this lovely part of England.
Gibbon Bridge is a popular wedding venue and can cater for all different party sizes, as well as offering outdoor weddings at its licensed bandstand
Hotel info and to book Gibbon Bridge hotel
Gibbon Bridge hotel
Green Ln,
Chipping, Preston PR3 2TQ
Current offers and events include:
Spring Short Break Rate from 1st March – 18th April (including Easter Weekend)
The hotel says: ‘A wonderful way to embrace the changing season and enjoy strolls around the garden as the flowers start to come into bloom’.’
Double or Twin Room Bed & Breakfast – prices per room, based on two people sharing: 1 night £160, 2 nights £300 and 3 nights £420
Easter Weekend Break – stay any night or nights from Good Friday – Easter Monday Inclusive for £160 per room per night.
Gibbon Bridge hosts many events throughout the year including Musical Afternoon Tea, Wine-tasting evening and wedding open days – check the website for the latest dates.
Book Gibbon Bridge on Booking.com
Visit Gibbon Bridge on Tripadviser
Like hotels in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty? Then check out my reviews of Burgh Island, south Devon: stunning views and sea tractors; The Headland Hotel, Newquay – luxury spa break in Cornwall; A Shepherd’s Hut stay at the Merry Harriers pub, Surrey Hills;
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