Harden's says
Despite having won recognition from the tyre men in his first year at Moor Hall, Mark Birchall isn't resting on his laurels - the end of 2017 saw the opening of the 65-seat Barn, on the first floor of a structure that will house a dairy, bakery, a meat-aging and curing room and a mini brewery downstairs. Aaron Harris, previously at Sixty One, has been appointed head chef.
Harden's survey result
Summary
The more casual ‘second’ restaurant at Mark Birchall’s all-conquering project still offers a “sumptuous dining experience”, with the “incredible attention to detail” expected from such a venue. Some reporters even “like its chilled style more than its more prestigious neighbour. Service is genuinely more friendly, and there’s less genuflecting at the stuff on the plate – I’ve come to eat, not worship!”. As for the clientele, it’s “a bit less footballer WAGish” than next door – and there’s “an excellent value lunch menu, considering the elevated nature of the cooking”.
Summary
The “modern and well-designed” alternative to the hall’s main dining room is much more casual, and makes a top choice to enjoy the environs of the venue and its “professional” standards, but in a more relaxed vein. The “assured” cooking has won it a Michelin star, but that’s something of a distraction really. Though interesting and impeccably sourced, the menu is quite straightforward, not particularly ‘haute’, and much more affordable than the main hall (especially with the early-in-the-week deals at lunch and dinner). Kids’ menus and good outside tables in summer complete a likeable but conventional picture.
Summary
“An attractive building within the Moor Hall grounds with a very pleasing informality about it” – this stylishly converted barn scores consistently highly with reporters as “an excellent casual alternative to the main restaurant”, even if it doesn’t quite scale the heights of the main hall. “It has a very pleasing informality, which explains why so many arrivals head straight to it. And it’s great to see a top chef offering an alternative to his fancier cooking that is at the same time affordable and good quality and which has a character all of its own. (This isn’t just Moor Hall on a smaller scale: it's a different style of cooking: more grounded, perhaps, and very much right). Staff are exceptional, carrying through the high service levels from the main restaurant. Prices are very reasonable for the quality”. “Having the bakery, meat-curing room etc on site is a clear advantage” too. Top Tip – “it’s especially good value at lunchtime”.
Summary
The “wonderfully converted barn” has an “excellent design” – complete with heavy beams and bare brick walls – and is the casual dining, “sister outlet to the two-Michelin star main operation Moor Hall”. It’s not quite as exceptional as the main dining room, but its “inventive” take on posh-brasserie dishes (roasted turbot, 40-day aged sirloin, soft herb gnocchi…) is very highly rated in all reports, and you can still “expect quite a glitzy crowd at the weekend, with live piano on Friday and Saturday nights”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Barn at Moor Hall?
Prescot Rd, Aughton, L39 6RT
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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| Lunch | £42.00 |  |
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| Dinner | £48.00 | |
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| SundayLunch | £48.00 | £56.00 | |
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Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £20.00 | £50.00 | £12.00 |
| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £27.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
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| Service | 10.00% |
Prescot Rd, Aughton, L39 6RT
Opening hours
| Monday | 8:30 am‑3 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30 am‑5 pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30 am‑5 pm |
| Thursday | 8:30 am‑5 pm |
| Friday | 8:30 am‑5 pm |
| Saturday | 8:30 am‑5 pm |
| Sunday | 8:30 am‑5 pm |
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