When it was announced that Nigel Haworth was planning to step back from the kitchen at Northcote and undertake the role of Global Chef Ambassador – working on a consultancy basis and still spearheading the wonderful Obsession festival – there was never any doubt as to who was his heir apparent. Lisa Goodwin Allen has been with Lancashire’s renowned country house hotel since she was just a commi chef in 2001 and rose through the ranks to become head chef. Now she has deservedly been named executive chef and is the sole kitchen decision maker.

Managing director Craig Bancroft says (and we happen to agree) that: “There could never have been a better prepared protégé to take over the reins, Lisa has been running the kitchen on a day to day basis for the last five years but now in sole charge I really believe that you will see the flare and expression of her individual style in its totality.”

Here is a taster of what Lisa has planned for her first solo Christmas menus at Northcote…

The Festive Lunch Menu (£33.50 for 3-courses) includes : Pressed Local Game, Mulled Cranberries, Smoked Walnuts, Beer Bread; Caramelised Butternut Ravioli, Sage Emulsion, Toasted Seeds, Burnt Butter; Winter Herb Roasted Guinea Hen, Christmas Spiced Alliums, Baby Parsnips, Honey; Aged Rare Breed Miso Beef Rump, Shiitake Ketchup, Parsley Root, Triple Cooked Artichokes; Northcote Christmas Trifle, Clementine and Rosemary; and Iced Christmas Puding, Caramelised Wafers, Toffee Apple.

The Tasting Menu (£95, 7-courses) includes: Hand Cut Bowland Venison, Winter Sorrel, Satsuma, Brazil Nut, Caper Crunch; Crispy Skate, Caramelised Parsnip, Chestnut & Sage; Roast Orkney Scallop, Spiced Celeriac, Tiny Sprouts, Bacon Puffs; Sticky English Veal Cheek, Winter Mushroom, Verjus & Thyme; and “Banoffee Pie”, Smoked Toffee, Salted Milk. Matching wine package available, £78.95 pp.