Knutsford Crown Court was the scene of more than a few notorious trials in its 200-year history, including that of Alan Turing in 1952, where he was found guilty of indecency and sentenced to chemical castration. When the Ministry of Justice decided to close the Court in 2010, there was much debate and concern about what might happen to the building. It was eventually bought by brothers Oliver and Dominic Heywood, founders of Flat Cap Hotels, who have created a rather beautiful boutique hotel and restaurant.
The restaurant was recently refurbished, with, say Flat Cap, the aim of creating a ‘lively and stylish’ cocktail bar and dining spot, ‘unlike anywhere else in Knutsford’ With this in mind, I was very much looking forward to experiencing the buzz for myself, one chill Friday night last month.
The restaurant's interior is elegant, with rich blue walls and dark wood contrasting beautifully with the original vaulted ceiling. An olive tree stands below the glass cupola, lit with tiny lights. Slightly oddly, however, the entire space was flooded with dark red light, which really doesn’t help one (at my age) read the menu, though it does give a more intimate feel to the space. There are live bands and DJs playing on Friday and Saturday nights, adding to the party atmosphere.
First things first – the cocktail menu, always of huge importance, personally speaking. I wasn’t to be disappointed; the selection is extensive and offers classics and never-seen-before options across all the major spirits. Unable to decide, I sought the advice of our server, who within a few questions narrowed it down to the Vanilla Laika, a mix of Absolute vanilla vodka, freshly squeezed lime, blackberry liqueur and apple juice. Fresh and delicious, it wasn’t long before I was requesting my second...
For our starters we faced some more decision stress, finally opting for Cider Glazed Pork Ribs with Fennel Slaw (£12.50) and Asian Sticky Pork Belly with Crispy Noodles (£15.50). My ribs were truly delicious, wrapped in a rich and sticky sauce and with loads of meat to rip from the bone, and oh my, that coleslaw! Mike’s pork belly was as soft and sweet as one could possibly hope for.
Mike opted for the 10oz ribeye steak, with garlic, ginger and soy caramel jus, and salt and pepper chips (£25.50), while I chose the superfood salad, a delicious mix of avocado, quinoa, sun-blushed tomatoes, roasted red peppers, beetroot and rocket with a lemon dressing, to which I added torched goat’s cheese. Mike’s steak made him happy, which is always a good thing. He added a Diane sauce, which he can be very fussy about, and pronounced it excellent. My salad was fabulous, a very generous serving, and with two generously sized slices of goat’s cheese, too much. Luckily The Courthouse is well prepared to ensure food waste is minimised, and I took most of it home in a box for a very delicious lunch.
The restaurant at The Courthouse offers atmosphere, excellent cocktails and great food and makes a great addition to the already extensive Knutsford food offering.
