I’ve been to Winstanley house a few times and have never snooped about it because it’s always felt like a bit of a “Calamity Jane” kind of place in the past.
The reservations can tell you they are full and then phone you to say they have a table for you. You can ask for a table at 12.30pm, the tell you they can only accommodate you at 1.30pm but when you arrive early deciding to have a drink in the bar, your table is ready. That kind of thing.
The setting magnificent, a stately home, the location in the scariest part of town so not surprisingly a tale of two halves.
I have never rushed back to Winstanley House the experience in the past has always left me with a bit of a flat feeling, the food was never horrible just OK, the staff pleasant but not organised, no atmosphere, and when I have returned it’s been for other reasons, like short notice or on that side of town.
Until this weekend when a lunch at Winstanley house came together. Now I don’t know if it was a one off never to be repeated but it was one of those experiences that leaves you really happy and wanting to return.
First of all the welcome was warm when we arrived and our table was ready. No wait, straight into what can only be described as a beautiful Georgian dining room tastefully decorated in blues and greys with large slash windows overlooking expansive grounds.
Our server was friendly, attentive and efficient.
The meal opened with cocktails delivered by Cole, the mixologist who when challenged to make something he’d never made before from ingredients he didn’t have, improvised and what he delivered was so good it was worthy of a place on a cocktail list in a top hotel. 5 star.
The lunch arrived, beautifully presented on massive plates with large crispy Yorkshire puddings and a generous sized gravy boat to go with. The food was piping hot and really well prepared. It was the best Sunday lunch I’ve ever enjoyed there without doubt.
We ordered homemade eclairs in caramel sauce for dessert, another triumph delivered on the prettiest of mix and match hand painted dessert plates, so lovely I researched who they were by, bone china hand painted by Yvonne Ellen. It was a really great touch.
The food was reasonably priced for what we had, two courses, cocktails, a glass of wine, the total £77 which included a small well deserved 10% service charge. By the time we left the dining room was packed.
Things have definitely improved at the Black Iron Restaurant, known predominantly as a steakhouse specializing in aged and marbled cuts of beef. It’s is to get to located just off the Hinckley Road the A47 where the ring road crosses on the Leicester City Centre side. It’s a 3-4 minute drive through Braunstone Park to access it.
It is also a small boutique hotel offering accommodation so a popular wedding venue offering historic Georgian architecture and sprawling parklands and gardens. If you want to make a reservation I recommend calling rather than trying to book on the website. We haven’t had much luck using the website. If you call and no one answers, you can at least leave and message and someone will call you back in my experience.
If you heard mixed reviews about Winstanley House and have wavered about giving it a try now’s the time to go.
Credit where credit is due. For us they got everything right.