The Cottage Hotel can be found in the village of Ruddington just a few miles from Nottingham city centre. The venue was originally a collection of 17th century cottages but is now used as a hotel and wedding venue as well as a restaurant with over 100 seats. Further to this the hotel side of the venue has 22 rooms. They have lunch and evening menus, as well as offering special dining packages for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Upon entering The Cottage Hotel we were warmly greeted and offered a seat in the bar area whilst we ordered our drinks. As we were there for the Valentine’s Day meal package we could choose a cocktail each as part of the 3 course meal package which was priced at £25. We went for the Love Martini a mix of vodka, Malibu, Archers and cranberry which was fruity, refreshing and sweet and the Amaretto sours which was a mix of Amaretto, lime, lemon, egg white and sugar syrup and this had the perfect balance of sourness and sweetness. Both of these would have been £7.50 each but were included in the meal price for this package.

After we had been given our drinks we made our way to the dining area. The tables were well dressed and staggered, to create a more spacious feeling, so you’re not too close to one another. A hum of tranquil piano instrumentals adds to the ambiance of the room. The red candle on our table highlighted the romance of the evening. The decor of the rooms appear bright and airy despite being housed in once cottages, although the patterns on the paper act as a reminder of the history of the cottages. The waiting staff were attentive and friendly, checking if drinks are okay, putting a jug of chilled tap water on the table and topping up wine glasses if needed. The waiting staff were smartly dressed with waistcoats which gives off the aura of elegance.

We ordered from the set three course menu for Valentine’s Day and we decided to start with King prawns with chorizo, chilli and garlic butter and watercress and Grilled halloumi with sun blush tomato, black olive, rocket salad and balsamic. The king prawns were incredibly juicy and sweet whilst chunks of chorizo added a salty and smoky element. Fresh chilli added real heat to the dish whilst also enhancing the flavours from the garlic butter. The grilled halloumi was chewy, mild and salty with the sun blushed tomatoes adding a burst of sweetness which balanced the acidity of the balsamic.

For our mains we went for the 8oz heart of rump steak with triple cooked chips, confit tomato, mushroom and watercress salad. And Nottinghamshire pork chop with braised red cabbage, herb mash potato and creamy mustard sauce. The steak was cooked perfectly medium as we’d asked and was charred on the outside which intensified the flavours of the meat. The meat was tender for a rump and juicy on the inside. The peppercorn sauce was creamy and thick. The large chips were golden and crisp with a great crunch to the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside. The pork chop was huge and well cooked and it’s subtle flavour was paired well with a creamy mustard sauce. The sauce was gravy like in consistency with a slight spice from the mustard and sweetness from onions. The creamy mash this was served with was full of fresh flavours from the herbs. There was a good sweetness from the braised red cabbage and a slight crunch to the carrots.

Following our two courses, which you could opt for with the cocktail for £22, but we decided to get dessert and the 3 courses for £25. We both went for the warm chocolate fondant with chocolate ice cream and passion fruit. This was the highlight of the meal. A crisp and set exterior with moist sponge and a gooey and rich yet smooth chocolate centre. The passion fruit balanced the richness well as it offered a tangy taste.

They also offer a lunch and dinner menu which typically consists of apple and blue cheese tart, prawn cocktail and chicken liver parfait to start with. Slow cooked blade of beef, seabass and butternut squash gnocchi for mains and Eton mess, bread and butter pudding and lemon and clementine posset for dessert. Further to this, they offer a Sunday lunch menu with a selection of starters and desserts available at £4.95 and mains such as roast beef, roast chicken breast, oven baked cod and risotto at £9.95 each.

Our food and drinks were provided complimentary in return for an honest review. All reviews are written honestly and in as much detail as possible whether paid for or complimentary. I hope that this review has given you a good idea of the food and service this venue offers.

Location: The Cottage Hotel, Easthorpe Street, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6LA

Opening hours: Lunch is 12PM till2PM on Tuesday till Saturday and 12PM till 3PM on Sunday whilst dinner is served 6PM till 9PM on Monday to Saturday.

Phone number: 0115 984 6882

Website: http://www.thecottagehotel.co.uk/