Red Hall Hotel, Walmersley, Bury – Review
By Roger Crow, May 2025
Whether you’re attending a wedding bash, in need of a place to stay in Bury, or like myself and Mrs Crow, enjoying a much-needed break on Eurovision weekend, Red Hall is a great stay. Getting there is relatively easy. Jump on the M62 from wherever you are, and head for Bury, obviously, then follow your sat nav, and a short while after the M62 you’ll be at your destination. From Howden, it took us about 90 minutes on a sun-kissed day, and there was no problem parking at the likeable hostelry.
Check-in was pretty simple. Ayesha on the desk took the usual details, including car registration, and then we were off to sample the room before our 7:30pm dinner at on-site restaurant Mélange.
Again, very easy to find our room with an old-fashioned Yale lock. (Having spent two weeks on a cruise liner recently, where medallions unlock your door while you wait, it was weird to go back to such analogue front doors). The room itself was relatively small, but spotless mirrors make it feel twice as big. There’s a beautiful grassy hillside view, a flatscreen TV, with USB ports for charging gadgets, and excellent bedside lighting.
The minimalist artwork of black and white straight lines feels very eighties, in a good way, probably because it reminds me of old Van Halen LP covers.
“Does not disappoint”
The bathroom boasts an excellent power shower, basin, and loo as standard. A small part of the shower seal could have done with a little TLC, but it’s far from a deal-breaker.
One of my first rules of great hotels, aside from is there a decent high pressure shower, is can you get a decent cuppa? Absolutely. A simple kettle and the usual coffee and tea facilities ensures you can enjoy either while getting ready for dinner.
The decor in the hallway is a little dated and feels a bit tired, but no such problems with the excellent restaurant, Mélange. I’d heard good things about this place, and it does not disappoint. The staff are fabulous and the food is to die for. We ordered hummus and flatbreads to share, which was a perfect starter. My chicken breast with chorizo main, complete with delicious new potatoes was the stuff culinary dreams are made of. I suddenly realised that after years of defaulting to the same old dishes, this was instantly a new favourite.
Rachel’s butternut squash and spinach wellington was ‘More pie than Wellington’, though the filo pastry was crisp, and the filling plentiful. It was “a little too spicy for me, and would have liked more spinach.” A little OTT on the accompanying veg, with, salad, plus broccoli, carrots, green beans and potatoes. The dish probably would have been stronger with just hot veg. Very tasty potatoes and a nice sauce, though.
“Cosy enough”
The veggie verdict? “Nice balance of flavours, cooked perfectly and well presented, but felt like it was having a bit of an identity crisis.”
For dessert, we share a delicious tiramisu, washed down with cappuccinos – two happy punters, while on TV just outside the bar, a woman is swinging from a giant microphone. Yes, Eurovision is in full swing, and while Blighty might get “nul points” in the public vote, I can’t praise Mélange and its staff highly enough. Amazing food, terrific service and a great atmosphere. Again, highly polished mirrors give the illusion of extra space, lovely seating, especially in the semi-circular booths, while a gorgeous spring sunset makes an evening to remember.
We retire to our room to watch the rest of the Eurovision drama unfold, barely touching the bag of snacks we bought for the event.
Soundproofing isn’t terrific, so when neighbouring guests return to their rooms, it’s not quiet, but in our case it was a only a little noise and again not a deal-breaker.
Strangely there’s no thermostat, so adjusting the temperature involves a little fiddling with the radiator. And no extra blankets either, which admittedly isn’t really a problem on a beautiful spring evening. The room was cosy enough, but always nice to have the option of extra warmth if needed. And obviously a quick call to reception would no doubt sort that problem on a colder night. Softer pillows would t have hurt either.
“Revelation”
Most importantly, a comfy bed ensures a great night’s sleep.
By next morning (always thinking with my stomach), I wonder if the breakfast in Mélange is as good as the dinner, and thankfully it is. Produce is sourced relatively locally, and the sausage in my full English is a revelation. Beautifully cooked, no gristle, and very high quality. Take a bow Pennys of Accrington, the brains behind the bangers; I shall be tracking them down for more pork produce if I’m in the area.
Tasty hash browns, black pudding and bacon too. The scrambled eggs are good not great, but I have been spoiled on that front. As a side note, the greatest advice I got on cooking scrambled egg was from Ian McKellen when he was plugging sublime drama Mr Holmes. The legendary thesp recorded a brilliant video of him just making that breakfast staple, and a decade later, it’s still my go-to guide.
“Thriving”
Coffee is spot on. It’s so good we don’t need asking twice when a second pot is offered. So the breakfast verdict is a solid nine out of 10, and with a heavy heart we leave the excellent waiter James and the rest of the staff, pack the bags and head off for a walk to check out the local area. It’s not an epic trek. Just a mile or so potter to the local park and back via an excellent garden centre, where we stop for a cuppa, a slab or rocky road and a look round the flowers and home-made produce. It’s heartening to see such a family business thriving while quite rightly promoting local farming. Little wonder Jeremy Clarkson’s produce is on offer, alongside a standee of The Grand Tour veteran.
Then it’s back to the car, and 90 minutes after we set off, we’re back home. Again, one of the easiest drives to and from the Bury area that I can remember. No nightmare turns-offs or hellish routes to get where we need to be. It’s little short of a joy, as is the Red Hall hotel. Great staff, room, food and ambience. We’ll quite happily pop back one day, whether Blighty are being thrashed at Eurovision or not.
Ramsbottom, voted one of the best places to live in the UK, is just 30 minutes from Manchester city centre and offers the perfect mix of countryside charm and urban convenience. It’s an ideal spot for a family day out or a relaxing weekend, with scenic walks through Redisher Woods, Holcombe Hill and up to Peel Tower. Visitors can enjoy a nostalgic ride on the East Lancashire steam railway, browse the high street’s independent boutiques and artisan shops, and experience quirky local events like the annual chocolate festival and black pudding throwing championships.
Just ten minutes from Ramsbottom, the Red Hall Hotel sits on the edge of Bury with easy access via the M66 and ample on-site parking. This former farmhouse is now a family-run hotel with 37 stylish en-suite rooms, including the luxurious Princess Suite. In February, it unveiled Mélange, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with British influences, replacing the former Oscar’s. Double rooms start from £120 per night.
