By Margaret Brecknell The Rake, a family-run tapas restaurant, bar and boutique hotel in Littleborough, enjoys an excellent reputation for its fine food and wine, as well as the warmth of its welcome and its friendly efficient service. wner, Mark Wickham, has been in charge at The Rake, together with his wife Dawn, for nearly two decades now. The couple started out at the Littleborough Coach House Café, where their weekly tapas night became a popular feature. They then moved on to The Rake when it came up for sale in the early 2000s and turned it into a tapas restaurant.
The choice of specials on the menu will typically feature dishes inspired by a wide range of different cuisines. As well as Spanish tapas favourites as chorizo in red wine, patatas bravas and Spanish omelette, Mark and his team like to combine classic Spanish ingredients with flavours inspired by other Mediterranean cuisines such as pimentos with feta cheese, scallops wrapped in parma ham with pesto and toulouse sausage stuffed with manchego cheese. Other customer favourites include the beef ribs in bourbon sauce, spicy jumbo chicken wings and mushrooms served in a white wine and garlic sauce.
Today, The Rake offers a varied menu of Mediterranean dishes including some innovative vegetarian options, all using the freshest of ingredients from local producers. All the dishes are freshly made from scratch on the premises including the desserts. The specials are changed on a regular basis, which means that even for regular customers there is
The Rake is located in a historic 17th-century former coaching inn on Blackstone Edge Old Road, about half a mile from Littleborough Town Centre. It is now possible to stay on the premises in one of four luxurious boutique-style rooms, which combine some of the historic building’s original features with contemporary furniture and stylish fittings. Each individually
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always something new to try. There are also two well-stocked bars and the drinks menu includes an interesting selection of Mediterranean wines and local ales.
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
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