The story
Langar Hall in Cropwell Bishop serves modern British cuisine that balances traditional techniques with quiet eccentricity. When Imogen Skirving opened the doors thirty years ago, she envisioned a place where guests would feel invited into a dear friend’s home. Her granddaughter Lila Arora now guides the same philosophy forward, keeping the spirit of that original dream intact while updating the menu for contemporary palates. This steady continuity recently earned recognition from The Good Food Guide, which noted how little changes at the property and why that consistency remains so appealing.
The modern British cooking draws heavily from local suppliers, incorporating venison from the Belvoir estate and fresh vegetables harvested directly from the property’s own garden. Lunchtime visitors often linger over the twice-baked cheese soufflé or the skate wing served alongside Thai crab broth and a small crab bao bun. Desserts like the passion-fruit tart paired with peanut butter and white chocolate ice cream provide a sweet conclusion before moving out to watch the light shift across the lawns. Set menus offer straightforward value, while the wine selection leans deliberately toward established European producers.
Candlelit dining rooms feature Persian rugs, crystal chandeliers, and striped armchairs that reflect a classic British sensibility. Greek statues and wooden Buddhas share wall space with framed photographs, creating a gallery-like backdrop for evening meals. Ancient yew trees frame the croquet lawn and adjacent fish ponds, extending the sense of enclosure well past the building’s tangerine walls.
Recognition
Details
History
Nothing much changes at Langar Hall – and therein lies its appeal. Though it’s been business for some three decades, there is something timeless about following the long avenue of limes to this tangerine-hued country house – a little idyll surrounded by fields and ancient fish ponds, with a medieval church tower peeking above its roof. Inside, a maze of dining rooms is done out with eccentricity and elan – think Persian carpets, chandeliers, Grecian statues, Buddhas and armchairs sporting 'Paul Smith' stripes. There is character in the cooking too – some make the journey specifically for the twice-baked cheese soufflé, though other starters might include wild sea bass with asparagus, topped with brown shrimps and a dollop of lovage dressing. Mains span the traditional (satisfying Sunday lunch-style braised lamb shank with spring greens) to the more eclectic (skate wing with Thai crab broth and an unadvertised crab bao bun on the side). Desserts were a highlight of our lunchtime visit – especially a passion-fruit tart with peanut butter and white-chocolate ice cream, eaten slowly to savour views of the afternoon sun filtering through the yews, and creeping over croquet lawns. Set lunch menus represent especially good value, and the wine list leans heavily on the Old World. It's also worth dipping into the cocktail list at the little corner bar, where concoctions pay tribute to the late Imogen Skirving, the visionary 'chatelaine' who inherited Langar Hall in 1983 (it's now run by her granddaughter Lila Arora).
2 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Location
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