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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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The team at Merchants 1688 are proud to offer a fine dining or cosy drink experience with fantastic service in our historic 300 year old former wine cellars. We are currently holding one rosette. Our menu is freshly prepared on site using the best locally sourced produce. We use premium ingredients throughout our entire menu, making everything we can in house. Our head chef William Graham creates the seasonal menus as well as tasting menus every other month to showcase his creativity and passion for innovative food. Our wines are sourced all over the world using house of townend. We offer over 25 by the glass and our highly trained front of house team can assist in pairing. Bookings are recommended for dining
A 17th-century wine cellar with garden, now serving traditional pub food and seasonal dishes.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 29 Castle Hill, Lancaster LA1 1YN, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1524 66466
Website: http://merchants1688.co.uk/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: resdiary.com
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
Alysa Goh
YUM YUM YUMMM!!!
You must try the PORK RIB EYE. The Merchants have mastered the way to cook pork for sure because it did not have the smelly taste of pork and it just basically melts in your mouth when you eat it.
The fish and chips were amazing. Honestly not overeating it at all. It’s those kinds that are not covered in thick batter nor the kinds soaking in a pool of oil. The fish was fresh, the potatoes were seasoned well, the tartar sauce had capers in them, what else can I say?!?
When you have good mains, you know the desserts gonna taste GOOD.
SO YOU MUST GET THE PANETTONE PUDDING just imagine a bread and butter pudding but using a panettone.
However, the sticky toffee pudding was a tad bit disappointing. When you make your way towards the center of the pudding, it becomes dry and crumbly. Still worth a try if you’re feeling lucky!
… moreYou must try the PORK RIB EYE. The Merchants have mastered the way to cook pork for sure because it did not have the smelly taste of pork and it just basically melts in your mouth when you eat it.
The fish and chips were amazing. Honestly not overeating it at all. It’s those kinds that are not covered in thick batter nor the kinds soaking in a pool of oil. The fish was fresh, the potatoes were seasoned well, the tartar sauce had capers in them, what else can I say?!?
When you have good mains, you know the desserts gonna taste GOOD.
SO YOU MUST GET THE PANETTONE PUDDING just imagine a bread and butter pudding but using a panettone.
However, the sticky toffee pudding was a tad bit disappointing. When you make your way towards the center of the pudding, it becomes dry and crumbly. Still worth a try if you’re feeling lucky!
Molly R
Really lovely experience here – great recommendations on drinks pairings, lovely staff and food was 10/10. Also a lovely atmosphere and very beautiful venue imo. I had the duck special and my boyfriend had the hotpot – some of the best food we’ve had recently and we’re already planning returning in summer to try new dishes and specials etc.:)
… moreVerena Hallam
The food here is always wonderful but the valentines tasting menu was exceptionally good! Flavour profiles were incredible and each course was a work of art. The staff are brilliant too!
… moreAgatha Prevost
Will definitely visit again. Very close to the train station, saves having to look for a place to eat, especially if the weather is bad and you’re not familiar with Lancaster.
The food was wonderful, staff very pleasant and offered good recommendations. Great atmosphere and definitely try the cocktails.
… moreThe food was wonderful, staff very pleasant and offered good recommendations. Great atmosphere and definitely try the cocktails.
Paul Burton
Had the Xmas meal, wife pescatarian and gluten free, from ringing to book to the bill excellent service, attentive staff, very accommodating. The food was excellent 3 courses local food served perfectly just enough will go again highly recommended
… moreAftab Gujral
Visited here about 3 weeks ago for a meal to celebrate my daughter’s and my birthday. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. We were there on a Sunday. It was quiet. However, when I have visited before, it had been full and quite loud.
… moreAndra Leeke
The cutest venue. Feels like you’re eating in a wine cellar. The best French onion soup i have ever had! The lamb hot pot is savory and delicious. Highly recommend.
… moreChris Killey
Wife and I visited for a date night and left absolutely delighted. I started with the King Scallops with smoked tomato dashi, orange, marinated tomato & green strawberries. This was a great combination of the light seafood with sweeter accompanying tastes that complimented each other very well. For my main I had the Lythe Valley Venison Loin with black garlic, venison sausage, red cabbage puree, celeriac terrine and elderberry jus. The venison was perfect but the venison sausage was a big wow of this dish. Special mention for the elderberry jus whicu also stood out for me. So flavorful.
My wife started with the beef short rib with roast cauliflower puree, kale crisp, Yorkshire pecorino and pickled walnut. This went down a treat for her, especially with a glass of Chile pinot grigio.
For her main she decided on the Barbeque monkfish with maple glaze, muscade pumpkin, kale and pumpkin seed pesto. The fish was juicy and succulent without being overpowering. Again a dish that had no faults.
We hadn’t eaten an evening meal here before, but had had several lunches over the years. The evening menu was outstanding and nothing like I have ever had in Lancaster before.
As for atmosphere, the rooms were full and vibrant.
The table service was excellent, with our waiter remembering our request for another pinot right before the main.
Altogether we are absolutely delighted with the experience and cannot wait to return. Thank you Merchants.
… moreMy wife started with the beef short rib with roast cauliflower puree, kale crisp, Yorkshire pecorino and pickled walnut. This went down a treat for her, especially with a glass of Chile pinot grigio.
For her main she decided on the Barbeque monkfish with maple glaze, muscade pumpkin, kale and pumpkin seed pesto. The fish was juicy and succulent without being overpowering. Again a dish that had no faults.
We hadn’t eaten an evening meal here before, but had had several lunches over the years. The evening menu was outstanding and nothing like I have ever had in Lancaster before.
As for atmosphere, the rooms were full and vibrant.
The table service was excellent, with our waiter remembering our request for another pinot right before the main.
Altogether we are absolutely delighted with the experience and cannot wait to return. Thank you Merchants.
Alex L
Amazing. I eat out about once a month and this is one of the best meals we’ve had out this year. I had T-Bone pork and my friend had fish and chips. The staff were great, very friendly and helpful. Prices were fair for what is fine dining.
… moreAbigail
If you’re going to choose one place, choose here.
The quality of the food was incredible. Portion size and price for the high quality of the food was spot on. Location is beautiful, unique and characterful. Staff were accommodating and perfectly responsive to making us comfortable. A rather special place. Inside is beautiful and it’s right next to train station and castle. Menu is smaller than generic restaurants but this is due to the crafted menu which tailors to seasonal food.
A high quality place and food without feeling posh or uncomfortable. We loved it.
… moreThe quality of the food was incredible. Portion size and price for the high quality of the food was spot on. Location is beautiful, unique and characterful. Staff were accommodating and perfectly responsive to making us comfortable. A rather special place. Inside is beautiful and it’s right next to train station and castle. Menu is smaller than generic restaurants but this is due to the crafted menu which tailors to seasonal food.
A high quality place and food without feeling posh or uncomfortable. We loved it.