Cheshire Life Luncheon - The Mere Golf Resort and Spa, Knutsford

Sunshine on the terrace and treats to eat put guests in a holiday mood at the Mere Golf Resort and Spa in Knutsford.

Great British Life: Exec Chef, Mark Fletcher (seated) with his team; Zahra Mohammadi, Rebecca Rault, Rafal Dziewonski and Mark Fletcher Exec Chef, Mark Fletcher (seated) with his team; Zahra Mohammadi, Rebecca Rault, Rafal Dziewonski and Mark Fletcher (Image: Archant)

The Mere Golf Resort and Spa in the heart of the Knutsford countryside is just the place to ease yourself into a holiday mood, it’s a place to relax, soak up the sunshine and sip fizz on the terrace overlooking the lush green of the golf course.

Specially invited guests at the recent Cheshire Life lunch held in the elegant Mere Suite, took advantage of glorious spring weather and enjoyed a reception on the terrace, sipping prosecco and nibbling on canapés, whimsically created to look like miniature ice cream cones by executive chef Mark Fletcher and his team. These were actually filled with a choice of either a smoked salmon and caviar or a whipped cream cheese, but proved a fun way to tee off a lunch that was full of culinary delights.

Chef Mark Fletcher, who has over 20 years experience creating dishes within Michelin starred restaurants and leading hotels around the UK, loves to push boundaries and challenge his team to create new menu ideas and innovative flavour combinations, as well as use lovely seasonal produce.

The menu he had devised for this occasion was the perfect way to celebrate the arrival of spring, starting with a beautifully judged combination of devilled mackerel and the fresh sweetness of heritage tomatoes cut through with the piquancy of a shallot dressing.

Great British Life: Mel Sheehy and Laura Ball Mel Sheehy and Laura Ball (Image: Archant)

For mains, roast saddle of lamb kept things classic and seasonal with crowd-pleasing accompaniments of wild garlic, peas, fresh mint and soft creamy potatoes.

If chef Mark wanted to create a desert that was irresistible he certainly succeeded. Chocolate entremets - a multi-layered milk chocolate mousse-based cake was served with a sesame ice cream and, for texture, honeycomb (which made the whole thing a little reminiscent of a Crunchie chocolate bar) proved a luxurious finale.

For those who wanted to linger longer there was fresh coffee and chocolates and of course those views to imbibe.

The Mere has long been a favourite destination in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, not only with golfers who love to face the challenges of the 18 hole championship course but also with those who want an oasis from which to make their escape from everyday stresses.

Great British Life: Cheshire Life Lunch at Mere Golf & Spa Cheshire Life Lunch at Mere Golf & Spa (Image: Archant)

Visitors come to enjoy the spa facilities and restaurant, as well as alfresco dining and under its relatively new ownership there are ambitious plans to make it an even more irresistible venue in the future.

The Mere was sold to a Gulf-based investor in January 2018 and the aim is now to give it a £20m refurbishment over the next two years, increasing the number of bedrooms.

General Manager Gary Johnson said: ‘We are hoping to take all the banqueting facilities up to 1,000 people so we will have the largest in the area.

‘We want to make the resort a leading destination in the north of England. That’s our vision.’

Great British Life: Cheshire Life's new editor, Katie Mulloy, with Leila Bibby and Mary-Jane Greenhalgh Cheshire Life's new editor, Katie Mulloy, with Leila Bibby and Mary-Jane Greenhalgh (Image: Archant)