Review: The Church Bar & Restaurant, Northampton

The Church is a staple of the Northampton restaurant scene. It has been open since 2005 and is a unique and beautiful venue. Previously St John’s Church, it’s now the oldest secular building in Northampton, dating back to the 12th century.

The Church’s owners have done a brilliant job of using the Grade I-listed building’s original features to create a stunning modern restaurant. This makes for a wonderfully atmospheric venue – perfect for a celebration meal. Fittingly, it’s available for weddings.

The food lives up to the amazing surroundings. The menu is short but well balanced, and the cooking is accomplished. On our most recent lunch visit we shared the charcuterie board to start, followed by the gnocchi and the lamb koftas. The lamb is sourced from Red Barn Farm in the nearby village of Old. For dessert, the charcoal macaroons with chocolate ganache were delicious. There’s an award-winning vegan menu, which is pre-order only.

The Church is open Tuesday to Saturday from midday until late. There isn’t any parking at the restaurant itself but if you arrive for a dinner reservation after 6pm you can leave your car in the adjacent British Heart Foundation shop car park.

The author:

South Northants editor Lisa lives in Wootton with her husband and son.