The Telegraph, Travel News
The 50 best pubs with rooms in England
16
Sep
Sep
The recipe for a good British pub stay runs as follows: a menu of hearty, well-cooked dishes, a good stable of drinks behind the bar, soft beds upstairs and – this is essential – a warm and convivial atmosphere throughout.
It’s a simple enough formula to follow, and thankfully one that many pub landlords in this country have honed to a fine art over the years (centuries in some cases). When done properly, it amounts to a kind of roughspun luxury that’s every bit as cosseting as some glitzy grande dame hotel.
Some keep it simple, focusing on the little extras that go a long way: packed lunches for a day of walking, a bed and biscuits for your pet dog. Others go a step further, perhaps with an arty design to rival London’s premier boutique hotels; maybe a Michelin star or two.
But whatever you’re looking for, be it indulgent gastropub or down-to-earth boozer, there’s choice aplenty. Here’s our pick of the best 50 pub stays in England.
Buckinghamshire
The Hand & Flowers is hidden in plain sight in Marlow – it looks like an ordinary pub from the roadside, but Tom Kerridge’s two Michelin-starred pub is the reason many come to the charming riverside town. As a destination restaurant (think slow-cooked duck, ganache-covered chocolate and ale cake) with a few off-site rooms, it lends itself to an experiential stay, encouraged by personable staff and cosy, contemporary furnishings in the rooms. Expect wooden beams and original fireplaces alongside stone baths, furry rugs and bold feature walls.
From
£
140
This diminutive 18th-century rural inn with low ceilings is all hiddledy-piggledly wooden beams and soft lighting – and that’s only part of the charm. The unfussy yet exemplary restaurant facing onto the Chiltern Hills is worth a visit alone, and the Mash Inn’s six rooms means guests won’t have far to roll home afterwards. A combination of chef Jon Parry’s talent, the wood-fired open grill, and the on-site, foraged or locally sourced ingredients means there’s depth to dishes like the Medmenham lamb with purple sprouting broccoli and ewe’s curd.
From
£
110
This Tudor coaching inn, in the heart of the English shires, is a low-ceilinged period property with heavy wooden furniture, creaking floorboards and a cobbled courtyard. Given its Tudor look and feel, the 45 on-trend rooms are a surprise. For what seems like a small inn, there are plenty of facilities such as the Red House Spa, which offers a small gym plus treatments and yoga classes for an extra fee. The cosy tavern, with its encyclopaedic bar staff, offers numerous wines on tap and craft beers. For lunch and dinner head to Hawkyns restaurant, run by the two Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar.
From
£
126
A tastefully renovated, spacious, unpretentious pub dating from the 18th century. There’s a long bar (propped up by a healthy showing of locals on the night we stayed). You can eat in the bar area (think cushioned wall seats, bare wooden tables, mismatched chairs), in the high-ceilinged dining extension, and, weather permitting, out on the terrace or on picnic tables on the lawned garden to the rear. The pub champions local produce – in the form of the ales and cider on tap, and the meat, fish, fruit, veg, eggs, cheeses and yogurts, all of which are sourced from named local suppliers. There are eight individually decorated bedrooms.
From
£
106
Pulling up outside The Roebuck is a highly photogenic affair, with gnarly little olive trees planted among the cobbles, red geraniums in the window boxes and a frieze of stencilled deer skipping across the putty-coloured exterior. Inside is like being transported into a rustic-chic corner of Provence, with red-and-black tiled floors, a handsome wood-burner and retro café tables, topped with pots of herbs and candles in wax-covered bottles. The European-style bistro menu (tweaked with the seasons) comes in generous portions, whether it’s ‘small plates’ of crispy fish tacos; mains such as pork fillet schnitzel, venison lasagna and baked ratatouille; or puds of baked apple blondie and crepe suzette.
From
£
120
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Anyone who went to a Victorian school will feel instantly nostalgic when they walk into this pub, with its lofty ceilings, huge windows and chunky iron radiators. This, though, is school gone shabby chic, with a country charm that continues through to the six bedrooms. The bar offers five local cask ales, sourced within a 35-mile radius, but gin is the main event here, with almost 400 different varieties to choose from. Food-wise, you can expect generous portions of superior pub grub, from a menu that’s a mix of sharing plates, seasonal specials and old-school favourites (the handcrafted steak and kidney pie is particularly popular).
From
£
85
A country inn offering outstanding food, fabulous sea and moorland views, situated close to St Ives and Land’s End. The bar is a cosy refuge from the elements: log fires burn at each end on cool days. There are stone floors and an assortment of scrubbed pine tables; old hardback books line the walls. The dining room is painted a warm dark red and deep cobalt blue. Lit by church candles, what could have been a cold space takes on a warm convivial atmosphere, especially at night. Plates are kept simple with the short, daily changing menu – dishes include turbot, cauliflower, apple and sultana curry, cod asparagus, dill and cucumber butter and pork belly, black pudding, mash and rhubarb.
From
£
125
This is the only pub on car-free Tresco and has been designed in keeping with the heritage of the building, styled with a New England, nautical theme throughout. It’s home to an eclectic mix of interiors, reclaimed from Tresco Abbey, for example, or Lloyd Loom wicker chairs. Guests can order from regularly changing menus inspired by the seasons using the finest produce from across the islands and the West Country. Expect pub classics, alongside the freshest lobster and crab from Bryher, succulent Tresco-reared Beef, fish landed across the water in Cornwall, and fresh vegetables from Tresco Abbey Garden.
From
£
120
This hidden treasure is a modern day version of a country tavern – it’s at once a genuine pub that brews its own very smooth ales; a lovely restaurant with real local flavour; and a charming hotel with rural-chic bedrooms. There are wood-burning stoves, exposed beams and settles crafted from old barrels. Yet it’s the local spirit that makes this pub particularly special. Many of the vegetables are straight from surrounding Drinkwater Farm and dishes are beautifully presented and packed with local flavour – the likes of hot-smoked Bibury trout salad, and Cotswold lamb with stuffed tomatoes.
From
£
150
Set in a tucked-away honey-stone village of much charm, this 16th-century pub combines the attributes of a relaxing local and a stylish retreat, with an old-school bar, dining room and eight gorgeous bedrooms, each styled by a different designer. The rural-chic inn is an appealing foodie venue, too, with an adventurous menu based on artisanal ingredients. Facilities range from a good-looking private dining room to an expansive and beautifully planted terrace garden featuring a wisteria-clad pergola. And there are several circular hikes from the doorstep in which to burn off a hearty meal.
From
£
127
The Village Pub certainly does what it says on the tin ‒ it’s an inn and local hub. Yet it’s also a handsome place of much mellow charm and wide appeal. The central point is a proper bar area where you can pop in to enjoy a pint of local Windrush ale beside the woodburner, a framed Barnsley cricket club T-shirt above it reflecting pride in local involvement. As with most pubs, this is now principally a restaurant – with a small, wholesome menu offering big flavours. The six bedrooms all have a contemporary-chic vibe with panelling, feature wallpaper, soft throws, and pleasing headboards.
From
£
193
This pub spills onto the expansive green of picturesque, honey-stone Bledington, in glorious walking and cycling countryside. The Kings Head is an appealingly meandering property offering a generous sense of space and plenty of snug corners. The oldest part dates back to the mid 1600s and there’s a modern accommodation wing at the back. Décor is stylishly rural, with flagstone floors, rugs and old settles, and with a fireplace in one room, a wood burner in another. Good honest brasserie-style dishes based on seasonal ingredients are presented with flair.
From
£
120
This haven of eco-elegance (owned by Lady Bamford) sits in the centre of pretty, honey-stone Kingham, between the church and the village green. In the restaurant, modelled on a vision of an ideal farmhouse kitchen, staff will give you enthusiastic chapter and verse on ingredients (all organic) and cooking techniques. Much of the menu is based on what’s in season from the Daylesford estate – and you get the best of the organic best. Expect cured Severn & Wye salmon, market garden squash tortellini and Wootton Estate venison wellington.
From
£
140
Come to the Royal Oak Tetbury at lunchtime or in the evening and you’ll usually find this place buzzing: it’s a much-loved local as well as a weekender’s haven. Décor has been kept simple so as to show off the character of this 1780s building. In keeping with the overall feel-good factor, the restaurant offers well-priced fare based on seasonal produce. There’s a good range, from hearty and traditional pub dishes (burgers, beer battered fish and chips) to salads. For a treat, consider booking the Oak Lodge Suite, spectacular for its wood-beamed ceilings, free-standing bath, and views of the rolling Cotswolds countryside.
From
£
75
Herefordshire
This picturesque 16th-century black and white former coaching inn, set in the heart of Herefordshire, offers superb food and six luxurious rooms. The Riverside is surrounded by gorgeous countryside, with 12 local circular walks, from three to 15 miles in length, on which guests can spot kingfishers, red kites and even otters. It sits by sparkling River Lugg, with al fresco tables from which to enjoy the views and the gentle birdsong coming from the kitchen garden.
From
£
94
County Durham
Surrounded by the sheep-dotted fields and moors of the North Pennines, you come to this creeper-covered, Georgian coaching inn to eat, relax and then walk it off. Its well-judged sense of rustic charm strikes a happy balance between old-fashioned clutter and contemporary smartness. The Modern British menu shows confident cooking that lets the ingredients shine through; no fuss but definitely interesting (think homemade spiced cauliflower soup and pan fried loin of Teesdale lamb, braised belly and roasted garlic duchess potato). Eat in the candle-lit dining room or buzzier bar; the latter offers three real ales and a good selection of single malts.
Single rooms from
£
155
A lord-of-the-manor building that oozes atmosphere at every stone-flagged turn. The original fabric of the building – the Abbot’s lodging of a 12th-century priory – has been blended with a 21st-century country manor look. It’s big yet cosy, with quirky corners and an atmospheric barrel-vaulted bar. To relax, there’s an upstairs sitting room, comfy seats in the bar plus a large garden set with tables and chairs. Cooking is robust, with punchy flavours and unpretentious presentation: roasted guinea hen with puy lentils, turnip, radish and anchovy, for example, or linguini, with garlic, peas and broad beans.
From
£
169
The modest pale-pink rendered building, set back from the road and opposite the parish church, gives little away. Inside, the former drinkers’ pub has a sassy, metropolitan feel with lots of parquet flooring, panelling, exposed brick walls, and velvet curtains and armchairs. The brasserie-style menu offers pub classics: wholly crowd-pleasing and comforting. There’s no lounge as such, but the bar area has quieter corners, with Chesterfield armchairs, as well as a separate snug with gas fire and comfortable seats. Most guests are one-nighters; happy to chill-out in the spoiling bedrooms.
From
£
227
Since it first opened in 1867, The Cricket Inn has had strong seafood connections. The current landlords stay true to its identity, showcasing black-and-white photographs of traditional village life on the walls. The pub is apparently named after the loud insects along this part of coastline, and also centuries ago, when the beach stretched far out into the bay, playing cricket on the beach was a popular pastime. Boutique New England-style bedrooms offer a comfortable bolthole by the sea at the heart of Beesands village, set right on the South West coast path. Be sure to try the seafood pancakes jam-packed with Queen scallops, prawns and cod fillet.
From
£
129
This Grade II-listed pub is the hub of Salcombe where the locals gather at the bar. Comfort is king here and the room layouts have been well thought out without a whiff of the clichéd nautical theme – instead you’ll find simple light fittings, a wooden trunk at the end of the bed, and luxurious bathtubs for two. Food is served all day at the pub from 12pm (lots of seafood features), plus wood-fired pizzas in the late afternoon. The lively Ship’s Bar is popular with music nights, snooker tables and sports television. Hotel guests have access to a small sunny roof terrace covered in Astroturf.
From
£
164
There’s over 400 years of history at this coaching inn, but your focus is likely to be on late Victorian – it’s the inspiration for The Sow and the Acorn in Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Most charm effuses from the ‘Four Poster’ rooms: Hardy features an antique carved oak bed, believed to be 350 years old, and Tess has a square bay window hanging over the pavement. The main bar thrums with locals’ ribbing from 5pm. Next door at the restaurant, choose from ‘classics’ and à la carte menus; the latter really excites: herb crusted Dorset lamb, wild mushroom tortellini and corn fed chicken katsu curry a few feature items.
From
£
133
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With white stone walls, a grey roof peaked by chimneys and a thatched cottage next door, the Anchor fits the bill as a shore-perched West Country bolthole. Inside, the bar is a scrubbed-up smuggler’s haunt with low ceilings, smart wooden textures and knick-knacks on the walls. People flock to this destination gastropub for its elevated British classics. Menus reveal commitment to local, seasonal fare from land and sea, such as the fresh crab salad using crustacea caught only metres away. Drinks are also sourced locally, such as real ales from Palmers Brewery up the road in Bridport and local fizz from Dorset vineyard Furleigh Estate.
From
£
120
The Milk House name stems from the original name of The Street, Mylk Street, and gives rise to a light-hearted dairy theme: fresh flowers are displayed in milk pails, an intimate dining area is separated from the restaurant with plaited hazel hurdles. Facilities include a large, popular garden with a pizza oven in the summer months; virtually all-day dining; and free parking with direct access to the bedrooms – elegant in soft milky colours. Most of the ingredients for the restaurant and pub are sourced from a 20-mile radius and the seasonally changing menus focus on fresh Kentish meats, seafood and vegetables.
From
£
95
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The Five Bells’ authentic pub feel is combined with design touches like exposed-brick walls, a bar that doubles as a deli counter, sheep skins draped over antique chairs, and an old village shop-style corner selling local jams, wines and soaps. The four rooms – named after Kentish grapes and hops (Bacchus, Ortega, Fuggle and Golding) – feature eclectic design courtesy of Rogers, who sources furniture from local reclamation yards and house clearances. The daily menu features the chef’s current inspiration (eg Romney Marsh lamb rump with blackberry) and catches of the day such as Folkestone lemon sole with brown caper butter.
A medieval pub in a rural village, run by an enterprising local family, that serves exceptionally good food – perhaps rich pork and pistachio terrine with pineapple jam followed by melt-in-the-mouth Moroccan spiced lamb – and features eight attractive bedrooms. The pub dates back to the 13th century and retains period features such as thick timber beams, large open fires and vaulted ceilings. The resulting contemporary interiors, London-style gin bar and excellent cuisine have won over locals and drawn national acclaim. Six of the eight rooms are dotted above the original pub, accessed by creaky old staircases, with the remaining two in the separately accessed Doghouse.
From
£
144
The Duke feels every inch the village pub, set in pastoral Kent countryside on the east bank of the Little Stour. The village green is lined with thatched cottages and overlooked by an 18th-century church while country walks criss-cross the surrounding fields and woods. The menu is a roll call of posh Kentish pub grub: potted Dungeness shrimps; whole roasted partridge with creamed parsnip; whole pan-fried plaice with sea aster. Named after chefs who have inspired owner Mark Sargeant (Ramsay, Stein, Floyd and Marco Pierre White), the Duke’s four rooms are snug but artfully decorated, adopting the style of old school rooms.
From
£
107
Lake District
On a hilltop between Coniston and Hawkshead, this Lake District bolthole is ideal for an epicurean escape to the country. Though the inn dates back to the 18th century, inside it’s the epitome of rustic-chic. There’s a hefty beamed bar and walls covered with sporting prints, fox’s heads and vintage beer adverts, but the neat blackboard menus and neutral colour schemes feel more London gastropub than Lakeland inn. Go for one of the five Superior rooms located in a renovated out-building across the courtyard, featuring luxurious touches such as Herdwick wool carpets, rococo-style furniture, Roberts radios and walk-in showers.
From
£
100
This 17th-century Lakeland inn has a deserved reputation for its food, own-brew ales and genuine welcome, and is a hit with walkers and cyclists. Inside it’s all whitewashed walls and black window mouldings with beamed ceilings, exposed-stone and solid wood tables. Smallish rooms reflect its coaching inn history with a simple, though comfortable, cottagey style of plain walls and carpets, pine or oak furniture, and colourful check or floral furnishings. Most have wake-you-up views of the striking Melbreak fell. Serious walkers’ food is served here, designed to fuel you up for the day or replenish batteries in the evening.
A smart but relaxed country inn, in a quiet corner of the Lake District, with a deserved reputation for its classy food. It’s well off the beaten tourist track in an area of soft green valleys and damson orchards which is beautifully peaceful. Some bedrooms have open four-poster beds, others dreamy views down the Lyth valley, many have high ceilings and open beams. All have freestanding roll-top baths. The city-standard restaurant serves the likes of dry aged Creedy Carver duck and cod with Morteau sausage. For active types, there are packed lunches, local walks and cycle storage.
From
£
145
Millions must have been spent on recreating the look and feel of The Gunton Arms. What’s surprising is the astonishing (for a pub) collection of modern art on the walls. Where else would you find a Damien Hirst spot painting in the ladies’ loo or a Magritte above the residents’ lounge fireplace? Chef Stuart Tattersall cooks superb steaks on a huge open fire in the restaurant, another welcome twist. Guests sit at large wooden ‘sharing’ tables; everything, from crab pasta with chilli and coriander and farmhouse chicken, bacon & leek pie to those steaks, are excellent.
From
£
95
Depending on the season, you may find members of the village cricket or football teams propping up the back bar, which comes decorated with sporting paraphernalia, or locals thronging the drinking rooms at the front. While the dinner menu includes sharing dishes and classics (fish and chips, scampi baskets), it also punches above usual pub grub fare with seared scallops accompanied by roast butternut squash purée or pan-baked pigeon breasts with spiced beetroot. The 16 bedrooms are cosy and unpretentious, decorated in a simple, modern style with a hint of nautical cool.
From
£
120
A country pub with good food and rooms, often full with a joyous noise of people drinking, eating, chatting and generally kicking back and enjoying themselves. The menu changes daily, at least a little, and is somewhat dependent on the chef’s preferences, so as well as high-quality country cooking using mainly seasonal local ingredients you get the odd French-Caribbean twist. But the heart of the menu is pure Norfolk, making the most of meat from local butchers and estates and fish and seafood from the north coast. Six rooms in the converted barns next door are all good sizes, with contemporary bathrooms and a bit of individual character.
From
£
167
This well-known Essex country inn was formerly run by Jamie Oliver’s parents, and was recently taken over by the East Anglian Chestnut Inns group. Conscious of its long-established reputation for food and hospitality, they aim to maintain the status quo while sprucing the place up, and so far they’re doing a great job. Divided between ‘Good’, ‘Better’ or ’Best’, all of the rooms and their bathrooms have been refurbished in a cool and contemporary style, with colour palettes in heritage grey, green and blue. The Pavilion and Willows rooms (all of which are ‘Best’) have superking beds and spacious bathrooms with walk-in showers and separate baths.
From
£
98
East Sussex
Perched on the crossroads, the 450-year-old pub is the beating heart of Ditchling village. With low-slung beamed ceilings, a brace of roaring fires and cosy snugs, The Bull could easily play the role of ‘romantic country pub’ in a Richard Curtis movie. The inn dates back to 1560 and behind its pistachio-green façade is a cosy village pub with rustic oak beams, crooked ceilings and vast brick fireplaces. The six guestrooms have a plush, contemporary vibe with colourful velvets, tactile soft furnishings and modern artwork. It serves up a concise modern British menu, all locally sourced with fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden.
From
£
129
Outside the sign, The Bell “Apparently” (conversations in pubs always start with ‘apparently’, apparently) is just a hint of the fun which lies behind the heavy wooden door. The décor in the seven quirky bedrooms and four lodges is unconventional to say the least, from an old dentist’s chair to a wardrobe to Narnia. The dining room’s style too is charmingly haphazard. The restaurant offers a gastropub menu with a South American bent; picture rib eye steak with chimichurri, salmon ceviche and a simply magnificent fish and chips.
From
£
143
West Sussex
This cosy 16th-century inn has a wealth of character and a rural location, made particularly cosy by oak beams and inglenook fireplaces. One dining space was originally home to chickens that supplied guests with eggs. There’s a good mix of locals and visitors, and it can get buzzy on the weekends. The well-proportioned bedrooms in a Victorian-era extension above the pub are furnished in contemporary style and soft hues. High-standard comfort food is the stock in trade, with dishes like confit duck leg, belly of pork, parmesan and cheddar gougeres, and spiced ginger cake and butterscotch sauce. The drinks list champions local real ale and the county’s well-respected sparkling whites.
From
£
110
The 200-year-old inn, tucked into East Lavant village and backed by fields, has a cosy bar with beams and fireplaces. The food is excellent; locally sourced and seasonal produce are to the fore (moules marinière, turbot, garlic gnocchi). The rooms, above the pub and in a stable block, have their own quirks. Five en-suite bedrooms and three cottages – all with muted colours and deep, comfortable beds with Egyptian cotton sheets – have views to fields or downs. The suite-style cottage on site sleeps two, the others, nearby, have kitchens and two bedrooms.
From
£
99
The Crab & Lobster sits near birding hotspot Pagham Harbour with marshland and south-facing benches at a one-time quay on one side and a pretty hamlet on the other. The safe decorative style in the accommodation uses restful, muted colours. There are four double bedrooms (Standard and Deluxe), plus a cottage with two double bedrooms. All are furnished to a high standard with carpets, thick blackout curtains, deep armchairs/sofas and comfortable beds. The menu, as this gastro pub’s name suggests, makes good use of locally caught seafood. The “Crab’s” Lobster Thermidor is a highlight.
From
£
220
Unlike the majority of pub bedrooms, those at The Talbot Inn are big enough to dance around in. The dining space, however, is snug, intimate and candlelit. Once a stopping off point for abbots travelling to Cornwall, the inn’s old flagstones hide secret tunnels dating from the Reformation. Expect Berber-style rugs, tactile sofas, fireplaces decorated with logs, and earthy colours enlivened with modern splashes of pink. Larger rooms have freestanding baths and enormous emperor beds. A down-to-earth dinner menu can include dishes such as peppery grilled wood pigeon breast with sweet radish and tarragon crème fraîche, and posh baked Alaska.
From
£
210
The thatched Lord Poulett Arms (dating from 1680) is the kind of place where the in-the-know crowd come in quiet droves. Inside, the interconnected bar areas have beams dripping with dried hops, boarded and flagstone floors and antique tables laid out with brass candelabra and fresh flower. The six rooms and their bathrooms vary, as befits a 17th-century building, in shape and size and two have bathrooms across the corridor, which somehow adds to the character. The menus change with the seasons and make good use of local ingredients. Pretty much everything is made, cured or smoked in-house.
From
£
90
A tastefully renovated, spacious, unpretentious pub dating from the 18th century. There’s a long bar (propped up by a healthy showing of locals), and a lounge area. You can eat in the bar area (think cushioned wall seats, bare wooden tables, mismatched chairs, olive-green walls), in the high-ceilinged dining extension, and, weather permitting, out on the terrace or on picnic tables on the lawned garden to the rear. The pub champions local produce – in the form of the ales and cider on tap, and the meat, fish, fruit, veg, eggs, cheeses and yogurts are sourced from named local suppliers. There are seven individually decorated bedrooms.
From
£
85
per night based on a one-night stay
One of the country’s most sought-after and appealing new wave inns: welcoming, comfortable, stylish and fun. It perfectly balances its three elements – local bar, restaurant and small hotel – and thanks to intelligent, hands-on ownership, attention to detail and panache, succeeds with aplomb. There are eight bedrooms in the inn, not large but homely yet stylish and beautifully equipped, with thoughtful touches. Dining areas include an elegant private dining room (gleaming antiques and silver), animated bar, pretty conservatory and garden. The high-quality menu might include roasted lamb rump with boulangere pototoes and Porthilly mussels in chorizo cream.
From
£
105
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Ray and Jane Carter have owned and managed The Sportsman’s, nestled in the pretty Yorkshire village of Wath-in-Nidderdale, for more than 30 years. If game’s your thing, you’re in for a treat. Ray is an avid sportsman and grouse, pheasant, partridge, woodcock and mallard, all shot within a mile of the restaurant, often grace a menu that combines modern British elegance with resolutely old-school portions. Sunday lunch is always a highlight (booking essential) and breakfast, bursting with local produce, is cooked to order. The 11 bedrooms all have countryside views.
From
£
130
This formerly run-down old coaching inn has echoes of Andrew Pern’s Star at Harome, where James Mackenzie was head chef before moving here, and doubles as a popular bar and a destination restaurant with ease. There’s something for everyone: from pub classics in the bar to short menus in the Michelin-starred restaurant embellished by daily specials and a comprehensive choice of vegetarian dishes. There’s even a little peoples menu. Popular dishes include fillet of English beef, ox tongue fritter, pickled red onion, watercress and Harrogate blue cheese salad, horseradish hollandaise and chips. Try James Mackenzie and Andrew Pern’s specially created ‘Two Chefs’ beer, sweetened with honey and thyme.
From
£
180
The style is rustic French tavern meets a traditional Yorkshire inn at this stone-fronted, 18th-century coaching inn in East Witton. Voted one of The Good Food Guide’s top 10 pubs for the past two decades (Jamie Oliver has also declared himself a fan), The Blue Lion’s food and drink offering is impressive. An à la carte menu (changed seasonally) is served in both the restaurant and bar, where there is also an extensive specials board hung above the fireplace. Expect dishes along the lines of cassoulet of Yorkshire duck confit, Morteau sausage, roasted tomato and white beans. Some rooms have lovely views over the main street and Wensleydale beyond.
From
£
105
Life at Shibden Mill Inn centres around the whitewashed original pub itself, which is all low, exposed wooden beams, open fires and trophy stag’s heads. Take your pick from the cosy bar-lounge, a weekend-only grill restaurant and a private wine-themed dining room. As you’d expect, there’s a heavy local influence to menu items – mainly the cheese board selection that offers a good choice of Yorkshire’s finest. Other offerings could include duck leg croquette in a peanut butter “soup” and a 65-day salt-aged pave of beef. In a neighbouring converted barn there are 11 rooms, lovingly curated by owners Simon and Caitlin Heaton.
From
£
95
The stone-fronted Pheasant is set in an acre or so of private gardens, with its own duck pond, in the quintessential market town of Helmsley. The main building contains 12 of the 16 rooms, with a small indoor heated pool, the Pheasant Suite and the one-storey Plum Cottage accessed from a gravelled central courtyard. Head chef and co-owner Peter Neville (previously at Star Inn at Harome) is an advocate of wild, foraged food, reflected in both his tasting and bar-lounge menus: think elderberry-cured salmon carved at the table and Earl Grey panna cotta with passion fruit and blood orange.
From
£
180
This pub is serious about food, and has two AA Rosettes to show for it. It’s ambitious stuff – previous dishes have included wood pigeon with quail’s egg and black pudding; and venison loin with celeriac remoulade and chestnuts. The seafood platter and chateaubriand steak are excellent. It’s not really a beer pub but offers a wide-ranging wine list – including fine ones by the glass – plus local gins. The nine rooms are country-smart with vintage-style furniture, velvet or tweed headboards and feature walls.
Whitby-born chef-owner Andrew Pern was one of the first champions of local sourcing and now has a huge kitchen garden at the back of this pub. His menus are punchy, robust yet skilfully balanced and as much about texture as taste: think crab stick with seashore vegetables and avocado ice, perhaps followed by roasted lamb chop with truffled faggot or honey-roasted duck with tea-poached quail’s egg. The nine bedrooms with their comfortable mix of plaids and faded florals, rustic furniture and bold feature wallpapers, exposed beams and faux-fur throws.
From
£
150
The Angel has real Yorkshire pub character with mounted shotguns on the walls, gnarled, ancient beams and an 18th-century bar with a delightful coal fire. Its rise from backwater boozer to leading restaurant led to its late owner, Dennis Watkins, being dubbed the ‘Godfather of the Gastropub’. Now it’s helmed by two Michelin-starred chef Michael Wignall. Starter specials are along the lines of Saddleback pork shoulder, fennel risotto and apple; mains could include local rare-breed suckling pig or Bolton Abbey lamb. There are 15 stylish rooms, many with magnificent views over Rylstone Fell.
Studios from
£
130
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