The Hovingham Inn

"Staying near by and wanting an alternative option for dinner we first had a drink in the bar. Looking at the menu we decided to book for dinner the following evening. First impressions of the menu were that the food options were good and the price point for the food was high. It soon became apparent that the price is well worth paying for such excellent top quality food, cooked exceptionally, by Richard. The combination of flavours distinct, yet complimentary. Every mouth full was to savour and hugely enjoyable. The choice of wines different to what we'd experienced in other restaurants and well worth going off the usual track for, guided by Lindsey who also ensured a very warm welcome."

"Lovely welcome! Excellent Service!!! Amazing food !!!!"

"Notwithstanding our remote location in rural Wensleydale, relocating from London last year, we thought ourselves fortunate for many reasons easily imagined, not least to be within reach of several dining establishments of quality, ranging from “good” to “almost great”. One such early discovery was Rascill’s, an intimate restaurant in the out-of-the-way village of Raskelf, run by Richard and Lindsey Johns whose passion for cooking and service left an indelible impression when we first lunched there on Christmas Day 2018. Although Rascill’s, sadly, didn’t survive long thereafter, Richard and Lindsey certainly have, reinventing themselves in Hovingham at the eponymous Inn, their innovation and passion seemingly undiminished. Of course, the scourge of COVID-19 has, at least for the time being, put an end to the simple pleasure of dining out, along with almost all conviviality. Nevertheless, undeterred, imaginative and resourceful restaurateurs are adapting themselves to the provision of takeaway meals. Should such a description recollect one’s prior experience of indifferent fast food, this novel expression of “takeaway” is quite other, at its best, transporting restaurant table into home, with all the creation, and most of the hard graft, realised at source. And so with The Hovingham Inn: Sunday Lunch and Friday Fish Pie have featured on their menu recently; for both, we’ve driven the short distance to Hovingham, to Lindsey’s warm greeting and in anticipation of Richard’s thoroughly enjoyable food – great comfort in these testing times."