North Yorkshire Restaurant Guide

“Views are incredible” from this sixteen-bedroom hotel in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales. There’s a wide variety of menus – for a “romantic” dinner the main choice would be the two-course or three-course menu which are £29.50 and £38 respectively.

With its gold-leaf decoration, the stylish dining room of this grand country house hotel and spa provides a traditionally luxurious backdrop to a meal. But ratings have come off the boil a little with personnel changes. Mehdi Amiri – in post since mid-2017 – sometimes gave reporters the impression that “the sheer confidence and assurance typically found here was lacking”. He himself then moved on after our survey in summer 2019. We have maintained this year’s survey scores on the bet that further changes are more likely to be positive than negative, but further upheavals may be afoot.

Frances Atkins remains involved with the “beautifully situated” coaching inn that she helped make famous, and which she and husband Bill sold in 2018 to local entrepreneur Jonathan Turner. Its ratings slipped a notch this year, though – not due to grievous complaints, but on the back of a few mixed reports (e.g. “food good, but service rather haphazard and felt overhyped”; or “meal was good, but didn’t hit the heights, and not good value at over £200”). But many reporters do continue to acclaim it as their best gastronomic experience of the year, or say “it’s even better after the recent renovations”.

Clocktower Bar is a great place to meet for drinks, whether a coffee through to a cocktail. A bar menu is also available with a range of dishes.Guests can relax on the large south-facing terrace and have a refreshing drink or something to eat followed by a walk in the b...

“So nice to see this old friend, smartened up, rejuvenated and walking proud again” – this old Dales inn (made famous in the 1980s by David & Juliet Watkins) was taken over in late 2018 by much-accoladed chef Michael Wignall, who has immediately succeeded in putting it very much back on the culinary map. “As you would expect of such a top chef, the food is all faultless beyond criticism – real plates of real food in very satisfying combinations” and it’s “good value for money” too.

“White flakes of fish, encased in crispy, golden batter, plus chips reminiscent of childhood, and still cooked in dripping, all provide a taste to savour” at this famous (hence “noisy and crowded”) Harbourside veteran, often justifiably nominated for being home to “the best fish ’n’ chips in the UK”. “Most punters go for the obvious, but the specials board is always worth close scrutiny, as the kitchen actually produces superb dishes using the wide variety of fish and seafood available in this amazing port”. “Recommended, but it can get very busy so be prepared to queue in busy periods”. “I was in Yorkshire for a week and went three times! Totally excellent!” Top Tip – marvellous views from the window tables, or you can just take away and sit by the water!