Sowerby Bridge Restaurant Guide

“Each bite is a flavour bomb – you can taste the passion on the plate” at chef Al Brooke-Taylor and partner sommelier Aimee Turford’s “very unassuming pub” on the moors above Halifax. “It’s one of the most constantly surprising (in a great way!) and delicious tasting places to eat in the country”, with “rustic, locally foraged ingredients”, cooked “using open fires and incredible pickling and fermenting techniques”. “The front of house team is delightful and the natural-wine-focused list is fantastic.”

“These guys are flying” – Wil Akroyd & Mark Kemp’s three-year-old Yorkshire pub conversion is an out-and-out smash hit, offering “eclectic and wonderful” global small plates “for vegetarians and carnivores alike”; “Japanese gyozas stuffed with Spanish sobrasada and served with an Indian makhani sauce – bonkers? Yes. Does it work? F**k yes!”

2021 Review: “Fantastic food” (“always plenty of interesting seasonal options, including great vegetarian choices”), that’s “great value” too, ensures the continuing popularity of Janet & Simon Baker’s eclectically decorated stalwart.

“Fabulous food, a great pint and a lovely atmosphere…what more could you want!” – the tenor of all reports on this “atmospheric” gastropub with “lovely bedrooms”. It started life as a corn and spinning mill, before being converted to a country boozer in 1890 – and today its original features, open fires and low-beamed ceilings form a pleasant backdrop to the “outstanding locally sourced” food.

Chef-patron Eric Paxman honed his talents under MPW and Bill Granger, before setting up this restaurant over a decade ago (sadly his local burger bar PAX bit the dust in 2019). There was the odd sceptic this year, but the majority verdict is that it offers an “enjoyable all-round experience” featuring “a great-value early bird”.