Skipton, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

2024 Review: Leafy views over glorious Dales countryside and the river Wharfe add to the occasion at this attractive hotel, convenient for Bolton Abbey. The cooking – Hardwick lamb, market fish, steaks – is not particularly ‘gastro’ in style but contributes to a comfortable and affordable experience, and one that comes at a reasonable price.

“Set in an organic farm with tremendous views of Pendle Hill” – Doug Crampton’s “amazingly cool” venture on a long-established family farm (for nearly 500 years) is the absolute epitome of the trend to field-to-fork dining. “A timber-octagonal building” that makes the most of the “brilliant vistas all round”, it “takes a bit of finding as it’s not brilliantly signposted (in the end we asked a man working on his garden and he smiled and pointed us in the right direction)”. The open kitchen serves “very special” food that “lives up to the setting”: “hearty, tasty and crowd-pleasing, often featuring produce foraged on the farm, and in the local countryside”. Staff are “delightful and friendly” too. “It celebrated its first birthday last week (open in March 2024) and deserves to succeed – everything of a high standard… including the indoor and outdoor furniture!”

“Consistently now one of the best restaurants in the North of England” – Michael Wignall took over this long-celebrated pub in 2018 after it had spent many years in the doldrums and – as well as giving it a “pared back” Nordic-style refit – has re-established it as one of the stronger performers in our annual diners’ poll (and one of the top-40 most commented-on outside London). “Success has followed him from all his previous restaurants”, and he “has continued to refine his tasting menus and to elevate the whole dine-and-stay experience – a second Michelin star must be close”. At dinner, he offers a five-course tasting menu for £120 per person or a ten-course version for £170 per person. If you order it in advance when you book, there is a cheaper lunchtime ‘Taste of the Season Menu’ for £75 per person. “The food is local and seasonal as you would expect and his deft touch brings out the best of his ingredients”. (“One of the few places where I would pay to stay overnight for a meal… yes, that good!”). Top Menu Tip – “cheese custard with truffles… on my!”