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Food, Drink & Stay
You have probably heard about Yorkshire's famous hospitality, so in this section of my blog I will be giving some recommendations as to the best places to stay for both 5 star treatment and on a budget, as well as where to got to sample the finest Yorkshire fayre.
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Yorkshire has a wealth of independent food producers, micro breweries and gin distilleries as well as quaint tea rooms, traditional country inns, gastro pubs, street food markets and farm shops - so we will be exploring and reviewing the best of Yorkshire's food and drink scene.
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Hope the articles here give you a flavour (pardon the pun) of what Yorkshire has to offer for visitors....
timbarber
Feb 35 min read
The Ox Club Leeds and a special meat feast…
I had heard lots of good things about a restaurant called Ox Club in Leeds. The clue being in the name was that it was a mecca for meat.
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timbarber
Jan 216 min read
The Karachi – Bradford’s oldest curry house and a favourite of Rick Stein
The restaurant was founded back in 1963 on Neal Street, making it the oldest Indian restaurant in Bradford. In April 2002 the celebrity chef
128 views1 comment
timbarber
Dec 8, 20243 min read
A relaxing short stay at The Feversham Arms in Helmsley
As I was coming up to Helmsley with my wife to visit a new restaurant called Pignut, we decided to book in for the night so we could enjoy
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timbarber
Dec 2, 20247 min read
Pignut – a stunning addition to North Yorkshire’s fine dining scene
I was recommended to visit Pignut by a food journalist who had raved on to me not just about the food, but the wonderful narrative behind th
171 views0 comments
timbarber
Nov 16, 20247 min read
Restaurant Myse – innovative Michelin starred fine dining in Hovingham
Mýse brings Michelin Star dining to the tiny village of Hovingham. Going straight into the Guide with a Star,
111 views1 comment
timbarber
Jun 20, 20245 min read
An unforgettable dining experience - Chef’s Table by Josh Barnes at Swinton Park
I was lucky enough to be invited along as a guest to experience the Chef’s Table by Josh Barnes at Swinton Park Hotel.
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timbarber
Jun 9, 20244 min read
Arras – fine dining, full of flavour in York
A friend of mine who lives in York had raved on about Arras for a number of years, so with a tour finishing in York last Friday and my wife
283 views0 comments
timbarber
May 6, 20243 min read
Yockenthwaite Farm Granola - diversification in the Dales (at Helen's Farm!)
I’m sure many people have watched the new series of All Creatures Great and Small and seen the beautiful farmstead at the foot of the fells
257 views0 comments
timbarber
Apr 11, 20243 min read
Ditto in Whitby – excellent food and a pleasant change from fish and chips
Whilst in Whitby for a few days, we decided on our last night to have a change from pub grub or fish and chips. After googling...
718 views1 comment
timbarber
Nov 16, 20233 min read
Delicious home-made pasta and Calabrese food in the heart of Ilkley
Over the years I had been a few times to the little village of Ben Rhydding just outside Ilkley, to a small, homely restaurant called...
113 views0 comments
timbarber
Oct 19, 20232 min read
After Fred & Nadiya visited in Remarkable Places to Eat – I needed to try the famous Crab Brioche...
I’d been looking forward to checking out The Seaview Restaurant in Saltburn for a while after seeing Fred Sirieix and Nadiya Hussain...
4,260 views0 comments
timbarber
Sep 26, 20234 min read
York Minster Refectory – top food in a heritage building
After donating a Tour of York as a prize for a charity auction at the Yorkshire Awards, I was surprised when my wife and her friend...
503 views1 comment
timbarber
Aug 28, 20234 min read
The Abbey Inn at Byland – a Perfect Sunday Lunch at Tommy Banks New Pub
I’d heard that Michelin starred chef Tommy Banks had recently bought the Abbey Inn opposite Byland Abbey and turned it into a pub. It...
927 views0 comments
timbarber
Aug 3, 20231 min read
Yorkshire's Best Food Blogs according to FeedSpot
I recently found out that this Real Yorkshire Blog had been listed by Feedspot, the global blogger directory as one of the Top 15...
107 views0 comments
timbarber
Jul 8, 20232 min read
Yorkshire Chorizo - delicious charcuterie made in the heart of the Dales
I often call into Town End Farm Shop in Airton when taking clients on tours of the Yorkshire Dales. This great little tea room with views...
105 views0 comments
timbarber
Jul 5, 20233 min read
The Wensleydale Heifer – wonderful sea food in Wensleydale
After walking the 6 Dales Trail between Otley and Middleham, we had decided to spend an extra night in Middleham and have a rest and...
238 views0 comments
timbarber
Nov 13, 20222 min read
Estbeck House – Seafood supper in Sandsend
I’ve been wanting to visit Estbeck House for a while, having heard about its great seafood offering on the Yorkshire Coast. Now the kids...
181 views2 comments
timbarber
Oct 31, 20223 min read
From war torn Syria to Sowerby Bridge - the inspiring story behind Yorkshire "Squeaky" Cheese!
Whilst exhibiting at The Great White Food Festival in Harrogate, I managed to get the chance to wander around the other stands and chat...
1,534 views0 comments
timbarber
Oct 30, 20224 min read
Buckden to Cray to Hubberholme loop with lunch at The George Inn
I regularly drive through upper Wharfedale on my All Creatures Great & Small tours, stopping at Hubberholme to visit the church of St...
673 views0 comments
timbarber
Sep 23, 20223 min read
Sunny side up: Some of the best breakfast spots in York
Guest blogger Sean O'Connor takes us through some of his favourite breakfast spots in York... Enjoying a scrumptious breakfast is the...
1,115 views0 comments
timbarber
Aug 10, 20227 min read
Yorkshire's Top 5 Picnic Spots revealed in new study - do you agree?
A survey by our friends Hampers by Dellie about Yorkshire's picnic spots was recently published - see the article below. But what do you...
166 views1 comment
timbarber
Jun 13, 20223 min read
The Black Swan at Helmsley – a comfortable stay at a historic location
Needing to head up to the North York Moors to recce a walking route for a future tour, myself and my wife decided at short notice to head...
514 views0 comments
timbarber
May 2, 20222 min read
Restaurant Number 20 at Port Mulgrave – a homely Michelin Plate gem on the Yorkshire Coast
I’ve been meeting with a group of old mates from Leeds University for a number of years for an annual walking weekend, but this year I...
1,455 views0 comments
timbarber
Feb 20, 20224 min read
The Man Behind the Curtain – innovative dishes with more than a touch of theatre...
For a vibrant city the size of Leeds, you would expect it to have more than just one Michelin starred restaurant. But The Man Behind the...
251 views0 comments
timbarber
Feb 16, 20222 min read
Fine Dining in Yorkshire - Michelin Star and Michelin Plate Restaurants 2022
With this years Michelin Guide 2022 launched on 16th February – it is great news that in a year when we still experienced the after...
1,281 views0 comments
timbarber
Feb 13, 20223 min read
Is Yorkshire the most romantic place to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner – I decided to give some thought as to why Love and Yorkshire go hand in hand, plus how and...
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timbarber
Feb 11, 20224 min read
The Magpie Cafe - Yorkshire's best fish & chips? Discuss!
The Magpie Café in Whitby is a bit of a Yorkshire Institution and its popularity can be seen by the queues which form outside most...
937 views0 comments
timbarber
Jan 3, 20224 min read
Simonstone Hall - a great all round experience for a post New Year break
I regularly stop for lunch at Simonstone Hall on my way up and over Buttertubs during my tours of the Yorkshire Dales. My guests are...
437 views0 comments
timbarber
Dec 29, 20213 min read
Mowgli Street Food in Leeds - finding out what all the fuss was about?
In the space of a week, my daughter and a client both raved on about Mowgli, I saw an article in the newspaper about the founder Nisha...
1,199 views0 comments
timbarber
Oct 4, 20213 min read
Fine Dining in Middleham - The Tack Room Restaurant at The Wensleydale Hotel
Every September, one of my school pals comes up to Yorkshire with his partner for a week’s break in Middleham. Over the years I have been...
202 views0 comments
timbarber
Sep 11, 20213 min read
Pontefract Cakes – the liquorice lozenge and its Yorkshire heritage
These small tablets of liquorish are synonymous with Yorkshire but what is the story behind these strange black confectionary disks,...
933 views1 comment
timbarber
Aug 6, 20213 min read
Skosh – a delicious small plate sharing experience in York
Having arrived back in Yorkshire after a week’s holiday in Northumberland, we still had a Friday off. To end our break in style I had...
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timbarber
Jul 25, 20214 min read
Stonebeck Cheese - a delicious raw cow's milk cheese made in Nidderdale
If you mention Yorkshire cheese – most people would immediately think of the crumbly Wensleydale cheese made famous by Wallace and...
710 views1 comment
timbarber
Jul 1, 20212 min read
The newly launched - Yorkshire Wine Trail
In late July there was a flurry of activity on social media about the launch of a Yorkshire Wine Trail. Whilst I was aware of Yorkshire...
156 views0 comments
timbarber
Jun 21, 20213 min read
Home – relaxed, informal fine dining in Leeds
I’d heard lots of people raving about the Leeds based restaurant Home, situated where the old Darbar Indian restaurant once was in...
152 views0 comments
timbarber
Apr 18, 20212 min read
Hail the Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle
It’s that time of year again, when Rhubarb features on the menu again. But its not just rhubarb crumbles or pies, Chefs are now using...
104 views0 comments
timbarber
Feb 20, 20212 min read
Yorkshire Chorizo Jam – too good to be true…
I’d bought a jar of Chorizo Jam whilst conducting a food tour of the Yorkshire Dales for some clients during the summer during a stop off...
75 views1 comment
timbarber
Feb 6, 20212 min read
Two more Yorkshire Restaurants receive Michelin Stars in 2021
The 25th January saw some great news when the Michelin Guide for 2021 awarded two new Yorkshire Restaurants with a coveted Michelin Star....
162 views1 comment
timbarber
Jan 18, 20213 min read
Fruitcake paired with cheese – weird or wonderful?
An old rugby pal of mine from London decided to pay a visit to Yorkshire with his family before Covid struck. We ended up going with his...
3,386 views1 comment
timbarber
Dec 14, 20203 min read
Festive Food Traditions in Yorkshire
People travel from far and wide to experience a traditional Yorkshire Christmas, with many of our older towns and cities decking...
276 views1 comment
timbarber
Nov 22, 20203 min read
Old Peculier Ale – What’s in a name?
Theakston’s Brewey based in the Yorkshire Dales market town of Masham has been brewing ale since 1827. It is still run by direct family...
2,741 views2 comments
timbarber
Nov 3, 20204 min read
A last supper before lockdown – The Angel Inn at Hetton
The Angel at Hetton in the Yorkshire Dales had become a bit of a Yorkshire institution over the years and was widely regarded as the UK’s...
159 views0 comments
timbarber
Oct 6, 20203 min read
The Lickerish Tooth Distillery – weird and wonderful gin making in Lythe near Whitby
Whilst helping renovate a cottage in Staithes over the last week, I have been forced to make a number of trips down the coast road to...
579 views0 comments
timbarber
Oct 3, 20203 min read
Shepherds Purse relaunch their Yorkshire Fettle to help support the UK’s Sheep milk industry
I’ve always been a fan of Shepherds Purse cheeses, being a particular fan of their Yorkshire Blue and Harrogate Blue cheeses. Having...
57 views0 comments
timbarber
Aug 19, 20202 min read
A taste of Italy comes to Yorkshire - The Yorkshire Pasta Company
Well, I had never realised that the Yorkshire Pasta Company existed until it was pointed out to me by Chris Wildman on a recent visit to...
115 views1 comment
timbarber
Aug 9, 20203 min read
Andrew Pern’s The Star Inn the Harbour – a delicious fish supper
Whilst staying in Staithes on a week’s holiday, we decided to go for tea at The Star Inn the Harbour in Whitby. It is owned by Michelin...
42 views0 comments
timbarber
Jul 26, 20204 min read
Sunday Lunch at The Box Tree in Ilkley
Well you are not 55 every day of the week, so as a special treat my wife had booked for a family birthday (Sunday) lunch with the kids at...
770 views0 comments
timbarber
Jul 1, 20203 min read
Ye Old Shambles Tavern – one of York’s famous pubs prepares to re-opens
With opportunities to guide limited at present, I made contact with Keith Mclean owner of Ye Old Shambles Tavern and his manager Luke to...
777 views1 comment
timbarber
Jun 22, 20204 min read
The Yorkshire Pudding - a humble history
I was lucky enough to be taken by Visit Britain to New York and Boston last year to promote Yorkshire to the US Travel Trade. Over 5 days...
1,265 views0 comments
timbarber
Jun 10, 20203 min read
The story behind Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker's new name?
It’s no secret amongst my friends that I am a fan of Timothy Taylor’s beers – with Landlord and Boltmaker being particular favourites....
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