Yorkshire is well known for its brewing tradition – think Theakston and Samuel Smith – and now has a flourishing micro-brewery sector, too. So, it’s rare to find a village without a pub (or a town without several); many were originally drovers’ inns or coaching inns. Increasingly, these are adding (or smartening up) bedrooms, and offering more than the standard pub-grub. The best of these have kept original features like stone flags, big fireplaces and low-beamed ceilings and the robust flavoursome food, and just added a layer of comfort and finesse for 21st-century guests. The warmth, humour and crack, however, remain the same. Here’s our guide to the best pubs with rooms in Yorkshire.
The White Swan Inn
Pickering, Yorkshire, England
A friendly, traditional coaching inn on a main street in the centre of Pickering. Inside it’s all dark wood furniture, low-slung beamed ceilings and cheerful locals with dogs propping up the bar. A smart, stone-flagged restaurant and glass-walled ‘bothy’ lend a stylish air but the overall ambience is unstuffy and relaxed. There are 21 rooms divided among traditionally furnished Vintage rooms in the main building and the more spacious Hideaway rooms in a converted stable block at the rear, with contemporary décor, flagged flooring and walk-in showers. The two AA Rosette restaurant specialises in high-quality English cuisine.
From
£
115
per night
Rates provided by
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The Wensleydale Heifer
Yorkshire, England
The cheerful Wensleydale Heifer is an attractive 17th-century inn, situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and surrounded by pretty countryside. There are 13 rooms, nine with traditional décor in the original building and four themed rooms in a newer annexe across the courtyard. The latter may not be to everyone’s taste but they are nothing if not original: Chocolate Heaven has a cherub-heavy mural above the bath, the James Herriot comes with a box set of All Creatures Great and Small, and Night At the Movies, has black walls, a vaulted beamed ceiling and silver furniture. The first-class restaurant is frequently recommended in the Michelin Guide.
From
£
120
per night
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The King’s Head
Kettlewell, Yorkshire, England
This whitewashed, three-storey coaching inn dates back to the 17th century, all well-trodden flagged flooring, low-beamed ceilings and old-fashioned wooden settles. It can also lay claim to having the biggest Inglenook fireplace in Wharfedale, a chin-high charmer with a copper fire hood and real coal fire. A Shaker-style bar takes centre stage in the cosy pub and bedrooms are on the first and second floors. In the restaurant, the menu simple but high quality by buying local and foraging. Wild garlic, for example, grows by the side of the stream that runs behind the property, game comes from a nearby shoot and fish is whatever local anglers have caught that day.
From
£
70
per night
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Lamb & Lion Inn
York, Yorkshire, England
Two neighbouring Georgian buildings have been joined together in a pleasing warren of narrow passageways and steep staircases. Interiors have been kept simple and authentic, with flagged- or bare-wood floors, tongue-and-groove panelling, frosted-glass lampshades and smudgy colours of cream and pale green to create a warm and homely atmosphere. The 12 rooms continue the simple, authentic feel of the downstairs areas. They’re sparingly furnished with cast-iron or dark-wood beds, a few vintage pieces such as an old desk or leather armchair, while walls are unadorned, save for the occasional framed print or mirror.
From
£
56
per night
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Guy Fawkes Inn
York, Yorkshire, England
A historic pub-with-rooms, in a plum position by York Minster, that oozes atmosphere from its gas-lit bar and dining-room. Part of a tall, early-Georgian terrace in a narrow street, and with Guy Fawkes associations – he was born, it is believed, in the cottage to the rear – it has certainly preserved its heritage feel. Step straight into the small bar which, like the snug and dining-room, is darkly cosy with stained-wood floors, bitter-chocolate walls, well-worn tables and the odd suit of armour. Wonky stairs lead up to the bedrooms; it’s creaky and atmospheric without going overboard with clutter.
From
£
59
per night
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Red Lion Hotel
Burnsall, Yorkshire, England
The mullioned windows, stone flags and thick walls of the ancient inn – deep-set in stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and close to Bolton Abbey – drip authentic character and the great long bar in the taproom is a welcoming rallying point for tired walkers and hungry guests. The hotel’s fires, snugs and carpeted little rooms may flirt with the chintzy on occasion, but they provide the perfect places to retreat and relax with views over the river and up the fells. The restaurant is a pleasure to eat in; with oak floors and panelling, a log-burning stove and, in places, views of the river, it’s a great spot to enjoy locally sourced dishes.
From
£
70
per night
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Shibden Mill Inn
Halifax, Yorkshire, England
This characterful 17th-century inn is just a 10-minute drive from Halifax yet set within some of West Yorkshire’s loveliest countryside. Its two AA Rosette restaurant, comfortable, well-furnished rooms and a busy local pub have helped it pick up award after award in food and hotel guides. The lounge/restaurant on the ground floor is split into two sections, divided by a big open coal fire and leading into the bar area. Upstairs, a second restaurant with a big outside balcony is used for overspill at weekends. Comfy sofas and Turkish rugs punctuate the residents lounge and a dining room is available for private hire.
From
£
95
per night
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The Wheatley Arms
Ilkley, Yorkshire, England
The much-loved Wheatley Arms (which was saved from demolition by local residents) is a dog-friendly pub with rooms near the pretty Yorkshire spa town of Ilkley. The hotel opened in the mid-19th century as a coach house to serve the new Ben Rhydding Hydropathic Centre (since demolished), and the gabled, stone-built hotel has a homely, lived-in feel with big bay windows, Inglenook fireplaces and reupholstered furniture picked up at auctions. The hotel’s 12 individually designed rooms (a mix of traditional and more modern décor) are arranged over three floors and feature bold patterned wallpaper, sleigh beds and glass chandeliers.
From
£
87
per night
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The Plough
Scalby, Yorkshire, England
Expect an amiable, style-led pub with all the luxury trimmings. It’s warm and inviting inside, there are lots of local diners and it has a great community atmosphere. High-quality furnishings run throughout in earthy tones. Each item has been sourced with with the guest in mind such as the spectacular antler chandeliers in the pub (which cost £800). The décor continues in the rooms with top-notch furnishings, luxury bedding, books aplenty, ornaments and cute mini rocking horses. Scalby itself is an upmarket little village on the northern edge of Scarborough, two miles from Burniston beach (aptly named the ‘dinosaur coast’ for the discovery of dinosaur footprints and fossils there).
From
£
110
per night
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The Durham Ox
Crayke, Yorkshire, England
The Ox is nestled in the tiny (blink-and-you’ll-miss-it), gorgeous village of Crayke, just two miles from the lovely market town of Easingwold. Wooden beams hang overhead, fabulous oak panelling embosses the walls and solid flag stone lines the floors. There are a handful of snug tables in the pub, and an earthy, intimate main restaurant. Lobster pots rest outside the pub door, and there’s a handsome outdoor terrace to the rear which resembles a chic Italian beach resort more than humble North Yorkshire. Expect gastronomic delights at dinner in the Ox restaurant, with British pub classics along with a multitude of finer options.
From
£
120
per night
Contributions by Tina Walsh, Rachel Everett & Rob Cowen
This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.