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It’s a tiny village in flat North Yorkshire farming land – blink and you’re through it – with no shops and no services. Yet Ferrensby’s 18th century pub has an enormous car park. So, what’s going on? The answer is Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks. Co-owner of his flagship Black Swan at Oldstead, near Helmsley – supplied, like all Banks’s restaurants, by the family’s North Yorkshire farm – Banks and his Jeopardy Hospitality are now aiming to restore village inns to their original purpose of good food and good hospitality.
Don’t expect Michelin-star food. But do expect pub classics and Yorkshire dishes done exceptionally well and with flair. Twice-baked Harrogate Blue cheese soufflé, for example, could be followed by home-cured bacon chop with fried duck egg, or steak with Dijon mustard and bone marrow sauce. My chalk stream trout with summer vegetables was pretty as a picture and deliciously refreshing.
The white-washed building is deceptively large with a series of dining and drinking spaces in a carefully updated version of a traditional pub: beamed ceiling, exposed-stone or white-plaster walls, hop-hung bar – with two Yorkshire cask ales, and three draught - flagged and dark-wood floors, well-spaced sleek, wooden tables and chairs, and modern landscapes on the walls. There’s a startlingly light conservatory for breakfasts, too.
Bedrooms are light and fuss-free with no bells and whistles but all the essentials for a good night’s sleep after a satisfying meal: neutral walls, plain ticking curtains, polished-wood floors, faded rugs, and sparse furnishings. So, not rooms for lounging around in but neat and comfortable. Fresh milk and home-made cookies, too. Shower-only bathrooms are well-lit with quality (Cumbrian-made) Bath House products.
The pub seems to have most things covered. Apart from the main evening-meal draw, there’s a convivial bar, with regular pub quiz, for locals to enjoy a pint; a well-priced lunch and early-bird menu; a lengthy Sunday lunch; and, for warmer days, a surprisingly large, and prettily laid out, terrace.
Helen's hot tips: For a refreshing drink, try their ‘Ferrensby spritz’ with rhubarb and marigold. If travelling north or south on the A1(M), the inn makes a good stop-over; only a six-minute drive from Junction 48.
Great walks
Other Activities
Golf
Restaurant
Country Escape
Foodies
Sights nearby
Pet friendly
Sit-out Terrace
Outstanding location
Good wine list
Full of character
Family Suites
Gourmet
Secluded setting
Intimate
Luxury
Charming
Traditional
Restaurant with rooms
Child friendly
Village
Inn
Historic
Rooms
8 rooms in this hotelRestaurant
Country pub and restaurant serving refined yet comforting British dishes made with seasonal local producePet friendly
Four legged friends are welcome in the pub and restaurantParking
Free parking is possible on site, no reservation neededSit-out Terrace
Good wine list
Fireplace
Communal Dining
Bar
Family Suites
Safe
Wifi
Satellite / Cable TV
Sitting Room
Child friendly
Garden
Great walks
Other Activities
Golf
Sights nearby
Why do people love staying in your hotel? Guests love the combination of relaxed Yorkshire hospitality, beautifully designed bedrooms, and exceptional food. We offer the warmth of a traditional country pub with the comfort and quality of a boutique stay.
What is there to do in the area? We're perfectly placed for exploring Harrogate, Knaresborough, the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. Guests enjoy scenic walks, market towns, historic attractions, and fantastic local food and drink.
What kind of breakfast do you offer? Breakfast is included with every stay and features hearty Yorkshire favourites alongside lighter seasonal dishes, such as our Full Yorkshire, local wild mushrooms with ricotta, and French toast.
Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally? Yes—we serve lunch, dinner and our popular Sunday roasts, with a menu focused on seasonal Yorkshire produce and elevated pub classics. While many guests choose to dine with us, we'd also happily recommend excellent local pubs and restaurants around Harrogate and Knaresborough if you're exploring the area.
Which are your most popular room types, and why? All eight of our rooms are equally popular. Each offers a super king bed, luxurious en-suite, thoughtful amenities and a calm, contemporary design, so guests can simply choose their preferred outlook.
What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms? Families are very welcome. We offer a children's menu in the restaurant, and our bedrooms can accommodate either one z-bed or one cot (subject to availability) for an additional charge.
What message would you like to give The Hotel Guru readers? If you're looking for an authentic Yorkshire escape with outstanding food, genuine hospitality and a beautiful countryside setting, we'd love to welcome you. Whether it's a weekend away, a special meal or a longer exploration of North Yorkshire, we hope you'll feel right at home.
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