Best find on holiday ever!!…read more Set in a beautiful little village with a huge village green with loads of parking round and about (although im sure that on a mid summer sunny day parking may be somewhat difficult!). The pub has a bar area and a restaurant area - we only ever went into the bar as you could eat int here and it was really cosy (dogs are also allowed!). The staff were incredibly friendly and chatty (lets face it, Yorkshire, particularly North Yorkshire folk are possibly the most friendly on the planet - i challenge you to disprove this!). The food was INCREDIBLE. Nothing fancy pants, just really good food, VERY big portions (trust me on this, you dont need three courses - choose your weapon of starter or dessert to go alongside your main - we made the mistake one night and 1) couldnt eat it all and 2)pretty much rolled home). We spent an evening in the pub, had a meal and then sat playing card games - we felt incredibly welcome. So welcome that we ended up visiting three times in a week long holiday. You cant really get a better recommendation than that can you??

I couldn't get enough of this place. The epitome of an (extremely) old pub at the heart of a…read morecommunity where everyone seemed to know everyone else. And the beers are darn good too. This whitewashed inn accessed over an old packhorse bridge claims to 'probably' be Yorkshire's oldest (1307). Got to love them covering themselves for inaccuracy there. That's over seven centuries of beery goodness which was open for trade 40 years before the Black Death! A gem of a building with wooden beams throughout - the layout inside is stepped as it's built on a decline so disabled access is obviously limited (you may wish to phone in advance if you or your family member has any mobility concerns). There's plenty of seating throughout, however, with some set back in nooks in the walls. As well as serving real ale from independent brewers, they stock genuine imported lagers from around the world. Their fridge of bottled beers looked quite comprehensive. They also have guest beers which change regularly - when I visited they had Jaipur from Thornbridge on (one of my all time favourites). They serve food but we didn't eat here on this occasion. I can guarantee I will be a punter here again when I'm over next time.

I have been visiting this area for the past forty years and only found this pub today.What a great…read morelittle pub great food and top cask beers,they will have my custom each time i am in the area.

The Red Lion is amazing! Would highly recommend staying here. The service was amazing, and everyone…read moreis very nice. They breakfast comes out very quick, and servers are awesome. We stayed in a cottage and a room, and it was great! Will be back!

Set in a beautiful location, but if you go in summer expect lots of children. Food in the…read morerestaurant is subpar and you could tell it was all highly microwaved. We sat in the dining room area and it was very tired and worn, sit in the Pub area instead. Outside seating is very smoky. No A/C or even ceiling fans especially since we were in the new set of rooms. No one opened up the windows prior to our arrival and it was literally like an oven. As secluded as it is there is another hotel/restaurant nearby which we enjoyed better.

Don't get to this pub enough! Recently met some friends for lunch and had a wonderful meal which…read morewas excellent value and plenty of it. A good menu selection of good, homely, traditional English pub food with the additional 'special' thrown in for good measure. Superb, great hosts and comfortable surroundings. The ale's not bad as well!! Well appointed with a plenty of car parking.

This building was originally built in the 18th Century. It has 2 floors, with a bar area in each, &…read moreon nice days you can sit out in the garden area, where BBQ's are held - weather permitting! The menu is simply, but modern, with choices from: Steaks, Pizza's/Pastas - and with an added 'global' twist, to keep your taste-buds going. It is also, a pleasant place just to have a drink with friends & enjoy some of the varied wines, with cheese - if you so wish. There are also, 5 refurbished bed-rooms, if you would like to take a short-break, in a picturesque environment. They also have regular promotions and events on. Prices are reasonable & the food is of a good portion. The staff are generally friendly and helpful. ...if you havn't been stuffed, by the main course, then you can even try one of their home-made sweets! - Again, portions are generous! This is one of my favourite 'hide-away' places, where I know that I will not come away disappointed, and it is tastefully decorated, creating a pleasant ambience. ...check it out - its worth a visit, or two!

Cracking food and service, would recommend this to anyone!!!read more

The pub is very popular with walkers - near to Digley Reservoir in Holme village. You can leave…read moreyour walking shoes by the front door and sit in front of a log fire drinking local ales and eating from a wide menu. I went on my birthday with my family last year and despite there being 18 of us, we were served quite quickly and the food was delicious. You can always count on seeing someone you know, despite it being a tiny place in the middle of nowhere. There is one bus an hour heading up to Holme, but really you need a car - or good walking shoes! Definitely worth a visit for any locals who haven't been and any visitors to the area who are always made welcome.

Middle of nowhere, casual dress, Michelin-starred…read more My husband and I went out of our way to eat and stay here. Was it worth the 3 hour journey from London (2-hr train ride, 1-hr by car) to make our reservation from 6-months earlier? Absolutely. Courses are small, but plenty. Staff are immensely courteous and thoughtful (they made a custom menu for our dietary needs and even had the chefs sign it before we left). And the setting couldn't be more idyllic. I'd suggest getting the wine pairing as it really completes the meal. Go ahead and stay the night as breakfast is included the next day. Just make sure to work out your travel from the train station to the restaurant. It really is out in the sticks.

An absolutely fantastic experience enhanced by the charming and beautiful countryside that The…read moreBlack Swan at Oldstead is nestled within - an area that I wouldn't have visited otherwise but am grateful for having done so. Make sure to make a small detour to Kilburn to see The Kilburn White Horse which stands firmly in the hillside. The Black Swan is a beautiful picturesque old pub full of warmth and charm. Upon arrival you are welcomed into the bar area for aperitifs where a log fire crackles and glows. Make sure to notice the Robert Thompson mouse carved into the bar. Great selection of small batch gins - I enjoyed a glass of Sir Robin of Locksley from Sheffield with tonic. Amuse bouche are served here before moving upstairs to the restaurant. The Smoked Eel and Apple Tartlets were light and well balanced in their flavours whilst the Chicken Dumpling was rich, satisfying and would sit well on the finest of dim sum plates in Hong Kong. The restaurant is more modern in decoration with an "open kitchen" where some of the dishes are prepared with a clear artistic love and attention to detail. Service is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive without being intrusive. Good selection of wines for most palates and wallets. I had the 10 course tasting menu which, at £85, felt like a bargain compared to the price of Michelin starred food in major cities. To start, a Mussel with Oyster Leaf canapé - so perfectly decorated that it felt wrong to eat it, but so tasty. Next up Langoustine with Caramelised Whey, served like a lollipop with a twig to hold it with - lovely textures and cooked to perfection. Venison Tartare followed - a small dish but rich in flavour and beautifully prepared and decorated. Sour Bread and Sour Butter was distinctive and a good filler in preparation for the main courses. The Monkfish with Asparagus and Onion, although delicious, was probably the weakest dish. The sauce tasted like heavy sweet soy sauce and was a bit overpowering in its saltiness for the delicate flavour of the fish. Still very enjoyable though. The Slowly Cooked Crapaudine Beetroot was the star of the menu. Cooked in beef fat (I believe), the beetroot takes on a heavier composition and is chewy and almost glutinous with all of the accompanying decorations providing broad and bold flavours. Absolutely fantastic! Scallop Cured with Rhubarb was another standout with the smoothness of the slightly charred scallops countering the tartness of the rhubarb, all tied together with a rich and balanced sauce. Herb-Fed Chicken with Wild Garlic from this Year and Last was another amazing creation with a blanket over the chicken in the form of a garlic leaf. The chicken was more warm than hot but extremely tasty. The first dessert was ice cream (or iced yoghurt?) Lollipops which were wonderfully innovative with their unique flavours. The Sheep's Milk with Douglas Fir Oil was also an memorable dessert with natural tastes of the season. The final dessert, served with coffee was Cake made from Artichoke, Chicory Root and Thyme. The combination worked well although the chicory root (?) was slightly bitter. A great end to a fantastic meal and experience. For most who visit The Black Swan at Oldstead, a significant journey will be involved but don't let that put you off...It's well worth the effort and will be one of those great food experiences.

The whole place has an excellent ambience, and feel. Friendly staff, and its the best breakfast I…read morehave had - talk about a quality plateful is an understatement. Excellent garden area's overlooking the river

Historic and picturesque traditional pub, serving good cask ales and home cooked food. Beer garden…read moreoverlooking the river.

If you are in the area, this is a must stop. It has fantastic views of the river. The food was…read morespectacular. Half of my group got vegetarian dishes and half did not. I personally ordered the wild boar pie and it was amazing!

Amazingly fast service, friendly staff. Good food. Had the Sunday roast. Yum! Amazing view of the…read moreRiver Dee

Just love it! Nice people and lovely pub! This is a pub with a lovely view and a really nice staff!…read moreHopefully you will meet Molly! She's a legend! If you nearby, stop for a pint and good food.

the food here is phenominal but be warned. Get there for 12 noon when it opens or you wont get a…read moretable.