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.

Very Poor Sevice! By A Google User 24 Jan 2010…read moreI was ejected from this venue tonigt the reasen our main course was outstanding the food well cooked and really tastey. However our starters were missing the rest of our party of 25 had theres and 5 were missing i dared to question where ours were and when 5 mins after everone had finished theres they were all cold i questioned the owner whe also was our waiter about the starters. I was called a Fat Bas**rd asked to leave and physically thown out by the bouncer who then threatened my whith violance if i said anything. This was infornt of my 13 yr old daughter my son and wife. So if you dont complaine this is good food but if you want to experience verble and physical abuse this is the place for you. AVOID AT ALL COST!

Totally agree that this is not what I have come to expect from a Halifax bar/restaurant. A friend…read morefrom work had told me all about it and I didn't really believe that it was nice. We tried it on a night out and I was very pleasantly surprised. The bar downstairs is really classy - big leather booths and lots of wood. Really extensive menu of wines and beers and whiskies. We had dinner upstairs and the decor was even nicer and much more decadent than downstairs. Our food was really good - I had tuna to start and it was cooked perfectly, just pink in the middle. I had pasta for main - very spicy and cooked to my taste with bit of bite still there. Everyone in my party enjoyed their food. The staff were excellent - main chap was welcoming and friendly and all staff seemed well trained and attentive. I really hope this place takes off and does well - my experience of Halifax nightlife is that it is crying out for a smart bar/restaurant.

Oooh this pub is looovely, especially on sunny days when you can sit outside in their garden…read more They seem to cater to both locals (lots of old folks) and people like us who were driving though. The staff were all very welcoming, and we were all really impressed with the friendly, efficient service. The menu was full of English comfort foods...and they executed everything beautifully. Just look at my photos to get an idea...I tried the goats cheese and caramelised onion strudel, which came balanced on potatoes and perfect ratatouille. If you ever find yourself in this part of the country, it is definitely worth popping in here for some lunch! *Pro tip: It sounded like they get very booked up in the evening, so ring ahead to ensure you get a table!!

A very busy Old English pub doing Great food and Great Beer(Cask Marque)…read moreYvonne and Gary run a first class pub and have a great team working with them. If going for a meal ring and book it gets busy at the weekend!! always a good sign.

Pies and mash pie was amazing and staff very friendly I would advise anyone to try the pieread more

Pie and mash. Sounds simple - and it is, but it IS extremely tasty and decent value for money…read more Two of us ate here today and were greeted by two very friendly, smiley young ladies who were good humoured, polite and pleasant. They sell pies and mash (obviously), chips, gravy, mushy and garden peas, beers (mainly Copper Dragon) and soft drinks, and two of us had a tasty and filling lunch including drinks for £15. Well worth a visit if you don't fancy yomping up and down the main street in search of somewhere that isn't packed or over-priced, though I do believe they get quite busy in there at certain times.

Food came cold and slow Drinks were flavourless…read moreThe only good thing was the air 1 star

We stayed here and attended our friends wedding on 17/2…read more The sat nav led us a real merry dance to get here but in doing so gave us fantastic views of Calderdale and Halifax (but did ad 25 mins to the journey!). The house is set in a very Typical Halifax setting with stone buildings and a very 'rural feel'. We were given a warm welcome from the Reception staff and allowed to check in 45 mins early which was great as the wedding was at 2pm but so was check-in! Our room, number 8 down the main corridor, was clean, well furnished and suited our needs. (the only downside was we were near the connecting door of the corridor and the noise from the other guests disturbed our dog in the night) We spent a brief initial 15 mins in the bedroom as the pre-ceremony drinks awaited us! The house and grounds are superbly presented with plenty of comfy seating areas, a relaxed atmosphere and plenty to take in. The bar was a little small I thought for the thirsty people there but they coped well enough. The staff ensured the ceremony ran smoothly and of course there was tears! The food sampled in the wedding meal and the following day for breakfast was great. Cooked well and presented hot. The breakfast selection was good, plenty of juice/cereal/fruit and pastries followed by a cooked breakfast. We were delighted to be able to have our dog stay with us at Holdsworth house (£10 charge) and definitely think it's a place we would return to now just to sample the food- take in a leisurely lunch maybe. The staff were really accommodating and friendly. The place was spotless clean, the bed was sooooooo comfy (and huge), plenty of tea and coffee provided on the hospitality tray, toiletries to do us both and just a general all round good feeling. A hidden gem, lovely for a special occasion lunch or a well deserved intimate break.

Plan your special occasion dinner here!!! The Waterside Bistro and Bar hosted a very special…read morefamily dinner before the wedding for my nephew and his bride and her family. Despite the challenges of planning something with hosts who were in the U.S., the Waterside made this dinner a night everyone will remember. It was the first time bringing together different strands of a family that literally came from around the world. Ian kept everything running perfectly. We met up earlier in the day to iron out a few details and then those of us hosting didn't have to worry about a thing. Paul Huddlestone is a world class chef who works with fresh, organic, Yorkshire ingredients to make a menu that is both local and international in flavors. We are a family who really enjoy good food -- with many avid cooks, including professional chefs -- and everyone loved the food. The wine selections were perfect. And the prices were reasonable too, which was also a factor selecting the Waterside as a place for the dinner. They worked with us to please the tastes of everyone. Despite having a larger group, the selections were customized. The staff were all so warm and friendly. Chef Paul even surprised us with a lovely amuse bouche for our sparkling wine toast at the start of the meal. By dessert there were many more toasts thanks to a dinner that made us now one family. I have attached some photos just to show how happy we all were -- and the good food and relaxed atmosphere made that possible. If you want to have a dinner with some world class food that is firmly rooted in local cuisine, you should dine here. In addition, if you are planning a larger special occasion dinner: I cannot recommend the Waterside highly enough.

We came here once for the early bird meal - The Roast Belly Pork is still the topic of conversation…read more- we came here once because we enjoyed the food so much - we came here once because the chef is amazing - we came here once because the restaurant is so relaxing - we plan to come here every week - once - too much of a good thing can be heaven - and believe me - we do stop ourselves coming here every day. Why??? Thank you James

First visit to this small restaurant. Staff really…read morefriendly, food very tasty, large portions! I had potato and chorizo starter followed by belly pork. Pudding chocolate and beetroot cake! Not sure about that a bit heavy but still managed to eat it all!

Best food in Meanwood, Headingly and Chapel A. Probably one of the best foody spots in Leeds. They…read morealso make some very good nano-brews. They are stinger and more flavourful than most typical English brews. This is a great spot for veggies as well. Bring your appetite for lunch as the sandwiches are big and the sweet potato chips are plentiful.

Dog-friendly village pub. Just as a pub should be: charming, friendly, and comfortable - with real…read moreale. You'll get a warm welcome from the locals and feel at home immediately. You can tell by the stone walls it's the real thing. Not many of these locals around any more.

What a great find. A pub since 1661, this quintessential community gathering place…read moreeven has an outdoor patio, garden, and most importantly, a car park! Real beer (!) games area, and charming lounge - complete with red leather Chesterfield sofas. We got a warm welcome from the staff and had a great time chatting with a number of locals. This is what a pub should be! Charming, charming, charming. I only wish we'd planned more time in the area.

The Chilli bowl is very hot and spicy but very nice. This is on the 2 4 £9.50 menu. this venue is…read moregreat in the summer to sit out side and has an amazing bonfire each year.

On the border of Bradford and Leeds near to Tong Village. It used to be known as the Kings Arms…read morepublic house. They have a wide variety of food here which encompasses Italian and Indian. Their best bet has to be the carvery at £7.45. Three choices of meat accompanied by mega Yorkshires and loads and loads of different veg. They also have a two meals for £7.95 menu which represents very good value. I've never had a bad meal there myself. When the weather is decent they have a large play area with a brilliant climbing frame and plenty of seating for the doting parents. If you say you are going to sit out there the staff will give you your drinks in plastic 'glasses' to avoid the possibility of broken glass in this area. They also have a decent sized function room for hire. There is plenty of car parking but at busy times on warm days even that can get full. You don't book, you just turn up and wait for a free table.

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.