Lovely local, country pub with brilliant food & friendly staff…read more No airs or graces just a brilliant pint & lively food. Only been twice but the food have been top notch & the lamb shoulder is simply brilliant

I have reviewed my review of this place! One star lost and even the 3rd one here is shaky after my…read morelast experience. At the moment the pub opposite - the Star and Garter - is being refurbished which leaves the Shoulder as the only pub in the village. You'd think they would seize the opportunity to clean up and establish themselves as THE place to eat in the area. Don't get me wrong - the food is still very good here. We went out for a family dinner on a Wednesday and had a very good meal. The issue is the service. It's friendly for sure but it's inefficient and slo-ow. Our table was booked for 7.30 which is when we arrived. At 7.45 we had to go and ask for menus. At 8 we had to go and ask if we could place out order. Our food took a while to arrive so we'd been in the pub almost an hour before we ate anything. Almost as soon as our starter plates were cleared the main arrived which was weird as it was like the food was ready go before we'd finished the 1st course! We then had to go and ask for our bill, and then we had to go and ask to pay it. That means we left our table on 4 separate occasions to ask for service which is simply not good enough. I have no idea quite why the service was so chaotic but there you are. Good food, rusty way of looking after guests...

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??

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.

Brilliant small country pub with exceptional service and gin. Oh and the best risotto I have had…read morein a long time, huge portion. All in all great value and cute and cosy. One of the nicest pubs on our trip to the homeland.

Popped out here this evening for a quick drink and dinner. Its a bit off the beaten track, but…read moreneverthless a delight. Had a pint of excellent Black Sheep, and started with some mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce, tasty indeed, personal preference would be for a bit more garlic , and less sauce, but I'm picking at straws. Main of Lamb Henry was superb, meat very tender, with a delicious gravy, and served with a dauphinoise potato stack and three vegetables. Mint sauce requested and supplied promptly There was a nice warm friendly atmosphere , even though the pub wasnt too busy. Service was prompt and efficient from the young lady who served me. Theres also a small gift shop adjoining the pub

This is one of my favourite pubs in the world and was my local when I lived back in my home town of…read moreKnareaborough. Whilst it's been 15 years since I lived there permanently I always make sure I pay Blind Jack's a visit every time I'm over seeing friends and family. It's a small pub but very cosy and full of character. The landlords are extremely welcoming and all the staff are friendly and knowledgable, more than happy to offer their advice and samples of beer if you can't decide what to go for. You certainly won't find any of your mainstream lagers or bitters here (thank goodness) but instead there is an ever-changing array of craft and real ales from breweries such as Brew Dog and Magic Rock, as well as an increasing number of their own very excellent brews. If you're a real beer lover and looking for a great pub to sample some top ales over a chat with your mates (it's strictly no music) then make sure you pay Blind Jack's a visit. Warning, it can get very busy!

With visiting my wife's family in Knaresborough a few times a year - I'm absolutely spoilt with the…read moreamount of pubs on offer in this lovely market town just down the road from Harrogate. But the main one which I really can't go without visiting is Blind Jacks While Manchester isn't exactly short on quality pubs and craft beer, Blind Jacks offers something special which is easy to explain. A lovely, quaint, ancient building with loads of tiny rooms making it the perfect place to hang out and relax - combined with a revolving selection of amazing craft beer on tap (as well as some great local breweries). Put it this way - just on this visit they had beers from Stone (Ruination), Oskar Blues, Ska (Modus Hoperandi) and Brewdog (Punk and Hoppy Xmas) Paul and Debbie the landlords are always very friendly and up for a chat, as are the team of younger bar staff. You can always get a sample or recommendation, plus they brew their own beer out the back which all the staff seem to know about - their chalk board in the bar also has details of what they're brewing next so the regulars can keep up to date with what's next in the pipeline. Their milk stout and pumpkin head ones are firm favourites! Like them on Facebook for the latest updates on beers on tap, special nights (like their BBQ night in Jan) and all news going on. I may have just heard a rumour that they're opening up a distillery too so even if you don't live in Knaresborough it's worth making the trip here just to check out a great selection of drinks in great surroundings - you won't regret it!

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.

I have eaten here quite a few times now and every time the food has been absolutely top notch. The…read moreservice has always been very good and fast. and the menu changes frequently so you cant get bored I have eaten here at lunch and in the evening and at both times the food has always been of the highest standard. In fact the standards have been so high that I chose to eat here with friends for my birthday. The meal was perfect, every course was superb. The portion sizes are great too so the big eaters among us don't go home hungry The staff are friendly and helpful, and if they are not , the manager Martin very quickly makes sure they are. his level of attention is exceptional, i am sure he has Spidey sense, he always notices first my glass is empty, hurrah.

Tally-HO! And we'rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre OFF!! Two dogs, threatening rainclouds, slushy snow and the…read moreHUNGER- what better way to spend a Sunday than squelching around a pretty Yorkshire village just a few miles out of Leeds and then ending up in a gorgeous, dog friendly proper country pub with delicious food and waiters skilled in the art of Monkey tickling. Monkey is the dog. Lola is the other dog but she doesn't like me talking about her behind her back so to save time let's just say Monkey is the cuddly one. *looks round nervously to check I'm not being watched* East Keswick is just up Wetherby Road- and the great news is you can get the 98 and 99 buses from town to RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DAMN PUB DOOR! Can't argue with that logic. The pub has a Snug at the front where dogs of all shapes, sizes and aromas are made to feel truly welcome. There's a tv for catching up with sports, an open fire, a doggly bowl and some cracking local beers and ales on offer. I had a pint of Mary Jane from the Ilkley Brewery and it was luscious. We'd first bunged the dogs in the car and had lunch in the restaurant part of the pub- which in contrast to the homely snug is really pretty classy for a pub meal. I think an evening meal here would impress. The staff were warm and welcoming and we had 3 courses for £15.95 each, with a decent bottle of red wine this brought the bill to just over £50, which is pretty reasonable for doing it 'all' and less pricey options were available e.g 2 courses for £12.95. This is for Sunday Lunch and there are weekday menus too. To start I had chicken liver pate which was smooth with a decent portion of chutney. Ade had ham terrine which was again sizeable and competently done. Both dishes were well presented and came with Melba toast. All very very good fare. For mains I went for the lamb cutlets and Ade the beef roast. The portions were again pretty sizeable, the roasts generous, crisp yet fluffy, mixed veg was properly al dente and had nice variety.....but it was the lamb that really stood out above everything else. Four almost fist sized hunks of perfectly cooked quality meat, pink on the inside, melt in the mouth and with a subtle and creamy peppercorn sauce to lubricate the GIANT mouthfuls I was pushing into my greedy face. It was sublime and my pleasure sensors were bordering on ridiculous. All this scumptiousness was topped off by Ade's dense and super sweet Sticky Toffee Pudding and the heavenly dark matter that made up my Hot Chocolate Fudge Cake. Yes. Yes yes yes yes yes. We staggered back to the car to 'release the hounds' and then enjoyed the friendly snug for a slow drinking pint as we digested our heavy yet heavenly loads. Monkey in particular made SUCH a friend of the barman that every time he passed by and patted her head she jumped up, wrapped her front paws around his thigh and tried to walk off with him. I thoroughly recommend The Duke of Wellington if you are out that way, and as a diversion for excellent food/drinks and company even if you are not. With a bus to and from the door there's no excuse my little Leodensians, go get some fresh air and hearty fare.

Had a carvery very nice and the staff are very friendlyread more

Called here on the way to Manchester airport before a holiday, 5 mins from M1 easy parking and a…read morefriendly welcome. My wife ordered Steak and ale pie and I had the Gammon steak and chips The food was served quickly and looked very appetising. The gammon was thick and well cooked, the chips were huge and home cooked and was served with a soft fried egg and a spiced pineapple chutney. The plate was cleared and every mouthful was enjoyable. My wife'a steak and ale pie was piping hot and full of meat. The mashed potatoe was creamy and the veg was well cooked. All in all a very nice dining experience. Better than a motorway cafe!

The bloke that runs this place, Ron, is awesome. Really funny, very amenable, and he clearly runs a…read moretight ship. He also cooks a mean full english. There are only 4 bedrooms on offer, and they're clean, well furnished and comfy enough, although a little bit dated. TO be fair though, the tariff was only £65 B&B so I'm not going to complain. We'd been at a wedding at another hotel and came back pretty late, but Ron had given us his number so he could let us in. Ooh and the Ploughmans (£8.95) is delish.

Stopped in here for lunch on the way home today. The mixed grill was fantastic well cooked and…read morewell proportioned. Service was of a high standard and very pleasant with it. Even the noisy woman asking stupid questions couldn't detract from the place's obvious charms. Very pleased to have plumped for here out of the many such places you see advertised as you head along the road.