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 food was amazing, wonderful service from all of the staff. Love the outlay of the restaurant…read more Highly recommend..

Dear Fox Hole. I have to tell you that in our 21 days visiting in England your food was the best we…read morehad! I can't stop thinking about and wanting your garlic mushrooms in cream sauce! It was heavily! My husband raves about the chicken & brie sandwich he had. The chicken melted in his mouth and was a perfect sandwich. In addition to great food the location and ambience was so pleasant. We wished we could had eaten at the Fox Hole a few more times. It was such a pleasure to discover your quaint and yummy place. Thank you. Debbie

As a visitor from Florida, I found the service and food excellent. The food was fresh, hot and…read morelarge portions. I would highly recommend it.

Went a few days after opening and the food was delicious, the serving sizes were spot on, and…read morepriced well. I had the Korean beef short rib rice bowl as my entree with an Asian pork belly starter. The toffee pudding to top is out was excellent as well. Only thing was we weren't aware there was a 2 or 3 course set available until we got the desert menu, but I wouldn't hold that against them as they just soft opened. Overall I highly recommend it for dinner, I'll have to try their breakfast menu another time. P.S. The owner has a great taste in music.

Azores was the place we chose for our work Christmas meal, and we preordered our food for both our…read moreand the restaurant's convenience. Unfortunately, despite this headstart, the food wasn't up to scratch- my and others' dishes were cold, and my portion of pasta went no way to filling me up. To be honest, I can't believe I paid £6.90 for something I could have done better for about £2. The staff were friendly but didn't seem aware of how to serve; my drinks order was forgotten and there was no sugar served with the coffees, which wouldn't have rankled much, but for the fact that it took 10 minutes to attract attention to get some. All in all, distinctly below average.

This was an enjoyable establishment. Didn't start off well as the waitress did not know what mezcal…read morewas and they were out of the mezcal cocktail. I wasn't a fan of the cocktail flight because it was a bit foamy, but I had better luck with the food. Had a steak special that was reasonably priced and cooked well with a side of broccolini. Enjoyed a salad to start off my meal that was light and fresh. I enjoyed the decor of the establishment with a fun bar area and you could watch the food being prepared. We started off with one waitress and finished our dining experience with a different waitress who was in training but she was very sweet. Overall enjoyable dining experience.

Wonderful meal with wonderful service! Everything we had was really good to outstanding. I can't…read morerecommend the King Prawns enough. When it arrived I thought 'hmm shrimp is not as big as I'd have thought' but then I tasted it and the sauce, shrimp, bread and veggies together were one of the best shrimp dishes I've ever had. I even saved the left over sauce (had it put in a ramekin) and put it on my steak. It was that good. My wife got the pork chops special and it was good too but the beans that were served with it were spectacular. Beans??? I didn't know they could be spectacular. Truffle chips (fries) were quality too. The home made black sheep sticky toffee pudding was also a must try. Lastly, Gosia, our waitress, was knowledgeable and took great care of us. When we are in York, we will be back.

We popped here for a very tasty meal a few weeks back!…read more This is such a great place if you want an authentic British pub/restaurant with a unique personal touch in North Yorks. Situated between Harrogate and York, it's easily accessible by car and I'd recommend booking in advance. We enjoyed a number of meat and fish menu items, with some lovely freshly made bread served with our starters - very very good. The beer selection was fairly country inn offering in terms of choice but there was one great local beer - very light and enjoyable to quaff. We'll be back!

This secret hideaway was revealed to me by a dear friend. We often frequented Malt Shovel for both…read morefood a drink, drink, drink... and more drink. GAWD, do I LOVE a nice, warm British beer!

The Poachers barn at Osgodby is our favorite bar and restaurant. The poachers is located in the…read morevillage centre with easy access from all directions. The new bypass which has taken the constant traffic flow away from the area makes it all the better for a quiet drink in the beer garden or the outside tables. The Poachers offers more than just a drink, it is a traditional place, and a place you feel welcome. Richard the landlord is your host and one of the friendly faces behind the bar. The Poachers is a family bar with menus for all tastes. Update 1/1/10 The Poachers New year party was not to be missed, A personal welcome from the Landlord to us and our friends. Inside the early revellers had taken our favourite seats but it turned out to be a bonus on our part, the large restaurant had been turned into a buffet / disco / karaoke and we found a suitable table. The FREE buffet was endless, every time a tray emptied another one appeared. A good selection to choose from, and both hot cold food was available. For all you Motorhome owners who want a safe stop off for the night the Poachers allows this service. A large hard standing area at the rear is the ideal solution. In summary, give it a try you wont be disappointed. Dave, Debb, Dora.

Lovely family orientated pub which serves good, fresh, wholesome food. Nothing is too much trouble…read more Warm and cosy. Would recommend but watch for the Landlord.. he bites!!!!

I visit this pub regularly. The service is always friendly, I get a great pint of bitter and the…read morefood is good. Definitely the best pub in Kirkby!

My wife and I were out for a drive the other day and happened to pass the Henry Jenkins Inn. We…read moredecided to call in for a drink. There were people eating fish and chips when we went in which looked very tasy. We decided to try them ourselves. We were certainly not disappointed. The fish was a generous size and tasted wonderful. We would certainly recommend it to anyone. The landlord and landlady passed the time of day with us and we found them to be very warm and welcoming. We spent a pleasant hour or so in the pub and would certainly call in again whenever we are passing. The pub is open all day every day which is ideal as not many pubs in the area are open all day.