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??

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.

Oh my wowzer-bowzers, where have I BEEN?! Not, in Horsforth, apparently. Or, just beyond the…read moreHorsforth line more specifically, as I'm told. The other night my boyfriend and I made our way over to see some mates in the old LS18 post code, and they'd mentioned this "cool little pub" they'd found in the region of ten minutes walk from their house. We arrived late on in the evening and after discussion decided to catch a few pints at said pub, before close. After a very pleasant meander in a most beautifully countrified area of Leeds, which much reminded me of Gloucestershire, we arrived at The Abbey Inn. A surprisingly warm welcome was offered on our arrival! I don't mean that we expected it to be a local pub, for local people, it's just that the main bar man was so utterly lovely and keen to get to know us. It was, in all honesty, a wonderful reception and we got to know all about their open mic night (held every Tuesday and totally welcoming to all levels of talent) and their regular summer beer festival, which I most certainly intend to participate in. On walking through to the bar we stood and did the usual bird-like bobbing of heads, in an attempt to ascertain which taps were serving what, to which the bar man said: "There's a dark side and a light side. You're stood on the side of the light, and that", *pointing*, "that there's the dark side." That was awesome. I felt a bit like Frodo. Or Luke. Or a bit of both, except I'm not a bloke and I wasn't on a quest, but nonetheless the poetic manner in which he proffered their real ale was just really fracking cool. The whole damn pub was cool, cosy, friendly and I'm just taken by the place really. Fair enough I've been but once, I'll leave it to you to judge that, but with a cool range of beers, awesome staff, generous outside seating and a cosy interior (live music to boot, but I've not been to that yet) I can't think of anything more that I want from an evening of boozin'. Maybe pie? I'll come back for pie.

I have lived within walking distance from this pub for a good few years now, but didn't find out…read moreabout it's existence until this year. One of Leeds' best hidden gems, this brilliant real ale pub is tucked away down by the river just off Abbey Road / New Road Side on the border between Kirkstall and Horsforth. The Abbey Inn is everything I'd expect a typical real ale pub to be. A good range of local beers on the bar (including from the super-local Kirkstall Brewery!), live bands and open mic nights on an evening, plenty of regulars that look so comfortable in their surroundings and a really nice warm welcome from the staff. The inside has a few different areas, a small 'snug' section, a larger seating area near the bar with a bit where there was a band playing on the night we went, and then another smaller room with a pool table tucked around the back. The outside seating area was nice too, with standard pub benches and then a lovely covered area (I guess to cater for the smokers) with a couple of big tables and chairs, along with a few beer barrels and cushions for additional seating. The canopy was decorated with pretty lights and it was a lovely place to sit out on a summery evening. If you're after high end fanciness with all the posh trimmings, this is not the pub for you. However if you're like me and like somewhere a bit more rustic with proper ale and a bit of charm, then get yourself down here, I can't wait to go back! Just one last thing, I've heard good things about the food they serve here and I fully intend to return to check this out. At the same time, I'll also investigate their child-friendliness, as I'll have Mr MacDoo and the Mini MacDoos with me. I'll update you with my findings!

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.

This small, traditional pub is not in the best of locations - sandwiched between the back of a…read moreshopping mall and some disused tennis courts, and well removed from the main road, meaning you have to wind your way to it through a rather glum park. Inside, there is little to shout about, as the old stained carpets and low wooden beams of the drinking areas hardly make you feel at ease, although the lagers and bitters are pretty cheap. It has a few benches on the grass outside, and its own children's play area, meaning that on the odd sunny Saturday it can be a good place for families. In my eyes, however, its a below-bar pub that's not really worth the strange journey.

Oh God I am SO in two minds here…read more Do I share my little secret? Do I open up my sanctuary to a wider audience? Can ALL of us fit around the open fire in the Chesterfield chairs or will it all descend into a bloodbath when I realise I have opened the doors to Nirvana and let the horde in? And then I think of the staff at The Wharfedale Inn. I think about how they will do you a tab by just asking your first name. I think about how you can gleefully rearrange your dinner into a combination of infinite variations and they will just smile and say the Chef wont mind. I think about how they ask how you are and where you've been. I think about how they smile when you ask for the Chocolate Brandy Pot pudding with extra cream and how they wander back past the table when you're on your last trouser button and encourage you to finish it off. I think of all these things and I realise it is supremely selfish of me to keep The Wharfedale Inn to myself and so here we are. Nestled by the railway bridge in Arthington (between Pool and Harewood) with a roaring open fire; comfy mismatched seating, homely paintings and pottery proudly on display on the walls, a tank of pet fish to distract you and make you do kissy fish faces on your way to the loos, a separate 'posh' restaurant on the side where you can sit up straight and use a knife and with the friendliest bar in Yorkshire where you can tuck into big meaty portions of perfectly cooked classic dishes all made with quality local ingredients and a liberal smattering of hot love, The Wharfedale Inn is one of my favourite places on God's green earth and it is well worth riding a bus into the wild countryside to partake in its numerous pleasures. The prices are more than reasonable, around £9 for a main, £4 for a starter and same for pudding. There's a cracking wine list that goes above and beyond the capacity of most country pubs. The Specials Board is always a delight and often features a few surprises- the Japanese Prawns being one recent discovery. I recommend grabbing those Chesterfields by the fire, ordering a pint of cloudy Addlestone's cider and then munching your way through the Honey Roast Duck with chunky chips and salad followed by that legendary dollop of the Chocolate and Brandy Pot that will suck ALL the moisture out of your head. It's not fancy, it's more than any normal human should expect to eat in any one sitting and the salad is just good old English lettuce, cucumber, tomato and onion but my goodness does it make you smile from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. To use the vernacular, it is simply DELISH. And if I'm in there buy me a drink , for I am the Gate Keeper to wonderful things. Oh and when you do finally stagger out of the door be sure to look up into the sky, there's Red Kite in them there hills and they really like to circle the pub. I can't blame 'em : )

I have stayed here a couple of times, though the room rate is almost as expensive as some quality…read morehotels, this is just a pub !. But a pretty good one too, with excellent bar food , and an adjoining restaurant. I had to smile when , looking out of the back from my room ('Almscliffe') there were lots of rabbits in the field. When I came down for dinner, one of the specials was 'Rabbit Pie'. Pity breakfast is only a cold affair, placed in fridge the previous night.. Pub is good , but I wouldnt stay there again.

My husband and I stopped in while visiting from Mississippi and really enjoyed our meal along with…read morethe service. Decorated in a little lovely but unexpected style.

This pub is a little way out from Yeadon High street so often gets missed off the Hike up and down…read morethe hill that is a Friday night. Usually it has a good friendly atmosphere and a fair range of drinks and offers. What I have to rave about is the Sunday carvery that they do. I kept hearing about this from many quarters do tried it out with some friends and their kids. It is not fancy, no pretensions, but great food and brilliant value for money. You buy your ticket from the bar (which you can do at the same time as getting in a round of drinks, very efficient!) it cost about a fiver, I think. And then whenever you're ready join the queue at the counter. There is a great selection of meats and vegetables. The only thing that was a let down was the time it took for my friend's vegetarian meal to arrive (it appeared to be a cheap micro-meal, so not the best value either) - but like I've already said the carvery itself is great.

Hands down my favourite pub in Leeds. Friendly staff and customers, good beer, fun events and -…read moremost importantly - dogs! I will always go out of my way to visit the Chemic if I fancy a relaxing evening. The entertainment they put on too is top notch - local acts and some from further away, including folk music and open mic nights where anyone can join in. It's also next door to the best chip shop in Leeds (which is veggie friendly!), and you can take your chips in to enjoy with a pint. If you're looking for a lovely place to have a nice evening, you couldn't go far wrong with the Chemic.

This is a tough review…read more Not because I'm unsure if I like the pub or not but simply because I fear that my review might attract people to the place and I love it just the way it is. The Chemic Tavern is in the Woodhouse area of Leeds. Woodhouse is not known for it's excellent pubs and neither is neighbouring Hyde Park. They both mainly consist of student pubs with no soul and flat Carlsberg. Not good. The good people at The Chemic Tavern have managed to remove themselves from these other kinds of pubs and have created something bloody lovely. First things first - the beer. They always have a great selection of ales on. Timothy Taylor's Landlord is always there and then usually two or three others. You then have a selection of decent lagers, wines and cocktails - all reasonably priced and well maintained. It's just nice to walk in to a pub, stroll over to the bar, look at the options and not think to yourself 'ahh bugger. .' but instead think 'ooh, what shall I have first?'. The staff are legendary. It seems all to often nowadays that being polite and having a friendly chat with your customers is a bit too difficult for a lot of places. Not with The Chemic. On every visit I have been made to feel like a returning friend and I love that. You instantly feel welcome and relaxed. It appears The Chemic only hire nice, chatty people. This is a very clever move - albeit a very obvious one. The music is always good too. There's no jukebox but you will often hear Motown, Blues and good Indie tunes. They have live music nights there as well, come to think of it. Ska nights, Irish nights and other things will go on in the back room that also features a darts board and an array of board games (if you fancy a geeky night down the pub, playing Trivial Pursuits). The other really nice thing about the place is that everyone who drinks in there appears to be very happy. I think this is because they're all aware that it's the best pub in miles. The Chemic appears to only attract people (and lots of them at the weekend) who are there to have a nice, enjoyable drink (or six) with their mates. I could go on and on but I fear it would just end up sounding like that I was considering proposing marriage to the pub. Which is obviously a ridiculous idea. . . isn't it? Yes, of course it is. How would I fit The Chemic in a church for a start? So I will end this review by adding that the pub has an amazing fish and chip shop (Arkwright's) next door and you're allowed to buy food from there and eat it inside the pub. Good stuff. So if you haven't been here before and you like proper pubs, I urge you to check this place out. Not too many of you, mind. .

I really wanted to enjoy this local more than I did, and should perhaps go back for a second visit…read morebeing as this was a swift one, but it wasn't my favourite. The outdoor area has a few tables out the front, next to the busy road, but it at least has somewhere to sit and sup out in this warm weather. The bar inside seems decent, and cosy for when it gets a bit more wintery, but I didn't get to see the whole of it as it was a quick pint before moving on. As for the range, it appeared there was a good selection of ale, for those who like cask, and a mixed range of other lagers and soft drinks for those who don't. Standard spirits, if memory recalls. The thing that put me off was the service. It wasn't rude, per se, but I noticed that despite having waited before several of the local bar flies, I was still last to be served. The chap was nice enough, but having worked in a bar before, I considered it good etiquette to serve in order of arrival. It was disappointing, as the rest of the experience was rather pleasant. Perhaps an off night, so as I say, a return may be in order.

This area of Horsforth is rather trendy nowadays dontchaknow, which has led to The Fleece standing…read moreas the lone pub on New Road Side. It looks like a proper Yorkshire watering hole from the outside, with nothing fancy or gimmicky on show to detract from the old stonewall charms. Inside, you'll find a very pubbish-pub if you know what I mean. If you don't, I'll try and explain. Nowadays, pubs are either closing or being bought up by chains, leaving little chance for uniqueness or character. The Fleece, however, has its own distinctive charms (including a pleasing selection of real ales) and it's the sort of place that you imagine hasn't changed in half a century. Commendable.

This Fox & Hounds is located almost on top of Horsforth train station, on the boundary between…read moreHorsforth and Cookridge meaning it has a very local feel about it - you're unlikely to find any students or out-of-towners in here. And perhaps this is just as well, because this place just exudes Yorkshireness, from it's cask ales to it's hearty pub grub and friendly atmosphere. The staff in here are very proud of their casks, and they will let you try-before-you-buy if you're unsure about which one is for you. They also welcome advice on which cask ales they should stock, which means you're likely to stumble upon a couple of elderly chaps locked in a fierce ale-based discussion. If, like me, you're not really a cask ale enthusiast, then don't fear - the food will definitely keep you interested. As a member of a chain - Ember Inns - you might expect microwaved tosh from the Fox and Hounds, but this is not the case. Their food is better than most pub grub you will stumble upon, and realistically priced - if you eat before 5PM, you can get two main meals for £7. Lovely stuff.

Nice pub with a good vibe but have to say when I had some food it was poor, ordered a lasagne - it…read morewas just a microwave meal.