Best kept secret in the area. This 16th century pub/restaurant is run by a lovely couple (Dave and…read moreJackie) who make you feel welcome every visit. My wife and I have been coming here for nearly three years now and the food is still the best around. Sometimes you may have to wait due to everything being cooked fresh to order but it is well worth the wait. Look out for the specials board which has some of the unusual dishes not normally seen in other restaurants.

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??

Great pub, upstairs from bottle shop. Friendly staff, maybe best atmosphere in all of York! Don't…read moremiss this gem!

This place was a little hard to find. Look for the liquor store on the ground floor that says…read more"trembling madness" on the window. Pub is upstairs. Pub was fairly cool. Saw some reviews saying something about a Harry Potter vibe, but I didn't get that at all. It has some cool elements, but definitely did not live up to those expectations. Had a nice beer selection on tap. And prices were quite reasonable. Ended up picking up a few interesting beers on my way out.

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.

Visited this brilliant little pub September 2024. Its in the middle of nowhere, but absolutely…read moreworth the drive out into the North York Moors for a good lunch. Cozy 16th century inn with magnificent views, at least on a clear day like we had. It was a blustery day so my wife didnt want to sit outside and enjoy the vista, but luckily we got a table right away inside.  It was packed in there. Its a popular spot for lunch and people clearly travel to enjoy the fare. Its very cozy inside, low beams, dark tight corners - watch your head, I saw a couple of taller gents bump their head entering the bar. The bar is right at the back and is nice and long, easy to get in and was quick getting served. Atmosphere obviously great in there, and staff were busy but always courteous. We both had a sandwich and chips (and an ale) and it was pretty good. I'd like to go back and try some of the other dishes folks have recommended.

This is one of the most remote pubs located in the North York Moors, which we stopped by on our way…read moreto Whitby. We only stopped by for a pint and coffee early in the day but the atmosphere is great, and we already saw the lunch crowd starting to come in. Food looked good, but we didn't get a chance to try it! Amazing views from the outside, and sheep everywhere too :)

This lovely pub has just been voted East Yorkshire village pub of the year & was joint runner up…read morethe year before It sells a great ploughmans lunch consisting of french bread,pork pie,cheese & pickles a definate must try as this is totally delicious,they also do snacks & evening mels as well as the lunches.If you are after staying over the do b& b here too.Children & dogs are allowed but must be kept under control There is a lovely garden for warmer months with seating/tables & for those colder ones theres a lovely log fire.A warning to smokers you can smoke outside but they no longer sell cigarettes etc so make sure you have plenty with you They have a lounge & seperate games room that has pool a table,darts & sky tv Another fav of mine here is a filled yorkshire pud with cumberland sausage,mash & gravy lovely when coming in from the cold really warms you up & tastes lovely

We weren't impressed with the Grantham Arms (not a traditional pub) nor The Three Horse Shoes (bit…read morerough). The Black Bull was perfect - traditional, great ales, great atmosphere and terrific food. Would give 6 stars if I could.

The best pub in town By far. The landlord knows how to keep beer ....read more

This small inn is very deceiving, from the road whilst the facade is very picturesque, it looks…read morelike the typical Victorian Detached House, but once inside it is massive. The food is excellent and gardens are lovely they have one front and back. The prices are reasonable and the quality of food is good. It's only drawback is that parking is on the street and like most small villages the road is not wide. It is very convenient if you are visiting Beningbrough Hall a few hundred yards down the road.

Great food great beer great pub friendly staff. A good old English pub experience . The menu is a…read moregood size for a pub like this and the portions are big . There is a lovely beer garden at the front, nice on an evening.

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.

We ate here on a Thursday evening, between 7 and 8. The dining room was quite full. We had sea bass…read moreceviche and beetroot salad to start, followed by the ribeye steak and the lamb for main. For desert, we had the cheese board, the savarin, and the chocolate pudding. All in all, we had a nice time. The food was quite tasty in places and the waiting staff were eager to please.

This is a gastro pub. nice location. Fairly good service…read more the good is good but the restaurant is totally overpriced