A WEEKEND AWAY
A REMOTE YORKSHIRE INN WITH MICHELIN-STARRED CUISINE
Treat yourself to a fine-dining break at Yorkshire’s Michelin-starred The Black Swan
Sitting beside a winding country road, stylish tavern
The Black Swan is tucked away in an idyllic, if remote, corner of rural Yorkshire. Oldstead, a small village in the north of the county, has stunning landscape in spades, but less in terms of popular tourist attractions. To make up for the resulting lack of passing trade, Tommy Banks knew his first job after joining the kitchen team at his family’s pub was to turn the inn into a destination in its own right. He did just that. By the time he was made head chef, the restaurant held a
Michelin star and went on to be named the ‘best restaurant in the world’ by a 2017 Tripadvisor poll. With miles of rolling countryside on the doorstep and several cosy bedrooms to snuggle up in, this is the quintessential English escape. COUNTRY GASTRONOMY Locally sourced food is all the rage these days, but The Black Swan takes it to the nth degree. Nearly all of the produce comes from a three-acre kitchen garden at the back of the pub, and the remainder is either foraged nearby or from the family’s farm down the road. There’s only one dining option – a multi-course tasting menu, which includes mouthwatering delicacies such as monkfish with fermented celeriac, Oldstead deer, and langoustines with caramelised whey. PICTURE PERFECT Ramblers, walkers and those looking for a dose of rejuvenating fresh air will love The Black Swan’s setting in Yorkshire’s Howardian Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Remember to bring your hiking boots to take advantage of all that stunning open space. SLEEPY HEAD After a long day marching the vales and dining on top-notch grub, head to the pub’s various stable blocks and outbuildings, which house the nine bedrooms. These are chic affairs with tartan upholstery and antique bedsteads, while some even feature copper roll-top bath tubs and exposed beams. The Black Swan, Oldstead,
York YO61 4BL, 01347 868387, blackswanoldstead.co.uk