Mark Ciuffetelli
Mark Ciuffetelli, owner of The Millhouse Restaurant and Bar at Skidby in East Yorkshire, was raised in Skirlaugh, East Yorkshire and now lives in Walkington, near Beverley. He has three children.
What’s your first Yorkshire memory?
I clearly remember happy days spent at Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire with my parents. I still go there today with my own children; it’s the perfect spot for a family day out. The kids love exploring the woods, either on foot or on their mountain bikes.
What’s your favourite part of the county and why?
There are so many beautiful places to visit, especially in North Yorkshire, but a wander around the pretty spa town of Harrogate has to be one of my favourite things to do. There are great shops, restaurants and bars, but it’s also just a stone’s throw from some of Yorkshire’s most beautiful countryside. I think Harrogate offers the best of both town and country.
What’s your idea of a perfect day in Yorkshire?
A relaxing day would involve a long walk with my family and our two dogs followed by a leisurely lunch at The Millhouse. I know that sounds like a bit of a busman’s holiday for me, but it’s great to sit outside and enjoy the views on a sunny day. I’d round the day off with a few cocktails. My personal favourite – which is also popular with our customers – is a Japanese Mojito.
Do you have a favourite walk?
I particularly love the many walks around Wensleydale, which is one of my favourite parts of North Yorkshire and somewhere that I head to with my family regularly. The scenery is amazing, and there are plenty of great pubs where you can stop off for a hearty lunch and a drink or two.
Which Yorkshire sportsman would you like to take for lunch?
It would have to be Jessica Ennis Hill, for her sporting prowess and the fact that she looks like she’d be charming company too.
Which Yorkshire stage or screen star would you take for dinner?
Keith Lemon, who is from Leeds originally, is the funniest man on television and I’m sure he’d have me in stitches over dinner.
If you had to name your Yorkshire hidden gem, what would it be?
It’s probably not so much a hidden gem, but I especially love Aysgarth Falls in North Yorkshire. Although the area is popular with tourists, it’s usually possible to get off the beaten track and find a little spot where you can enjoy peace, quiet and soak up the scenery.
What do you think gives Yorkshire its unique identity?
Tweed and flat caps – they’re super stylish and look just as good today as when they were first created. Oh, and Yorkshire puddings; you can’t beat them!
Do you follow sport in the county, and if so, what?
I’m proud to say I follow Hull City. The players are a lovely bunch of lads, who come into The Millhouse regularly for dinner or drinks. I’m lucky enough to count Ehab Allam as a good friend. What the Allam family have done for the football club and the city of Hull is amazing.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or pub?
I like to head over to the Three Acres near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. It’s set in Last of the Summer Wine country, so has great views of the surrounding moorland, not to mention a really cosy, country pub feel. It also serves good old-fashioned pub lunches.
Do you have a favourite food shop?
I like browsing around our fantastic local farmer’s markets for fresh, seasonal, local produce. We’re blessed with some excellent food and drink producers here in Yorkshire.
Who is the Yorkshire person you most admire?
He may not be the best known Yorkshire man, but Percy Shaw, the guy who invented the reflective road studs known as ‘cat’s eyes’, was from Halifax. When I’m driving along the motorway, I often wish I’d come up with the idea. Clever guy!
How do you think Yorkshire has changed, for the better or worse in the time you have known it?
I think East Yorkshire has really been put on the map in recent years, thanks to the fact that Hull is City of Culture for 2017 and has a football team in the Premiership. I also think there’s greater awareness of hidden gems such as Yorkshire Wolds, largely as a result of the artist David Hockney’s work. It’s about time that people discovered the eastern side of our wonderful county; it’s an area that’s most definitely on the up.
If a stranger to Yorkshire only had time to visit one place, where would it be?
Harrogate. As you’ve probably gathered, it’s one of my favourite places to spend a rare day off. It’s so typically ‘Yorkshire’ and would give a visitor a great introduction to what the county is all about.