Part of a group of North Yorkshire gastropubs that also includes The Durham Ox, Crayke and The Crown & Cushion, Welburn, this rejuvenated Helperby hostelry is handy for dining, drinking and staying over within easy reach of the A1 and A19. Eat in the flagstoned bar or the burgundy-toned dining room from a menu that ranges broadly from pizza and sandwiches to seared scallops with black pudding and cauliflower purée, rib-eye steak and chips or butternut squash ravioli. The seasonal line-up is also supplemented by blackboard specials that could include Dover sole or Yorkshire-reared Wagyu beef, plus fruit and vegetables supplied from partner Chris Blundell’s magnificent walled garden. Just add breakfast and a smart private dining room upstairs, as well as six bedrooms and alfresco opportunities on the courtyard for an inviting local package.