Best restaurants in Newcastle: where to eat and drink
Looking for the best places to eat in Newcastle? Read our guide to the best local foodie areas from Jesmond to Ouseburn, Tynemouth to Monument
Looking for Newcastle restaurants? Here are our favourite restaurants near Newcastle Central Station in the northern city. The best foodie spots include independent cafés, indoor markets and craft breweries. Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in Newcastle, from Jesmond to Quayside and beyond… For more exciting restaurants and weekend ideas for food lovers, check out our best UK city breaks. Also discover the best restaurants in Bath, best restaurants in Manchester, best restaurants in York or the best restaurants in Edinburgh. Best places to eat and drink in Newcastle Long Friday – for eclectic sharing dishes “Simple, relaxed neighbourhood drinks and dining” is how Long Friday defines itself. It is a modest intro for a restaurant that regularly excels in that brief. The second venue from Cook House creator Anna Hedworth, this modish spot in suburban Jesmond serves an eclectic menu of sharing dishes in which flavour-packed ingredients (cured mackerel, Old Spot pork, sardines) are treated with a variety of stylistic influences and neat techniques to create small plates that resonate. Think: barbecued ox heart and green pepper salsa, cacio e pepe polenta with brown butter mushrooms and sage, or mussels in chorizo with fermented tomato sauce. Great cocktails, too. longfriday.co.uk Flint Pizza – for pizza The inner suburb of Heaton is having a foodie moment, as restaurants such as Nest, Rebel and forthcoming former pop-up Cantina rack-up plaudits. Flint is a mainstay of that scene. A simple space of exposed brick with an Italian-made Stefano Ferrara pizza oven prominent in its open kitchen, Flint specialises in Neapolitan-style pizzas, natural wine and a small selection of nifty small plates such as fermented red peppers and lardo or whipped ricotta with tomatoes, tropea onions and crispy chilli. Its 48-hour fermented pizza bases are intelligently and creatively dressed with, for example, fennel sausage, crème fraiche, cime di rapa, Aleppo pepper and parmesan, or oyster mushrooms, spring greens, Isle of Mull cheddar, fermented chilli and parmesan. flintpizza.co.uk Solstice – for intimate Michelin-starred dining Most people know chef Kenny Atkinson for his flagship House of Tides, which has held a Michelin star for a decade. Meanwhile, a short walk away, Kenny’s second venue Solstice – also a Michelin-starred restaurant – has emerged as his super high-end, cutting-edge outlet. Seating 14 people, Solstice is a luxurious cocoon where the chefs cook in an open-plan kitchen, serving guests a succession of surprise dishes over 10 to 15 courses. Working on that small scale, the kitchen can utilise fleetingly seasonal, highly limited supplies of exceptional ingredients in its complex, ornate dishes. A recent dish of, for example, creel-caught Scottish langoustine involved plancha-cooking the seafood, plating it on an Amalfi lemon, Sichuan pepper, allspice and Thai basil marmalade, then serving it with two sauces at table: a langoustine Thai curry sauce and a shio koji foam. Solstice is a magical treat for serious foodies. solsticencl.com The Broad Chare – for a foodie pub Chef and restaurateur Terry Laybourne is a Newcastle legend who, over four decades – at restaurants from smart brasserie 21, to the wine bar and dining room St Vincent – has pushed the North East forward. His Broad Chare pub, located just off the Quayside by the River Tyne in central Newcastle, is easy to love and difficult to leave. A warm nook of wood, leather and chalkboards, you can snack on top-notch scotch eggs, Lindisfarne oysters and toasties in the bar (excellent beer choice, too), or linger in the upper-level dining area. Typical dishes might include haggis on toast with a fried hen’s egg and HP, sharing steaks and suet pies, or local wild halibut, celeriac purée, mussels and leeks. thebroadchare.co.uk Arlo – for brunch A relaxed all-day restaurant in West Jesmond, Arlo focuses on seasonal, home-cooked food. Brunch is what they do best, so arrive early (or be prepared to queue) and grab a window seat to watch the world go by. Take your pick between toasted waffles with bacon and maple syrup, slices of seared steak with sourdough and poached eggs or focaccia filled with pesto, tomato, mushroom, bacon and sausages for a hearty way to start the day. Don’t leave before picking up a takeaway slice of citrus drizzle cake from the generously filled counter. arlojesmond.com Fat Hippo – for indulgent burgers If you’re looking for hearty comfort food in Newcastle, make a beeline for a branch of Fat Hippo and its indulgent burgers, either the branch in Jesmond, or the one in the city centre. You can easily spend the whole evening in the cosy Jesmond restaurant, where wooden tables are squished together, with an open fireplace on one wall, and an old church pew against another. It feels like you’re hunkering down in a friend’s living room, and if you live locally you’re almost sure to bump into someone you know. The place comes to life in the evenings, so it’s good to book ahead. The beef burgers are freshly ground and pressed daily, served in a toasted brioche bun. Chicken burgers are just as hearty. If you’ve got room to spare, we recommend you order a side of dirty fries – that’s a bowl of hand-cut chips with crispy bacon pieces and creamy Fat Hippo sauce. fathippo.co.uk Scream for Pizza – for unique pizzas Scream for Pizza is the brainchild of friends Victoria Featherby and Alex Walker, who met back in 2010 while working in the entertainment department of a cruise ship company. They found common ground in a shared love of pizza and in 2014, between contracts, they decided to head to Naples to do a seven-week course in pizza making at Enzo Coccia’s celebrated La Notizia restaurant. They returned to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and served their creations from a J7 Peugeot, a former French army ambulance turned pizza truck affectionately known as Goldie. In May 2019, they finally opened their first pizzeria in the Sandyford district, although Goldie still makes regular appearances around the city. Past Scream for Pizza bestsellers include the crab thermidor and a deconstructed fried tiramisu pizza. screamforpizza.com Kiln – for brunch There’s only a glass screen between Kiln’s café and the 1265 Degrees Northpottery studio, both owned by potter Richard Cullen. So not only can you watch Richard and fellow potter Jun Rhee throw pots as you eat homemade shakshuka, but if you like the one you’re lunching out of, you can buy it on the way out. The pottery started in 2014, first supplying chef Dave Coulson at local restaurant Peace & Loaf, who later commissioned its tableware for Great British Menu 2018. 1265’s signature speckled white and oatmeal blue stoneware soon got spotted – it now supplies top restaurants including Restaurant Story, Forest Side and House of Tides. But Richard and his partner Geffen Yoeli-Rimmer also wanted to make their pottery accessible. So they set up Kiln’s café, offering simple, budget food on beautiful tableware. “The ceramics are high-end. We wanted to bring that level of craft to an everyday audience,” says Geffen. kiln.cafe SIX – for rooftop views For one of the best views of the city, head to the Baltic art gallery’s sleek and stylish top floor restaurant. The best tables are those around the outside of the large room with uninterrupted panoramas through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Share seasonal small plates of Wye Valley asparagus with house lardo or tomato tartare with cured yolk before moving onto dishes such as wild garlic ricotta ravioli with fresh pea ragu, or cod poached in douglas fir with samphire. sixbaltic.com Peace and Loaf – for a tasting menu For a refined meal in Newcastle head to Peace and Loaf. Durham-born chef Dave Coulson trained under Michel Roux Jr. and is the antithesis of the food he serves – strong, tattooed hands plate up delicate dishes of clementine, saffron, sheep’s milk and vanilla. If you’re looking to splash out on a special occasion go for the tasting menu and settle in for 13 courses. Each of the dishes will intrigue you, for different reasons. The food might be more on the side of fine dining, but the atmosphere and service is as friendly and relaxed as anywhere else in the city. peaceandloaf.co.uk House of Tides – for city centre fine dining For fine-dining in Newcastle city centre, House of Tides is a must. Set on the quayside in a Grade I townhouse, this Michelin star restaurant focuses on seasonal and sustainable food. Located in a handsome 16th century quayside townhouse, Tides has, over recent years, subtly morphed into a more relaxed affair. For all its rigour and polish, it now offers a bar menu downstairs, an a la carte option in the main restaurant, and is serving Sunday lunch, too. Produce available from the North East is used as much as possible, and the wine list includes English sparkling from West Sussex. Sourdough bread with cultured butter is followed by king crab, radish, oyster and dill before a meatier plate of veal sweetbreads served with beef fat crumb, apricot and black garlic. houseoftides.co.uk Riley’s Fish Shack – for fresh seafood The North East coast might not be the most sought-after beach spot for sun-seekers, with its bracing temperatures and strong sea breezes, but that’s what makes Riley’s Fish Shack, in Tynemouth, such a find. Adam and Lucy Riley set up the shack in their hometown as a way to celebrate the local seafood that’s caught in the area, and if you want some of the best fish in the North East then it’s a must-visit. Queues can stretch for a couple of hours in peak times and, as with seafood, when the fish is gone, it’s gone. Fortunately, it’s worth the wait. Choose between mackerel wraps (cooked in a wood-fired oven for a smoky flavour), chargrilled squid served with crispy hot-plate garlic potatoes and pan-fried salted hake with caper butter. The menu changes depending on the fish supplied by local fishermen, but you can always rely on something fresh, seasonal and hearty to warm you up. If you can’t find a seat inside, wrap up warm, breathe in the sea air and enjoy a pint of ale from local Almasty Brewing Co. with your food on the sandy beach. rileysfishshack.com Dabbawal – for Indian food Serving Mumbai street food in a casual environment, Dabbawal is the place to go for Indian dishes. Visit the cosy city centre restaurant or bright and buzzy Jesmond site for masala dosa wraps, sweet potato chaat and okra fries. Try the malabar king prawn curry in a fragrant ginger, turmeric and coconut sauce with a slightly sweet pashwari naan on the side. For a small taste of everything, choose the thali menu which comes with poppadoms, grilled meats, curries, daal, rice and raita. Wash it down with a jug of smooth mango lassi and a warming cup of masala chai. dabbawal.com More places to eat and drink in Newcastle Harvest Canteen – for coffee One of the best places in Newcastle for a cup of coffee, Harvest Canteen in leafy Jesmond serves Ouseburn Coffee Company brews (OCC roasts beans just two miles down the road). White walls, communal wooden benches, baskets of oranges ready for juicing and shelves lined with crockery give it a laid-back vibe even during the Saturday morning bustle. ouseburncoffee.co.uk Grainger Market – for an independent market Newcastle’s Grainger Market opened in 1835 and is split into two sections – a butchers’ and a vegetable market. Nowadays, the still-traditional market is a hive of activity, with butchers, fishmongers, fruit and veg sellers and bakers. It’s easy to get confused, with the market’s 14 entrances and exits but once you’ve learnt your way around it’s a great place to stock up on fresh produce, at bargain prices. Geordie accents bellow around the building (“a pound of pears for a £1”) but don’t miss out on the street food stalls that are dotted around, too. ourgraingermarket.co.uk Charlotte’s Butchery – for meat For the best meat in Newcastle, head to Gosforth. After growing up in the city, Charlotte got a part time job in a butchers in York before training in butcher’s shops in Newcastle and Knightsbridge. Together with her brother, Jamie, and a Yorkshireman named Richard they run Charlotte’s butchery in her home town, selling chops, roasts, steaks, shanks, bangers and burgers. charlottesbutchery.com Wylam Brewery – for beer Exhibition Park is a vast green space in Newcastle with bandstands, lakes, cafes and an art deco Palace of Art. The latter, built in 1929 is now home to Wylam microbrewery. Opened in 2000, it stocks 24 core keg beers, four core cask beers and four heritage cask beers that are only available in the North East. The latter includes a red kite heritage red ale, a gold tankard with a hint of grapefruit and a spicy angel amber ale. The tap room is a cosy space for an ale or two, and there’s a bottle fridge if you fancy something chilled. Book a tour of the brewery on a Saturday to learn about the company’s history and the brewing process, before having a tipple or two. If you can’t make it to the brewery, they supply a lot of places across Newcastle including Tyneside café and cinema bar, so stop off for a pre-film pint. wylambrewery.co.uk Carruthers & Kent – for wine Located in the Gosforth district, Carruthers & Kent is wine bar, shop and deli all rolled into one, with a tasting room where owners Claire Carruthers and Mo O’Toole host events with visiting winemakers. Carruthers & Kent serves 16 wines by the glass and any bottle off the shelves can be enjoyed for just a £5 corkage fee. There are also wine flights, a range of additional fine wines, boards of cheese and charcuterie, and homemade pies and parfaits. carruthersandkent.com More UK restaurant guides Best restaurants in Dublin Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge Best restaurants in Margate Best restaurants in Manchester Best restaurants in the Lake District Words | Ellie Edwards, Laura Rowe, Mark Taylor and Tony Naylor
The UK is awash with fantastic street food stalls selling everything from Venezuelan arepas to vegan kebabs, so we've rounded-up our pick of the best available
Want to try the best street-food in the UK? Here's our pick of the best food trucks, stalls and market halls, with culinary delights ranging from vegan kebabs, British-Indian comfort food, loaded cheesecakes and more. For more street food inspiration check out the best street food in London. Best street food in London and South East The Orange Buffalo, various locations Deemed the best wings in London by its loyal fans, The Orange Buffalo is the product of school friends, Nick and Mike, who travelled across America and decided to bring a piece of it back. In 2012, The Orange Buffalo became the UK’s first dedicated buffalo wing food truck, selling glistening wings, stacked burgers and funky variations including a spin on brunch (fried chicken benedict, anyone?). Locations in Soho, Tooting and Hoxton. theorangebuffalo.com Click here to read about the best street-food stalls in London Pockets, Netil Market Head to Netil Market in East London for your lunchtime Pocket fix (and thank us later). This little falafel stall delivers on big flavours, with its soft and springy pittas full of flavourful layers: think crispy hot falafel, cabbage salad, lashings of sauce and hummus. The final topping comes in the form of a potato slice, coated in batter and fried. instagram.com/pockets_uk Guasa, various locations Guasa is bringing a Venezuelan food experience to the London street food scene. Try its popular artisan Venezuelan arepas made with naturally gluten-free white corn, with fillings spanning teriyaki-style jackfruit, marinated chicken, buffalo beef and more. Yuca fries, served golden and crispy, also grace the menu, as well as Venezuelan rum and cocktails with a twist. guasagroup.com Eat Lah, various locations Malaysian street food stall Eat Lah is based across a handful of London street food markets, including Design District Canteen, Victoria Park and Brockley Market. The bright blue stall is famous for its hot fresh nasi kerabu, a blue-hued rice salad topped with plenty of veg and garnished with herbs, grated coconut, fish crackers and its own spicy sambal. eatlah.co.uk Best street food in the South West Big Nath's BBQ, Bristol Find Big Nath serving homemade locally sourced sweet smokey BBQ at Bristol's Harbourside. Expect smoked beef brisket, chimichurri chicken and dirty fries loaded with mac and cheese, pulled pork, mustard, pickles and crumbled sausage. For pud, there's deep-fried Oreos topped with Hersheys chocolate sauce. bignathsbbq.co.uk The Smoked Vegan, various locations Head to Bristol's Harbourside market to find The Smoked Vegan serving plant-based and home smoked street food, including 24-hour jerk, 10-hour smoked tofu tacos, beetroot and black-bean burgers, and smoked BBQ jackfruit gyros. bristoleats.co.uk/the-smoked-vegan Ah Ma's Dumplings, Bristol Anita Cheung is on a mission to popularise fresh, delicate, full-flavoured Cantonese cooking. A regular at several Bristol markets, Anita’s silky, ginger-laced prawn, scallop and leek dumplings or her slow-roasted pork belly bao will wow everyone who tastes them. ahmasdumplings.com The Little Taquero, Bristol Bristol-based street-food truck The Little Taquero serves up Mexican and Central American-inspired dishes. Expect soft corn tortillas piled high with refried beans and tender pork shoulder or pieces of snapper fish topped with spicy jalapeño and guacamole. thelittletaquero.co.uk Best street food in the Midlands Phata Phat, Birmingham Catch Phata Phat serving its colourful British-Indian comfort food at various markets across the Midlands, with lip-smacking dishes including butter chicken poutine, loaded lamb keema fries and cauliflower poutine. Check out its Instagram for highlights and event updates. phata-phat.co.uk Urban Cheesecake, Herbert's Yard Urban Cheesecake serve fully loaded cheesecakes out of a converted horsebox at Herbert's Yard, a street food venue, cafe, market and community space from the team behind @digbethdiningclub. They're the most popular sweet trader at the venue. Tuck into what has been described as “Black Forest gateau on steroids” – a cheesecake loaded with black cherry, chocolate brownies, chocolate ganache and crumbled chocolate. instagram.com/urbancheesecakeuk Buddha Belly, Hockley Social Club Find this award-winning Thai street food vendor at Hockley Social Club every Thursday-Sunday, with standout dishes including deep-fried mango and sriracha wings, Thai-fried chicken, beef massaman and, for vegans, the Southern Thai vegan curry – a warming bowl bursting with bamboo shoots and plenty of crunchy veg. buddhabellystreetfood.co.uk Habaneros, Birmingham Located in Birmingham's Great Western Arcade, catch Habaneros dispensing top-quality burritos Monday to Friday, packed with slow-cooked beans, salsas, hot sauces and chipotle slaw. Look out for specials such as slow-cooked mutton or try its tasty pulled pork. It uses free-range Saddleback pigs from 19 Gales farm near Tamworth. instagram.com/habanerocafe Find out where else to eat and drink in Birmingham Best street food in the North Cubanitos, Manchester Spicy latino hot dogs, hot pressed Cuban sandwiches and pico de gallo all grace the exciting menu at Cubanitos, inspired by Cuban/Miami surf street food. Find them in the city centre or at various street food markets. instagram.com/cubanitosmcr Chit 'n' Chaat, Liverpool You can find Chit 'n' Chaat putting its unique spin on popular Indian dishes across Manchester's many food markets, with flavours inspired by parts of both North & South India. Mumbai’s most famous street food snack is a must – a layered Bombay grilled sandwich filled with spiced potato, cucumber, cheese, tomato and chutneys. instagram.com/chit_n_chaat/ Döner Summer, Sheffield, Leeds, York and more Expect funky, inventive and 100% vegan spins on junk food at Döner Summer, with burgers, kebabs and explosive 'combo boxes' – try the Hot Hunny combo box, where spicy 'buttermylk fried chick’n' is coated in Hot Hunny sauce, topped with fresh chilli and sesame, skin on fries dusted in spicy seasoning and jalapeño slaw, finished with spring onions and sesame. instagram.com/donersummer Eat like a Greek, Manchester Transport yourself to Greece with Ruth Petralifis and husband Michalis's grilled souvlaki meat wraps. The meats is sourced locally, but marinated in organic olive oil, herbs and spices from the Petralifis’s family farm on the island of Samos. Find out where you can find it next eatlikeagreek.co.uk. Manjit's Kitchen, Yorkshire Such is Manjit's Kitchen's popularity these days that you'll find the team serving its signature vegetarian Punjabi street food both in Leeds Kirkgate Market and in its own permanent store on Kirkstall Road. The menu is a modern twist on favourite flavours, with paneer tikka flatbreads and parsnip crisps with Desi ketchup. @Manjitskitchen Click here for more places to eat and drink in Leeds The coolest street food markets and halls across the UK… Arcade Food Hall, London Centre Point's Arcade Food Hall by JKS Restaurants favours table service over queues, with tempura prawn sandos, shawarma wraps and jelly trifles on offer; arcadefoodhall.com Grub, Manchester Manchester's largest street food event, with a feast of independent street-food, DJs, workshops, weekly bottomless brunches and more; grubmcr.com The GPO, Liverpool Choose from over 400 dishes at Liverpool's largest food market, from Nashville fried chicken to Cantonese roasts and customisable bubble tea; the-gpo.co.uk Netil Market, London This hip East London market is home to a cluster of popular stalls, including pittas at Pockets and juicy beef tacos at Sonora Taquería; eatworkart.com/netil-market Digbeth Dining Club, Birmingham Birmingham's original street food market with venues including Hockley Social Club and Herbert's Yard; digbethdiningclub.co.uk Bang Bang Oriental, London A trip to Bang Bang Oriental in Colindale, a vast food court serving pan-Asian food, is well worth the journey; bangbangoriental.com Hawker Market at By The River Brew Co, Newcastle Weekend food market serving street food staples, such as Asian fusion, wood-fired pizza and Mexican street food; bytheriverbrew.co/hawkers-market Peddler Market, Sheffield Street food vendors inside a huge ex-industrial warehouse serving Philly cheese steaks, vegan shawarma kebabs and more; peddlerwarehouse.com/peddler-market The Harbourside Street Food Market, Bristol Sourdough pizzetas and Texan-style BBQ can be found at this market located on Bristol's picturesque waterfront; buoyevents.co.uk/harbourside-street-food-market Nottingham Street Food Club, Nottingham Independent street food with a rotation of traders each weekend, with the likes of Thai, Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern cuisine on offer; streetfoodclub.co.uk Shelter Hall, Brighton Buzzing food market located on the seafront featuring seven permanent kitchens and two craft beer, wine and cocktail bars; shelterhall.co.uk/food Market Hall West End, London A three-storey space with 11 kitchens, four bars and room for 900 diners, this is UK’s largest food market; markethalls.co.uk At The Market Ltd, Edinburgh Top weekly outdoor markets based in Stockbridge, Grassmarket, Leith and Potterrow; stockbridgemarket.com Kerb, London Saving the capital’s office workers from sad lunches in Seven Dials, Canary Wharf and more; kerbfood.com Depot, Cardiff Weekly Saturday warehouse shindig with Welsh street food stars and events including Bingo Lingo and gin discos; depotcardiff.com foodPark, Cambridge Roving weekly lunchtime markets serving loaded hot dogs, churros and more, as well as pop-up parties after-dark; foodparkcam.com More UK restaurant guides Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge Best restaurants in Margate Best restaurants in Manchester Best restaurants in Glasgow Best restaurants in the Lake District Best restaurants in Brighton
Tour de Yorkshire: where to eat and drink along the route
We've found the best places to eat and drink along the Tour de Yorkshire 2018 route – sunny beer gardens, hip coffee shops and proper country pubs
Watching Tour de Yorkshire 2018? Here's where to eat along the Tour de Yorkshire route to watch the cyclists. Find out the best restaurants, pubs and cafés along the route and where to watch the cycling race, from Beverley to Doncaster, Barnsley to Ilkley, Richmond to Scarborough, and finally Halifax to Leeds. Click here for plenty more tips for a foodie road trip in Yorkshire... Tour de Yorkshire stage 1: Beverley to Doncaster (Via Hornsea, Catwick, Beverley, SKidby, Holme on the Wolds, Pocklington, Howden, Fishlake, Auckley) The Westwood, Beverley Housed in a Grade-2 listed Georgian courthouse, this restaurant focuses on modern British cuisine. Local produce is a big focus, from local Waterford Farm's grass-fed beef to wild sea bass from the shores of Skipsea. Hearty dishes of pan-roasted Yorkshire lamb and duck breast are served with wild garlic buttered new potatoes and creamed spinach. Puddings are equally comforting, from chocolate fondants with peanut brittle to chocolate caramel tart served with milk ice cream from Cherry View dairy farm, just three miles down the road. thewestwood.co.uk The Pipe and Glass, South Dalton Set on the Dalton Estate, this Michelin-starred country gastropub serves British dishes. Pop into the bar area for a bottle of Two Chefs (an ale that was developed by head chef James and produced by the Great Yorkshire Brewery) and a ham sarnie with piccalilli, or settle into the elegant restaurant for a dinner of braised onion with wild mushrooms and cheddar rarebit or a plate of the first-of-the-season English asparagus with crisp hen egg. Be sure to explore the lush gardens and herbarium where you’ll find rosemary, lovage, violas and myrtle growing. pipeandglass.co.uk The Wellington, Lund The Wellington, or ‘The Welly’ as locals call it, overlooks the village green and is the place to stop off for pub classics. Serving both a pub menu and a restaurant-style dishes, there’s something to serve everyone. Cosy up by the roaring fire for hearty dishes of beer battered haddock and chips as well as roast pork, stuffing and apple sandwiches. There’s always a Timothy Taylors cask ale available, as well as craft beers from other local microbreweries. thewellingtoninn.co.uk The Kings Head, Barmby on the Marsh Dating back to the 1800s, this traditional village pub focuses on British pub classics from sausage, mash and onion gravy to chicken pies and scampi. The dinner menu offers slightly lighter dishes including sweet pickled asparagus with serrano ham as well as a brie and chutney tart. Nestle into the bar and order one of the four real ales on offer. thekingsheadbarmby.co.uk Want to find out more information about the Tour de Yorkshire 2018 route? Check out this article from our friends over at Cycling News, including route information and a lowdown on the contestants... Tour de Yorkshire stage 2: Barnsley to Ilkley (Via Penistone, Swinton, South Elmsall, Pontefract, Castleford, Harewood, Otley) The Wentbridge House Hotel, Wentbridge Set in the picturesque village of Wentbridge, The Wentbridge House Hotel is a perfect stop off to enjoy both traditional bistro and fine-dining food. After a stroll around the gardens, settle down in the brasserie for plates of brill served with buttered courgettes and new potato fondant, or a Dovecote Park steak burger topped with smoked applewood and aioli. Make sure you leave room for a portion of sticky toffee pudding served with roasted banana ice cream or a slice of white chocolate and ginger cheesecake. If you're in the mood for a tipple, their gin menu features over 20 options, including four from Yorkshire. wentbridgehouse.co.uk The Chequers, Ledsham Dating back to the early 1600s, this traditional British pub is true to its character with low beams and roaring open fires. Dishes are pub classics, from steak and mushrooms pies to gammon steak served with egg and chips. For dessert, order a plate of three Yorkshire cheeses or a bowl of jam sponge with custard. If the weather is good, make the most of the lovely beer garden and order a pint of bitter from Leeds Best. thechequersinn.com Hidden Harewood dinners at Harewood House Head to the Harewood estate in Yorkshire and enjoy a tasting menu, eaten in various hidden corners not usually accessible to the public. Executive chef Josh Whitehead has created a menu that makes the most of the Harewood produce to be enjoyed in the grounds over four nights this May. The ingredients used will be grown, foraged and reared at the estate, including lamb from a flock of Hebridean black sheep. harewoodfoodanddrink.com The White Hart, Pool Bank From hearty pies to dinnertime sharing platters, The White Hart serves modern food in upmarket surroundings. Sink into one of the velvet seats and order Mediterranean mezze plates of falafel, harissa hummus, roasted peppers and flatbread or chargrilled lamb and balsamic koftas. If you’re there on a Sunday, be sure to try the roast pork loin with Bramley apple butter and crackling, and a side of smoked beef dripping roasted potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, Yorkshire puddings and bottomless gravy. thewhitehartpool.co.uk The Box Tree, Ilkley The handsome sandstone building dates back to the 18th century, but The Box Tree has only been a restaurant for a mere 56 years. Simon Gueller and his wife Rena became custodians of this West Yorkshire institution in 2004, following in the footsteps of several chefs including Marco Pierre White, who worked in the kitchen when he was 17. The Michelin-starred food may be rooted in the classics, but it’s light and contemporary, backed up by service that’s staunchly oldschool. “I take that description as a real compliment,” says Rena. “At a time when everything is being stripped back and simplified, we enjoy training young people in the old values. Someone has to, or it will die out. Giving good service doesn’t cost a thing.” theboxtree.co.uk Tour de Yorkshire stage 3: Richmond to Scarborough (Via Wensleydale, Leyburn, Bedale, Northallerton, Thirsk, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Pickering, Scarborough, Filey and Cayton) Wensleydale Heifer, West Witton A gastro pub with rooms on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the Wensleydale Heifer serves everything from tapas and snacks to lobster and steak. Seafood is a real focus, with starters including chilli salt squid with fennel and red onion salad; turbot pakora with cucumber riata and a classic prawn cocktail. Fish-focused mains are kept classic too, so order a fish pie topped with potato and cheddar crust, grilled sea bass served with truffle and parmesan risotto or Black Sheep beer battered haddock goujons and chips. wensleydaleheifer.co.uk Black Swan at Oldstead A 2.5-acre allotment in picturesque Oldstead provides The Black Swan with the ultimate kitchen garden. Everyone from the chefs to the owners of this Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms mucks in to tend Minnesota midget melons, oyster leaves that taste of the sea and myriad other fruit and vegetables. Nestle in to a booth in the cosy bar area and enjoy sherbet-y rhubarb schnapps with meadowsweet, lemon balm and rhubarb vinegar along with intricate amuse-bouches – razor clams with broad beans, peas and pea flowers; tiny crisp potato skins filled with goats cheese, wood mushrooms and lemon verbena; and diced veg with herb oil and lemon mayo topped with charred beetroot leaf. Move in to the dining room and bag a table by the window overlooking the vast kitchen garden while Tommy and his team work away in the open kitchen preparing ingredients picked that same morning. The highlight of our tasting menu was a beetroot steak that had been roasting in beef fat on the grill since 8am that morning. And a scallop tartare with celeriac crisp and apple was fun: served on a bespoke plate made by a potter in York, when you’ve finished you lift the plate to reveal a second scallop dish, this time roasted in citrussy butter with olive-textured spruce tips and celeriac puree. blackswanoldstead.co.uk Mannion & Co, Helmsley Owner Andrew Burton used to cook in the Michelin-starred kitchen of the Star at Harome, not far from here. At Mannion the menu is more relaxed and Mediterranean, inspired by Andrew’s regular charcuterie– and wine-sourcing trips to Italy and Spain. We tried wild mushrooms on sourdough with kale, duck egg and mushroom ketchup for lunch. mannionandco.co.uk Vine House Café, Helmsley Set on the outskirts of Helmsley Walled Garden, a five-acre idyll blooming with fruit trees, peonies, clematis, cornflowers and much more, The Vine House Café is a lovely way to enjoy the gardens and its wildlife. The menu focuses on simple, homemade dishes such as seasonal soups (spring veg, feta and mint), open sandwiches (chicken with a spicy peanut sauce or ham with homemade pickles), and beautiful salad boards (the Yorkshire salad includes local pork pie, ham, cheese and pickles). For dessert, order a pot of Yorkshire tea, or coffee roasted in York, and a freshly baked cake and take in the peaceful scenery. helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk Hunters of Helmsley Set in a prime location on Helmsley’s Market Place, this corner shop is so much more than a deli. Punters queue at a hole in the wall to wait for scoops of locally made Brymor ice cream (or, in winter, to enjoy hot, deep-filled topside of beef sandwiches, made to order). If you’re into your craft beer, this is the place to indulge in a spending spree, with over 40 locally brewed bottled beers in stock (we liked Riggwelter and Scarborough Fair). huntersofhelmsley.com The Star Inn Harome At this 14th-century thatched inn it’s a tough choice of tables between huge oak benches overlooking the kitchen garden and a snug little nook in the low-ceilinged bar. Either spot is ideal for a gin and tonic made from Whittaker’s Gin, distilled in Nidderdale using local bilberries, hawthorn and thyme. In the kitchen garden the team grows broad beans (used, among other things, for a delicious lovage-buttered pea, broad bean and asparagus soup), baby leeks (served alongside elderflower-scented Norfolk quail ‘osso bucco’), and lavender (just a dash of which is added to sheep’s milk and strawberry eton mess). thestaratharome.co.uk Willowgate Bistro, Pickering Husband and wife team, Matthew and Gemma Bird, opened this tiny bistro at the top of the hill in Pickering just two weeks after their son was born, and their passion and dedication really shows. Choose an aperitif from the tiny wooden bar in the corner of the room and listen to soft jazz as you peruse the short and well thought-out menu. Matt runs his kitchen just as you would do at home – he buys meat every morning from Horseley’s butchers next door but one, and pops across the road to Taylor’s greengrocers to gather his fruit and veg. The menu focuses on simple but imaginative home cooking with clever twists. Locally shot pigeon breast is served on parsnip puree with air-dried bacon popcorn. Pan-fried sea bream and crunchy sautéed vegetables are spiced up with a fragrant, homemade Thai green curry sauce. Chicken comes as a mini chicken kiev with creamy celeriac puree and more crunchy greens. willowgatebistro.co.uk Magpie Café, Whitby Overlooking Whitby harbour, this North Yorkshire restaurant is the place to go for fish and chips, and it’s hard to miss with queues going down the road. Choose between locally sourced cod, haddock, hake or skate and be sure to get a box of chips and a side of mushy peas, too. Either sit in or get a portion to takeaway to the beach with you. magpiecafe.co.uk Tour de Yorkshire stage 4: Halifax to Leeds (Via Hebden Bridge, Laycock, Skipton, Middleham, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Otley, Leeds) The Tempest Arms, Elslack Set in rolling countryside close to the Yorkshire Dales, the Tempest Arms is a village pub serving excellent food. Order the Elslack plough, a platter of pork pie, homemade scotch eggs, Lancashire cheese and roasted ham all served with Angela’s farm bread and butter, or the cheese and pâté plate that comes with homemade chutney, pickles and fruit cake for a lunchtime snack. tempestarms.co.uk The Red Lion, Burnsall Originally a 16th century Ferryman’s Inn, the Red Lion bar and restaurant boasts an idyllic location on the River Wharfe. A traditional dining area decked out with oak floors and log burning stoves is the place to cosy up with a bowl of honey and shallot lamb stew or a pork loin steak with black pudding and apple sauce. If you fancy something lighter, order a ploughman’s platter of pork pies, ham hock terrine, cheese, apple, pickled beetroot and a scotch egg. redlion.co.uk The Blue Lion, East Witton Nestled in the heart of Wensleydale, the Blue Lion has been open in the Yorkshire Dales for over 20 years. There’s a real ale bar stocking local beers including Black Sheep Brewery as well as a cosy dining area. Pub classics are taken to the next level, from slow-cooked pork belly with sarladaise potato and black pudding to pan fried seabass with braised fennel, beetroot and orange salad. Leave space for a portion of apple and raspberry crumble served with vanilla custard, or a sticky toffee pudding with rich clotted cream ice cream. thebluelion.co.uk The Black Sheep Brewery, Masham Paul Theakstons family had been in the brewing game for five generations when he opened Black Sheep brewery in 1992. Built on traditional values and using rescued equipment to brew their ales, the focus was, and still is, on taking time to create the best beer possible. The range includes kegs of pale ales and larger as well as bottles of dark stout and cans of dark IPA. blacksheepbrewery.com We've found the best British beers to try. Click here to find our favourite British beers... The Timble Inn, Timble Hidden away in the village of Timble, this country pub with rooms, housed in a 18th century coaching inn, is a cosy place to settle for the night. Start with a pint of Dark Horse bitter in the bar area before a dinner of pan-fried Yorkshire chicken breast with butternut squash and chorizo risotto, venison loin with fondant potato or roast cod served with mussels and cabbage. thetimbleinn.co.uk Leeds The Tour de Yorkshire 2018 finishes in Leeds, providing the perfect excuse to explore Leeds' independent restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Click here to find our favourite places to eat and drink in Leeds Has the Tour de Yorkshire inspired you to take up cycling? Our friends over at Bike Radar give us 30 benefits of getting out on a bike... Written by Ellie Edwards, with contributions from Alex Crossley and Lucy Gillmore