The first five years...
March 2001 - March 2006
Our very first task was to remove the previous occupier's rubbish, clean and redecorate and give the pub a warm and welcoming feel. With the help and hard work of Alf, our gardener, we transformed an acre of land into a kitchen garden. We grew potatoes, courgettes, pumpkins, lettuces; black, red and white currants, raspberries, strawberries, extra special golden raspberries.
...the list goes on and on!.
We turned a counter next to the bar into a mini shop for our homemade produce; jams, chutneys, terrines, bread, chocolate, fudge, biscuits, oils and dressings. Within the constraints of a protection order we managed to develop and improve our orchard and reaped bountiful supplies of different varieties of plums, pears, apples and gooseberries.
Awards
- 2006 - Alastair Sawday's Award for Local, Seasonal & Organic Produce
- 2005 - Morning Advertiser Gastro Pub of the Year
- 2004 - Les Routiers Award for Supporters of Locally Produced Foods
- 2003 - The Publican Business Woman of the Year (Melanie)
- 2002 - Les Routiers Dining Pub of the Year for the North East
- 2002 - Yorkshire Life Dining Pub of the Year
- 2002 - Camra Country Pub of the Season (Summer)
- 2002 - Publican Customer Service of the Year
- 2001 - Yorkshire Dining Pub of the Year
It is always a pleasure and quite often a humbling experience to receive awards, so a big thank you to all those involved.
