Pignut

Tea rooms, medieval castle ruins and the beautiful wilds of the moors are reason enough to head to Helmsley, North Yorks, but now it’s got a seriously good restaurant in Pignut. A handful of tables in an intimate setting with living-room vibes and a creative wine menu – look out for some exceptional orange, and Yorkshire sparklers – set the tone for an experience that, wrongly or rightly, you don’t expect to find outside the city. It’s a considered hand in the kitchen, for tasters where local pork belly, apple and cider-braised onions bathe in a decadent soup, rich duck is expertly matched with cicely, and meaty scallops are given a delicate kick with curry oil and mustard seeds. It’s big-city, big-talent cooking in quaint surroundings – and, if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, Cliff Stud Retreat cliffstudretreat.co.uk has well- priced lodges on the doorstep.

Words by Alex Mead.

This article was taken from the December 2024 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.