F.A.O Dave K, Haselsh1 or Mikey

[Marco]

Being 'locals' of the area, have any of you been to this place:

http://www.thestaratharome.co.uk/

The Star Inn, Harome, Near Helmsley, North Yorkshire YO62 5JE.

I was thinking of taking Del there for her birthday in December, staying overnight, etc.

If you've been, or anyone else here, your opinions would be welcome :cool:

Marco.

[Mike]

Marco,

The link ain't working for me mate. However, Helmsley is a lovely place and not too far from me! I've been many, many times. :)

I'd highly recommend a visit.

If you get chance I'd recommend a visit to HERE (http://www.helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk/) too, although December might not be the best time of year as it's closed! :lol:

Cheers...

[Marco]

Hi Mike,

Funny, the link's working for me... Try this instead or go via your own link from Google:

http://www.thestaratharome.co.uk/star_welcome.htm

I wasn't sure if it was that pub you recommended to me before, remember? We'll probably pop by and say 'hello', if you were around :)

It'll be 13th/14th December.

We were just watching the Hairy Biker's Food Tour on BBC2, where the Star Inn was featured, and the food looked utterly superb - lovely quaint little place, too, which is exactly what we like... I can imagine the ale would be tremendous, too! :cool:

Marco.

[Mike]

Nope, can't get the link working. Never mind.

The pub I mentioned before was http://www.lionblakey.co.uk/. However, Cath and I went for our birthdays (they are days apart) earlier in the year and it wasn't anywhere near as good as it used to be, quite disappointing in fact. The Old Perculier (http://www.theakstons.co.uk/ales/classics/oldpeculier.html)was as good as ever though. :cool:

[Marco]

Mike, have you tried googling "The Star Inn, Harome, Near Helmsley" and then clicking the link from there? What message are you getting?

The Lion, that was it... Obviously not much point going there now. The Old Perculier is an awesome ale :)

Marco.

[Mike]

Mike, have you tried googling "The Star Inn, Harome, Near Helmsley" and then clicking the link from there? What message are you getting?

Yep... still don't work, dunno why. :confused:

Found this though; http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/where_to_stay/northern_england/article1776566.ece

THIS (http://theartofsound.net/forum/member.php?u=870) is the fellow to ask... Pickering is only down the road. ;)

[Marco]

Nice one, mate. I'll add Shaun to the thread title ;)


The Star is a thatched 14th-century pub on the edge of a quiet village near Helmsley, in the foothills of the North York Moors. Across the road are Cross House, its eight-bedroom lodge, and its shop, where a young waiter emerges from behind the goose eggs and posh cheeses to take us to our room. On the way, he points out the barn conversion-like lounge, surveyed by a mounted buffalo head, and urges us to help ourselves to the “nibbles”, which include an enormous ham shank...


Sounds like my kinda place!! :exactly:

Marco.

[DaveK]

Hi Marco,
Sorry for late response but only just noticed my name on this thread (and I've also been slightly busy tonight as well ;) ).
Your original thought is a bit far north for me, I've never been there and so can't comment. However I do have first hand experience of the following and my daughter actually worked at the Old Vicarage during University hols as a sous chef or something, a bit of cooking and a bit of waiting, so I've got first hand experience of both sides of the kitchen door, so to speak.
Unfortunately the Old Vicarage ain't got the surroundings of the North Yorkshire Moors but the cooking is of the very best. I've just noticed that it is a Restaurant only (sure it used to have rooms :doh: ) so you would need to book into a local hotel, perhaps not ideal for your purpose.
Anyway you may care to give it a look, the food is great and is reflected in the price, believe me !!

http://www.theoldvicarage.co.uk/

The East Lodge is definitely a hotel and restaurant - the food is very good but perhaps not up to Old Vicarage standards, but the surrounding countyside is beautiful, just round the corner (well nearly) from Chatsworth House.

http://www.eastlodge.com/

The benefit of The East lodge is that it is just off the A6 and you could possibly call in and suss it out whilst stopping for lunch to sample the cuisine and view the rooms.
It is quite a while since I last visited either but their reputation is still as high as ever.
Hope you find this of interest.
Cheers,

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

Great suggestions there! I particularly like the look of The Old Vicarage. The food does look wonderful, and it's just the kind of place where we like to go: a smart looking country house but not too grand or pretentious :)

I'll probably take Del to the Star Inn, as originally mentioned, (we can do D.B.B there and kill two birds with the one stone), but I've added The Old Vicarage and East Lodge to my portfolio of eateries for future reference :cool:

Cheers!

Marco.

[Haselsh1]

Marco, the Star Inn at Harome is a Michelin starred restaurant run by Andrew Pern and his wife Jackie. It is stunning and quite unlike anything else in this area. My missus Janet and I supply flowers for weddings at the Star and their hospitality is always first class. Jackie and Andrew also own the Pheasant in Harome and a little corner shop that is a rather nice deli. The two of them have close ties with Helmsley as well. I would very definitely recommend.

[Haselsh1]

I would just like to add if I may: The Lion Inn at Blakey or rather on Blakey Ridge is very tired and scruffy. The place really does need a kick up the arse but it is homely and the beer is stunning. It is usually packed with backpackers and coast to coast walkers as the route goes right by the front door. The views across Farndale and Rosedale are to be seen to be believed.

[Marco]

Cheers for that, Shaun - a little confirmed local knowledge was just what I wanted to hear! :)

Marco.

[Haselsh1]

We were just watching the Hairy Biker's Food Tour on BBC2, where the Star Inn was featured, and the food looked utterly superb - lovely quaint little place, too, which is exactly what we like... I can imagine the ale would be tremendous, too! :cool:

Marco.


The ale is very nice. Not truly stunning but very nice. They are largely real ale only. Just don't expect an amazing array of ales.

[Haselsh1]

Marco, our main line of business is floristry for which my partner Janet is a long term florist. I do all of the delivery driving of the arrangements and therefore get to do little else but visit everywhere in this area. For the record we cover from Wykeham near Scarborough to Rievaulx near Helmsley, from Malton/Norton to Goathland. It is a massive area and we are the only Interflora agents in this area.

My photography is something I've done since I was ten years old and now it is a commercial sideline to the shop. We have a gallery as well as the floristry.

Jackie and Andrew Pern are well known in this area and are down to Earth, decent folk with no ponciness. I hope you like them and if you come, I hope you enjoy your time.

[Marco]

Hi Shaun,

I'm sure we will. I got the feeling that Andrew was a down to earth bloke, but also a wonderful chef. I hate 'ponciness' with a passion, but I love *real quality* in cooking, and unfortunately you have to pay for that in the UK. I also have a wife who's a wonderful cook, so when we eat out the standards have got to be as high!

I'm therefore always willing to pay for that quality, but not for 'ponciness', 'prestige mark-up' or a restaurant’s lavish decor and associated overheads, which is why I avoid the Michelin-starred restaurants in the cities like the plague, particularly in London. It's like my SPPV approach with hi-fi, only with food!

I like good old-fashioned cooking, with the accent on the use of the freshest and best local produce, served in a smart but relaxing ambience with impeccable service, which I'm confident The Star Inn will deliver in spades. The surrounding countryside also looks stunning, which is a further bonus :)

The real ales will be I'm sure 'adequate' for my palate (;)), as I'm more of a wine man. So if their cellar is up to scratch then even better! :cheers:

I'll do a little write-up of our stay when we go, which you may find interesting.

Marco.

[Marco]

That's us booked up now for December, so I'll let you know what it's like! :cool:

Marco.