Frenchgate Hotel Restaurant in Richmondshire

This is comfortable hotel, extremely well run by the owner who is present for most of the time serving the guests. If he isn’t there his long term staff are, and they too are excellent. It is very conveniently located on a beautiful quiet street.It has private parking at the rear or on street parking at the front, although this can be full. Breakfasts are freshly prepared and tasty. There is a lounge and a well stocked bar. We were delighted by our stay and recommend it.

Owner overbearing. Always defensive and quickly belittles customers. Covid meant top chef left and now living on its reputation.

Was ok but not great for the price. The location was great. Easy walk into town. The room smelled very damp. On checking in we were told, without prompting, that it was definitely NOT 2 beds pushed together, which it clearly was. Curious as to why this was made a focal point. It was 2 beds. That wasn’t an issue for us but the lecture was. Also given instructions about soft close toilet seats as if we had never encountered them before. Told that apparently people from Whitley Bay don’t know how to use them. Disappointed that the restaurant wasn’t open. Breakfast was ok.

An awful experience with the extremely pompous and arrogant 'David' who was, quite simply, the rudest and uncaring person who I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. A horrible experience at a horrible little hotel. Best avoided.

I sent an email to the owner upon leaving this hotel - this is what I said… We were in a rush to catch a bus upon checkout so unable to express our dissatisfaction with your hotel at the time. I would rather not leave a scathing review, especially in these trying times, but feel very aggrieved at being charged £158 for a room - we have stayed in better accommodation over the past 10 days at half that price. I am therefore writing to you first in the hope that we can come to some agreement. We were looking forward to our stay at the Frenchgate expecting a beautifully appointed room furnished with every comfort. However we were very disappointed with the careworn appearance of the hotel & furnishings - paintwork chipped and badly repaired, our bathroom sash window broken so had to be propped open with a loo roll, bedside & vanity tables badly water damaged, carpet water damaged by the radiator, single beds pushed together with single duvets to pass as a king-size bed, thin pillows which needed replacing and a fairly small room all for the price of £158 which apparently had been discounted from £178 or thereabouts! Whilst I appreciate your hotel is primarily renowned for it’s restaurant (and possibly this is the reason why your rooms are set at the price they are), the rooms are still very much overpriced for the condition they are in. To date, the owner has not even had the decency to respond to my email which speaks volumes.

It's not billed as a gastronomic menu, but it probably should be. International rugby forwards might find the portions underwhelming, but I struggled to rise from the table after what were effectively five courses. Apart from an 'amuse-bouche' and a pre-dessert offering, there are three conventional courses, all not just adequate in size but inspired in construction. My wife and I can speak in glowing terms for two seafood starters, for the venison and lamb main courses and for the house tiramisu. And the service is both charming and efficient.

Don't believe the hype! Reading the website and social media this restaurant sold itself extremely well, but did not deliver. The young staff were fantastic although it certainly felt well scripted and a little robotic, very impersonal, David was knowledgeable and polite. Generally the food was very average. Amuse bouche of chilled pea veloute was bland, and the starter of wild mushroom risotto was greatly overpowered by the cheese. Biggest issue was the large piece of grit my partner found in her main course, of Goats Cheese & Creamed Leek Pastry, the mash overpowered by garlic. Both starter and main were topped with "fresh" pea shoots, but unfortunately these were a little long in the tooth and had wilted in parts. Pre-dessert was obviously prepared well in advanced and refrigerated, which would be fine but the crushed nut topping had turned soggy. Dessert of Yorkshire Parkin saved the evening from complete failure. It was fantastic, and the poached rhubarb beautifully poached, yet retaining a perfect crispness. Issues were dealt with swiftly and professionally, and a reasonable discount applied to the final bill.

very good quality all round, clean and confortable rooms and all very nice and well served meals. So nice to stay in a room dated at around 1610.

Really disappointing response when we needed to cancel the day before we had booked due to illness. Full payment taken despite the discretion to waive or reduce the charge. Very poor.

A very warm and pleasant atmosphere. The owner is very friendly and nice to chat with. The food is outstanding. All very fresh and cooked to perfection. The menu is seasonal and a great choice on offer. My main course was the Venison. Absolutely delicious, the meat just melted in my mouth. If you like fine dining the Frenchgate gets a high recommendation from me.

Had a beautiful overnight stay in the Tokyo room. The decor, cleanliness ,attention to detail and overall impression was exceptional. However the warm welcome in the garden and consequent check in from Melissa set the hotel apart as she gave a full guided tour. David too was welcoming friendly and had considered the small details that made the stay... umbrellas! ... breakfast was delicious and I’m keen to stay again. Highly recommend.

Visited the restaurant on 26th October for Birthday celebrations with 5 friends, booked 6 months prior as a surprise. Genuinely nice start to the evening unfortunately it went downhill. 3 of the party had the rib eye steak which non of them ate stating it was tasteless this was passed onto the lovely waitress politely. When David came with the bill of nearly £400 he remained silent so we questioned him he stated he had no knowledge of the issue and became quite hostile no apology stating that they'd been flying out of the kitchen all night an overstatement 4 others dining! He kept mentioning the cost to himself of the steaks (irrelevant) but finally said we'd get recompense he went missing! My friend as we were leaving questioned could he as a gesture of goodwill give us a bottle of Prosecco or something? He stated you're getting nothing from me quite venomously. She reminded him eloquently and diplomatically what he'd agreed earlier he then THREW £10 at her which hit her in the chest. My friend is 63yrs old and has travelled the world and eaten in the best restaurants, never has she been treated with such utter disrespect and un-gentlemanly behaviour by a businessman-you can only imagine her horror/disbelief. The incident left her totally shaken. Needless to say he spoiled our evening with outrageous rude behaviour-shame on him! What businessman can't diplomatically tend a genuine complaint directed correctly???

This restaurant was booked nearly a year ago for a 50th bday celebration. The experience was disappointing from start to finish and ended on a very low note when a complaint about the food was handled very unprofessionally and actually quite threatening by David. It lead to one of the party a 63 year old lady being very poorly because of how David treat her after simply requesting a small compensation after paying the full bill of £400 yet three members not eating there main because the steak was inedible. He threw money and her and acted very aggressively. A behaviour which is simply unacceptable. By the looks of things this gentleman is renowned for his aggressive nature. It is simply unacceptable

I can not tell you how disappointed we all felt with Frenchgate restaurant. I booked this over 6 months ago for my friends 50th the evening started off fantastic we were so looking forward to the whole dining experience until our main course of rib eye steak came of which 3 of us had ordered and was so tasteless we left it practically untouched . We tried diplomatically complaining ...explaining it was totally tasteless of which we got told they had never had any complaints the proof was in the pudding as it was untouched we asked for discount on our meal this is when things went wrong . After totally ignoring us we asked for a doggy bag for the steak this was plonked on the table with no apology whatsoever.my friend went to the office to ask for discount or a complimentary bottle of wine of which the said man threw 10 pounds at her . I had explained that 2 of the said party were vegans there chickpea main course was a joke but due to the fact that no one wanted to spoil our friends Birthday they didn’t want to make a fuss. We came home very upset after spending 400 pound this was not fine dining and the way that our complaint was dealt with was totally unacceptable. We will not recommend to any of our friends

On holiday in Richmond looking for places to eat. The meal was fine but the atmosphere awkward. Presented as high end the food was perfectly acceptable but not exceptional. The dining room was very dimly lit so hard to see what we were eating, and the welcome rather overpowering. The formality maybe exactly what some are looking for but we prefer a more relaxed environment. We’re used to being adventurous with food but enjoy less formal surroundings.

we were booked for Sunday, but... to my shame we got confused and went to a different restaurant with a similar name. But when we realised we went and apologised to the owner, who kindly let us re-book.

Great location. However our room was small and whilst we knew there was no shower in the ensuite, there was not even a shower head in the bath...we were provided with a jug.

We should have left straight away after the owner was extremely rude to one of us. We were a party of four ladies aged 40 plus (we had really dressed up for the occasion and were really looking forward to a good meal). I think he thought therefore that we would be trouble and had a preconceived idea of how we might behave (because he is a pompous ignorant chauvinistic man). When informing us of the menu and taking our order in the lounge area he asked us if any of us had any allergies. Why he asked I will never know because the rant that followed was uncalled for, extremely rude and made my friend feel terrible, she had the temerity to say ‘yes’ she was allergic to tree nuts. WHOAH there! WHAT? and this is a quote ‘Well I cant be expected to clean down the whole kitchen for you!’

We have just returned from an evening dining at Frenchgate Restaurant. There were two of us dining, to celebrate the news that we are expecting a baby boy. We wanted a fine dining experience and although there were other options available in the area we felt the menu at Frenchgate gave us the best choices.

Hotel quite dated. More like a guest house than hotel.Our room was on the top floor, view of the street below. Nothing like displayed on the website. Bed was huge and shower room looked reasonably new. However, loud buzzing noise ALL night so didn't sleep. Restaurant food was excellent, well cooked and tasty. We don't have sweets so asked if we could have some cheese instead. Answer No. A four star establishment doesn't have cheese? Very strange. Breakfast was delicious and well served by a lovely lady. It was a birthday treat but the accommodation was a little bit disappointing. We love Richmond but will stay elsewhere next time.

I booked a few nights stay at the Frenchgate Hotel for a Valentines break, the Hotel was nice and clean. The young lady on Reception was really lovely, very helpful and informative; she is a credit to this Hotel!

Surprisingly good food in this small restaurant. Really great cooking by a talented chef. Menu at £35 is really good value for this quality. The restaurant is small, and the hotel has eight rooms which means you are dependant on the hotel not being full if you wish to dine but not stay here - so book ahead.

From the moment you are greeted by the owner and shewn to the lounge for an aperitif until you return for after meal coffee the service is superb. The restaurant is small and intimate with only 16 covers. The food is delightful. As there was no main course that met my dietary requirements the chef created something just for me. (Obviously I had prewarned them). Will certainly eat there again.

If you are looking for a special meal in Richmond, the Frenchgate restaurant does not disappoint. The 5 course tasting menu is beautifully presented, a good choice and very good value for money for fine dining at £39 (although beware the wine list...).

Dave Todd is without doubt one of the most snobby patronising people I have ever met in my life. He was extremely rude to my partner and made her feel very uncomfortable, getting far too close to her during our meal, coming out with flirtatious sexist comments and topping it off with his terrible bad breath, this is not the first I have heard of Dave acting this way, he should realise he runs a restaurant in Richmond that serves very average food and not The Ritz.

Last Saturday my son took his partner for a meal at the Frenchgate restaurant on my recommendation. This was a special occasion as she had been away for 5 months.

Whilst in Chester on the Friday, we decided that we would visit Richmond for the Saturday/Sunday of this BH weekend. We searched all on-line sites and found a last minute cancellation for the smallest room here. David sold me over the phone and my partner was a little concerned that I might regret booking this venue.... BOY was she wrong, we are both won over by the host, the quality of the room and most significantly the cuisine. This boutique hotel will feature in our future travel plans when we visit North Yorkshire again.

My friends and I have had the most wonderful evening at Frenchgate. From the moment we arrived, we were looked after by the lovely David who made us bespoke cocktails and made us feel so welcome. The food was exquisite. The portion sizes were just right. The wine pairings were thoughtful and creative. We loved every moment. Thank you, David and team!

(To be clear, this is a review of the restaurant, and not - as TripAdvisor tried to prompt me - of the hotel.)

We recently had one of the finest dining evenings at this lovely establishment. My daughter and I met 3 other friends here, with the evening starting with drinks in the patio in the back garden. The garden is beautiful, and there are over 30 different types of gin available, for those of you who may be interested; one of our friends ordered the rhubarb gin, and said it was fantastic! After our leisurely cocktails, we were then ushered into the dining room. The owner took care of us all evening, and the meal commenced with a delicious amuse-bouche. I then ordered the polenta starter, which was delicious and flavorful. We ordered the rabbit and lam entrees, respectively, and they were beautifully seasoned and exquisitely presented. Between a delightful sorbet, the rich chocolate cake and a tailored fruit dessert, the night and food were superb. I recommend this restaurant unreservedly...at a prix fixe of 39 pounds, you gain value and an outstanding dining experience. Enjoy.

We've been for a meal here twice before, but have not been for several years. We decided to go to celebrate my birthday. We booked the table for 7 pm, were served drinks,nuts and olives in the bar and our order taken. We were soon shown to our table (we were the only ones in the dining room). We were given a homemade bread rolls, quickly followed by an amuse bouche of a small fish cake. As soon as we'd eaten this the waitress cleared the plates and brought our starters. We both had the crab which was delicious. Again, as soon as we'd finished the plates were cleared and our mains arrived. We had the rabbit and the lamb, which we both enjoyed, but I was starting to struggle as the courses had been rushed with no time between them to savour what we'd eaten. Needless to say as soon as we'd finished (I couldn't eat all mine as I was getting full) the plates were cleared and the dessert menu brought to us. I told the waitress that we'd like our meal to 'go down' for a while before deciding. About 5 minutes later the owner/manager came to take our order. I didn't feel comfortable asking to delay any longer so we chose our desserts. My choice was the chocolate fondant and my husband had the rice pudding. The owner/manager said that the chocolate fondant would take a while. It's one of my favouite puds, so I'm aware of this and thought I'd get a little respite. A couple of minutes later the waitress brought our pre-desserts - lemon posset. She even came back to see if we'd finished before I was half way through! Sure enough, as soon as we'd finished the glasses were whisked away and our desserts arrived straight after. I didn't enjoy my pud as I was so full and was struggling to finish it. I'd usually expect the waitress to ask if I'd finished before taking the dish away, but it just was cleared away and we were asked if we wanted any tea or coffee. We declined.

A hot summers evening we started with drinks in the garden. The dining no room is a lovely size, not too big to feel lonely. We chose from a slightly limited vegetarian menu. The food and service was excellent we. Will return

No idea why I didn’t review the restaurant when I reviewed the hotel after our December stay. We had come over on the ferry and had a spectacular journey up the M6 and A66 in the snow. Shown to our rooms we freshened up and had an amazing meal.

I very nearly didn't write this review. Normally I put pen to paper (so to speak) immediately, but on this occasion events conspired against me. What brought me to the brink of not reviewing this place at all, however, was the fact that the Frenchgate turns out to be one of those unbearably smug places that bombards guests with requests to tell the world how good it is. The latest, headed "other travellers are waiting on your review..." arrived this morning.

Points of view can be subtly different I myself thought the food was just okay but then i did have a cold my girlfriend loved it so beggars cant be choosers As an experience it was made by the host and the staff they were all wonderful and charming. The place itself is nicely decorated, the toilets very clean and the cutlery are clean with no marks on them which is one of my bug bears.

What a treat! Our fantastic friends had booked a table at the Frenchgate hotel while we were staying nearby and what a wonderful experience! Food and service were exceptional and what a difficult task in choosing from the wonderful menu. The highlight of the meal was the delicious venison, chosen by 3 of 4of us and the dishes were complemented by an amuse bouche of mushroom soup and a pre dessert of lemon posset. Fabulous evening.

Absolutely fab hotel! Myself and husband had the cottage room... FAB! Huge comfy bed... fab Victorian bath!! Only disappointment was...

Stayed overnight with my daughter. The rooms were excellent, and we had a meal in the restaurant. The service and...

We went here in a large party this weekend. David greeted us and took our drinks orders he was very confident about his 30 gin selection but the first 3 we asked for he didn’t have. He made a joke at our parties expense regarding the wine which I thought was a bit off, it became very clear he loves to be the centre of attention.

The staff are professional and welcoming, the rooms are clean and comfortable and the food is simply amazing. I don't...

We trudged through the snow on hazardous pavements to get to the Frenchgate restaurant last night and were so glad we did. All courses from the delicious Amuse Bouche to the tasty dessert we’re thoroughly enjoyed by both of us. Thank you.

A wonderful place, well worth a visit. We’ll certainly be going back.

We stayed the night at the Frenchgate Hotel and ate dinner and breakfast there. Both were first class. Drinks in...

From the generous gin & tonics, including the one with grapefruit botanicals, through the venison, pigeon breast, pheasant, and deserts...

Frenchgate has a friendly staff team and owner that delivers an exceptional high standard on arrival at the hotel.The food is to die for the best I’ve ever tasted.I would definitely recommend trying this experience here in Richmond at the frenchgate.A proper establishment.

Been here four times this year for special occasions and cannot fault it.

Top class. Nice host (owner). Excellent food, beautifully presented. Excellent choice of dishes on the menu. Lovely surroundings. Very good (if a little pricey) choice of wines. A great experience.

We felt compelled to write this review after reading the negative reviews (especially against the owner David). The hotel is...

David makes his clientelle feel at home and provides very helpful guidance to his first rate food and wine.

We stayed 3 nights here in a Superior double for a short break. The hotel is very quaint and the style and design is perfect for the history and age of the building.

This is our third visit to this establishment, there is always a friendly welcome and the cooking is superb. There is a good choice on the set menu and we have always found a dish we have liked. We would recomend anyone when in the area to eat here

We stayed here for 2 nights and can say it was lovely. Very clean and elegant decor food was amazing and staffs very helpful.

We were greeted upon arrival by David who was extremely attentive and was exactly the same when I rang to make the booking. Food was exceptional and would highly recommend a visit. I have to say it's the best rhubarb we have ever tasted! The staff were very professional and friendly and we will definitely be dining there again.

This was a 3 night break as a treat for ourselves. We were met on arrival by the proprietor David Todd. This delightful gentleman saw to our every need during our stay. The hotel it self is in a delightful Georgian street in Richmond. Our room was lovely, bathroom splendid. The restaurant was delightful, small and intimate. The crowning glory was the food, the chef I believe her name is Lucy and the food she produces is out of this world. Wonderful attentive staff. Thank you all for a really memorable break. We will be back

The only problem with dining in small hotels mid week is that their dining rooms tend to lack atmosphere. The owner is very charming and chatty but despite lovely jazz background music, the dining room was a little quiet.We enjoyed our evening however and the food is good. The crab starter was well balanced and light. I enjoyed my guinea fowl main very much. It just needed the skin crisping up to be perfect. The duck and lamb were apparently also very enjoyable.Just be careful that the wines chosen to pair with food don't end up costing you more than the food! Partly our fault for not asking the cost per glass. Having said that, our host is obviously very knowledgeable about wine and wine pairing and chose well!

Spent two days at the Frenchgate Hotel & enjoyed every moment of it. Received a very warm welcome from the owner, David. All the staff were really pleasant. The room was lovely. We stayed in the Mousey Thompson Suite (also known as the Bridal Suite), it was comfortable clean and very spacious. Enjoyed a high standard dinner and the breakfast was also of high standard. . David took time to chat to all his customers to ensure they were happy -No complaints at all! Well done Frenchgate, it's not easy pleasing everyone but you certainly seem to have a knack for it!

We went to the Frenchgate with high expectations. Fortunately these were fulfilled and even exceeded by the first rate dinner we enjoyed. The surroundings are eclectic but smart, and the walls adorned by a series of eye-catching paintings. The meal began with an amuse bouche,...

I am sorry to have to rate this hotel as poor, as there were some positive aspects to our stay. The breakfast was of a good standard and the waitress and receptionist were both very friendly and helpful. Although there were a couple of decor issues - for which the owner apologised - the room was decent. However, I am sorry to say that all positive features were greatly overshadowed by the unfriendly and rude "welcome" we received from the owner, David.I had made an error during the booking process on booking.com, an error which after further investigation appears to be due to the booking format for this specific hotel on booking.com. Although I searched for a room for 2 adults and a baby, and despite the fact that I booked a double room, I was only asked for my name. As such, the room ended up being booked for myself only, which I did not realise. This has never happened before when I have used booking.com.Regardless of who is to blame, I profusely apologised to David, for the mistake being made. However, David did not accept my apology. Instead, he proceeded to lecture me on how I should have "picked up the phone" instead of "pushing buttons". Inappropriate gestures from David included him rudely wagging his finger at me, and holding a phone up to my husband in a patronising manner because all we do is "look down at or mobiles and push buttons, no one talks anymore." I was eventually reduced to tears after I had explained to David that my reasons for using booking.com was the fact that I had a 3 week old baby and did not have the time to ring around a number of hotels in Richmond. David's response to this was that he "had heard it all before". Never have I ever been made to feel so stupid and small, and by someone in customer service! It must be said that David was far friendlier the following morning, but the manner in which he spoke and treated me should never have happened, especially since I apologised to him for my error. I was so upset by David's treatment that I was anxious all day (at my cousin's wedding) about returning to the hotel. I was tempted to go home. I am sure that if you book this hotel over the phone you will have a pleasant enough stay. But God help you if you book online and make a mistake!

The staff were very friendly upon arrival, and were quick to show me to my room and welcome me. I had just finished a five hour drive so was keen to have a cup of tea and settle in. The room was very pleasant and the location is beautiful. I was disappointed to see that the only option to eat in their restaurant was a £39 three course meal. My expenses did not stretch to that so I had to go out for dinner which o really didn't want to do. I did laugh at the fact that they wanted me to pay £20 if I wanted to drink wine in my room (I didn't) and £15 to eat food. I hope I don't get a bill when they find out I ate some popcorn!!! The breakfast was nice, but not much of it. I would say overall this was a nice place but at £79 for bed and breakfast in this location midweek , this was about £20 over priced.

Had a lovely meal here, crab starter was delish, but not before we'd had a lovely blue cheese amuse bouche with beetroot. Monkfish main and chocolate dessert were also good, though we thought monkfish portion could have been a little larger. Would certainly go again, friendly service.

Looking for rest and relaxation, stayed for one night. Warm welcome given by the owner who was clearly passionate about his business and quite rightly so. Wonderful service, splendid pre-dinner drinks and exquisite food. This hotel delivered everything we could have asked for and the room had perhaps the most comfortable bed we've ever slept in. We will return.

The team worked effectively to create an enjoyable evening. Drinks were served in an attractive warm room followed by a delicious meal served in a quirky dining area. Our party of four enjoyed our choices, I particularly enjoyed my salmon starter and monk fish main. We greatly enjoyed the quality of service and food at both breakfasts especially creamed porridge and the full English breakfast!

Dave,I’d just like to thank you and all your staff for affording Sue & I a great welcome and for treating us like kings over the weekend.The food and wine was superlative, the staff were attentive, polite, courteous and engaging, but without being overly familiar or intrusive. As you are aware, Sue & I have spent the last 25 years indulging ourselves in some of the most venerable hotels and restaurants of the world; so we have come to expect nothing but the best customer experience.We’ve come to believe that the “marque of fantastic customer service” in luxury boutique hotels, is a well-honed ability to be attentive to every customer need; coupled with an innate ability to “glide in and out” without hardly being noticed. The service and delivery team at The French Gate did not disappoint, they delighted!Please extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for creating such a memorable experience to the whole of your extended team.Fond RegardsPaul & Sue

I love this place, I have eaten here a few times and decided to book it for my little brothers 30th birthday, I arranged the whole thing by telephone and email with David to create a set menu, he guided me step by step through the whole process. The place itself is amazing, we decided to stay and the rooms are large and clean, sadly I have read some reviews of people complaining about cracked paint on the windowsills.... this is a big and very, very old house (now hotel) it happens... as per the reviews of David's attitude, he does run a very tight ship, and expects his staff to provide a service to match the level of the hotel. I found that the baby changing unit in the toilets had been put down and wiped before we even needed it, that drinks were brought as soon as old ones ran out (including tap water, not just paid drinks) and the origin and type of food was well explained the majority of staff were school leavers and so in my opinion learning in this environment can only be a positive, and if the service had been any less than amazing... it would have just been another average place to eat. Demand the best, get the best I suppose, if you want mediocre... eat somewhere else. Huge thanks to David and all the Team and a big welcome to their new receptionist! Hope to be back soon for more exquisite food and fantastic service.

We had the set 3 course Menu at Frenchgate Restaurant, and it didn't disappoint.....In all honesty, I could have forgone the desert, as there was a pre-starter and a taster desert prior the the main desert......nevertheless, fine dining.

David and his staff are amazing. Excellent service starting with cocktails in the drawing room, wine parings with each course, and amazing deserts. We had the beef and pheasant and both were delicious. Was amazingly relaxing dinner and evening.

the food is excellent and the team were very attentive, lovely atmosphere and the wine list complimented the meal perfectly

In a great position on a lovely cobbled street overlooking the old Abbey and just a few minutes walk into the square.The owner and staff were all very friendly and accomodating, my room, although small was clean and very nicely decorated and presented...just the ticket.Breakfast didn`t disappoint either, great quality and serving staff very nice.Definately recommend The Frenchgate and will stay again.

We enjoyed a great stay at the Frenchgate Hotel, which holds a lovely position in Richmond. The staff were friendly, the room really comfortable and stylish, great shower and dinner and breakfast superb!

Right in the center of Richmond (there is parking!) a nice hotel, nice rooms, needs some maintenance (despite the owner's saying:"it's from yesterday's rain...").Watch the restaurant prices: you pay the same 39 pounds if you eat a whole meal or just a baked potato.

Managed to book the last room available at this hotel but we certainly weren't disappointed!! The manager/owner is clearly very passionate about the hospitality industry and this is reflected in this quirky boutique hotel!! The bed was huge and very comfortable and the food could not be faulted at all....overall a very intimate but comfortable little find....a little jewel in the Yorkshire dales..many thanks

Considered one of the best restaurants in Richmond, we found the food was good but not great. The room is lovely but rather formal as fits with an upscale restaurant. The reason I've given it 4 stars is their practice of sitting you in their lounge first to have a pre-dinner drink. This took 20 minutes, making this a longer evening than it could have been if they seated us and brought the drinks to the table.

Ate here as a family of 5; the bill was approx £80 per head for 3 courses with wine. This would have been good value if the execution and service was spot on, but it fell a little flat. Food was good, but the menu was very complex and the dishes didn't quite deliver. A simpler menu cooked well would have gone down better, as this felt a little try hard. The service was very friendly to the point of the manager/owner being quite overly personal. I'd prefer a more professional & private service for a place trying to be high end. Had a nice evening overall, but unfortunately in future would choose something simpler or truly 5*; this was just in-between.

We really liked this restaurant. We were not staying in the hotel, just having dinner. The guy in charge (owner?) when we were there was very friendly and professional. It is only a small place so I guess it can be a bit overwhelming when not too busy. Excellnet food, realy well cooked Nice veggie food on offer as well and ace puds. as well. Attentive but not intrusive service.

I rang to enquire about the restaurant and the person who answered was very rude, their telephone manner was appalling. No help at all and was totally disgusted in the way I was spoken to. Needless to say didn't go and if that was the way you are spoken to on the phone, then would not like to speak face to face. Shame as got some good reviews but I won't be going, don't care how good it claims to be.

We were guests in the hotel and ate here on our first night in Richmond. As with the hotel, the owner clearly sets very high standards for the restaurant and they do their best to get everything just right. Probably an overall grade of 4.5 is correct, but it seems churlish to rub off a tripadvisor blob and downgrade to a 4. The food was delicious, we were looked after well and we'd have no hesitation in eating here again.

We were staying in a guesthouse just up the road from the Frenchgate Hotel but had been recommended to dine here that evening. On walking through the door we were greeted in a thoroughly professional manner and were pleasantly impressed by the imaginative modern decor, which complemented the Georgian building surprisingly well. We were invited to the bar where we ordered drinks. When I requested the drinks list, the waiter simply asked what we wanted. Slightly arrogant and of course we had no idea of the prices but to be fair, every drink and brand we ordered was brought to us and the prices were not unreasonable. In a sense, this set the tone for the evening where one's expectations were consistently slightly exceeded. We all four ordered different starters and main courses from the set price menu. Each dish was interestingly put together and the standard of cuisine was consistently high. Together with the interesting amuse bouche and velouté, we felt we had dined exceptionally well at a distinctly exclusive restaurant with a confident and experienced chef running the kitchen. Altogether an up-market fine dining experience.

We had an overnight stay at the hotel and took the option of dining in the restaurant when we made the reservation. There is a tasting menu offered to guest which was very reasonably priced.We had a pre dinner drink on the small terrace at the rear of the hotel prior to the heaven's opening, we returned to the bar to finish our drinks before taking our seats for dinner.There was a nice selection of dishes, I just felt there was something missing, the skin of my lamb was flabby, Mrs MM's main lacked the wow factor. There was a decent wine last with a good mix of vintages. The staff were excellent.

Was fortunate to have the owner, David, as restaurant manager on the evening that I dined with a friend. Very personable and knowledgable about the food and wines that made the meal a real experience that I would happily repeat. For wines, he suggested the wine flight which was a small glass of a wine to complement each dish. Good choices and wines from unusual regions. Added to the fun.The smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast were superb!

My wife and I ate here whilst staying in the hotel, The food was outstanding the staff very friendly and professional, I started with the wood pigeon breast and followed it with the rabbit both were to die for washed down with a couple of glasses of wine what more could you want. Excellent

I was taken here for my birthday and really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The staff were friendly, food was really good, we felt comfortable and relaxed. Would visit again

Stayed last week whilst in the area.Reception staff excellent, room excellent and comfy with spacious bathroom. ( sorry but toilet wasn't very clean) great nights sleep in large comfy bed.Had a beautiful evening meal which was excellent and well presented,only criticism was as much as I like fine dining and appreciate food the portion size was poor and still hungry afterwards.Breakfast was sufficient and again tasty but again not the largest but great if you have a smaller appetite. Would very highly recommend the hotel and restaurant should you be visiting the area!! We will certainly return

Wonderful food, from start to finish, we were looked after with wine recommendations, menu explanations, only a small hotel but the attention to detail was outstanding! Rooms (room 6) was luxurious and the most comfy bed! Lovely big shower & not a shower curtain in site! Breakfast was yummy also.Willl most definatley be returning

Delicious food and charming staff. Wanted to stay but they were unfortunately full so had dinner as a compromise.

The variation in independent hotels can make this an adventure. The greeting was warm and immediate. Helpful tour of rooms we had booked. Immediate impression was clean individual with the theme of the hotel throughout. Even wall features in one room of birds and clever use of alcove added to impressive start. The windows opened real air! Modern refurbished bathrooms were beautiful with lovely towels and plenty of pillows. Lashings of tea/coffee/hot chocolate and real quality bathroom products and useful kits for those little issues that can occur. We were offered a booking for dinner on arrival, had newspapers and morning calls sorted and they all arrived the next day. The restaurant was really impressive. Seated for drinks in the lounges diners went through to starters and a memorable meal. Great place even for picky eaters and one of our party is very hard to please indeed. They even offered him soup when he would not be tempted by the starters. Breakfast which can be such a test for small and large was so lovely we all wished we could stay longer. Great beds, lovely sheets and a really good price. Definitely stay again. Leave the chains and try these sorts of Hotels for personal service good value and one of the cleanest hotels I have ever stayed in

I visited the Frenchgate Hotel on my wedding night after a small service. Me and my new wife couldn’t have been made to feel more welcome. The Maitre'D knew his menu, and ingredients inside out. I thought the food was beautifully cooked with all locally freshly sourced ingredients. I have eaten at some stunning restaurants, and the food here is just as good. I appreciate that everyone is entitled to there opinion but to say this place lacks character is simply untrue. I thank all the team at Frenchgate for making one of the most memorable nights of our lives even more special.

Excellent dinner and wine in a lovely setting. A very peaceful restaurant and relaxing lounge. We will definitely visit again soon.

The for and service were excellent but at £140 for dinner for 2 I have eaten better much cheaper elsewhere. I thought The Maitre'D was a bit over familiar ..

Delightful from start to finish. Greeted by mine host with real enthusiasm, taken to a snug & offered drinks & nibbles along with the menu. Given a really nice window table and the most delicious red pepper 'veloute' as an amuse-bouche (I'd have called it soup but whatever - it tasted fabulous). My starter was outstanding - smoked trout with tiny dainty pickled veg. A better choice, apparently, than my husband's scallops though I tasted them too and loved them. We both had lamb for a main course - just fabulous. And puds to die for: choc fondant for him (I'm suspicious of it being dry & never order it - WISH I had, though - this one was amazing) and stunning creme brulee for me. As for wine - husband is a wine-merchant so I tend to sit back & let him get on with it. He was hugely impressed with the way the wine & food matches had been properly thought about. In retrospect I'd have gone with the 'wine flight' (a different glass pertinent to each course) and although he would always want to choose his own, I think he secretly fancied that idea as well. He was given a delicious pudding wine on the house, which - unlike 99.9% of wines - went perfectly with the choc pud. Home-made truffles to top it all off, and we could hardly stagger back across the road to our b&b. What a great treat it was, and worth a detour from almost anywhere just for dinner. Oh yes - and the service was absolutely faultless - two delightful girls and a slightly older chap - all bright, interesting and attentive. And when each course arrived, no-one asked 'who's having the trout?' etc. A nice touch which is always welcome. Thank you to all (and good luck for Freshers Week in Newcastle to our charming waitress - headed for uni next month to read mechanical engineering - she'll be much missed at the Frenchgate!)

A beautiful hotel in a quiet and very pretty street near the centre of Richmond. The whole building is decorated to a very high standard, including our room, which was extremely comfortable and elegant. Free wi-fi worked well, the bed was huge, and the bathroom extremely well designed. We were only staying one night (breaking a journey from Glasgow back home to Northamptonshire) and decided to eat in the hotel's restaurant. This turned out to be a superb experience: the menu is not cheap (£38.00 for three courses), but the quality of the food was such that it felt like good value. The wine list includes some absolute delights. Very strongly recommended!

We stayed here for two nights to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and we stayed in the 'Mousey Thompson' room. The bed was huge and very comfortable and we enjoyed the spa bath with lots of bubbles! The food was excellent and the service was very attentive with nothing too much trouble. Good information given about places to visit around Richmond and nearby walks. We really enjoyed our stay and didn't want to go home!

Young chef producing very good food. Should enter master chef competition. We had dinner on two consecutive evenings, a Sunday and a Monday, both very good quality despite traditionally being very quiet nights for restaurants.

We decided to give ourselves a little treat and have dinner at the Frenchgate as it was close by to where we were staying and make a perfect ending to a day on the Moors. We started with an appetitive in the lounge. Upon sitting down to an amuse bouche of confit duck croquet my wife started with hand dived scallop with chorizo salad and textures of apple while I started with Yorkshire Venison carpaccio, pecorino cheese and fresh summer truffle. we both had a main of roast Noisette of lamb with butter glazed vegetables, lamb consommé, garlic and mint. We followed with a pre dessert of wild strawberry sorbet, which was then followed by a dessert of cherry and almond tart, clotted cream and cherry brandy sorbet. The meal was cooked to perfection and the service was excellent and we would recommend this establishment if you want to treat yourself for a special occasion or just to have a great evening out with an excellent meal.

My other half surprised me with this hotel for our anniversary, iv got to say it was absolutely amazing. We stayed in the best room, the bed was incredibly comfy and the decor was old but cosy. Later on we had a six course meal in the restaurant, service was amazing and the food was out of this world. I would deffinately recommend this hotel to anyone. Enjoy :)

We were celebrating a birthday and also stopping for a night in Richmond; it was a return trip from a year ago to the Frenchgate and the Chef and Staff did not disappoint. I had the amazing Gnocchi and the hot chocolate fondant was to die for ! The chef has an amazing menu to choose from and all of our choices were mouth watering. David, the owner made a drink in honor of the birthday boy and created a Christmas Cadbury bar in liquid form ! Creative and delicious ! Would return to The Frenchgate if we're in Richmond again.

Lovely food although potatoes I had at breakfast were bad.Lovely accomodation. If a little expensive we had 3 nights for 2 so was affordable. All in all we enjoyed our stay.

59 Frenchgate is where you'll find the Frenchgate hotel and restaurant, not be confused with the Frenchgate B&B. It's a Michelin rated restaurant well deserved too . Great modern European food such as Scallops on a cauliflower purée followed by a duo of pork,loin and pork belly.Wines are truly excellent. We had an immense Chablis premier cru. Yes very indulgent but hugely enjoyable.The hotel is a wonderful old townhouse just down from the market place. The rooms are beautifully appointed with a combination of modern bathrooms and old style bedrooms.A great choice if you want a touch of style in the middle of Richmond.

See my review of staying at The Frenchgate Hotel but even if you don't stay at the hotel, the restaurant is outstanding. Quality food and service with all the food freshly made on the premises.Highly recommended

Our visit to the Frenchgate Restaurant was for our anniversary, and I had chosen it for its menu and after having been in for a function and been impressed with the decor and efficient staff. We were not disappointed when we went for a meal on Saturday. We were greeted by David the owner, who took our coats and led us to a bright sitting room overlooking a pretty garden. We felt relaxed straight away, and I had a fantastic gin and tonic with added flower petals that made it feel extra special. We had plenty of time to peruse the menu, and David, who obviously knows his stuff about wines, helped us select an amazing bottle of cabernet sauvignon. He then took us through to the dining room, which had about four other couples in and had a warm atmosphere, making it feel less like a restaurant and more like a supper club experience. The food was spectacular, I had scallops followed by halibut and James had venison carpaccio followed by filet of beef. Both meals were so delicious, and had such complex flavours each mouthful had something different. My chocolate fondant to finish was a dream. In most restaurants you finish your meal, ask for the bill and leave, but David was more than happy for us to sit in another sitting room with other guests to have cocktails. Nothing seemed too much to ask, he was a real host and we ended the evening chatting away to other guests wishing we were also staying overnight! It is definitely a new favourite of ours.

Having stayed and eaten at other hotels at a similar price point I was expecting better, but saying that, it is a lovely little hotel.Pro'sBathroom was gorgeous with yummy heated floors.The garden out the back is very pretty.The road that the hotel is on literally makes you feel like you are in a cute village in France (hence the name of the road it's on 'Frenchgate' i guess?).The Hotel is in a great location for walking into Richmond.The owner who greets you is very jolly and makes you feel welcome and he clearly loves what he does.The hotel is aesthetically pleasing downstairs with a well made out restaurant and lounge.ConsThe bedroom was supposedly one of their higher costing ones and did not look special at all. Certainly nothing to complain about but at £158 a night i've stayed in similar rooms for a lot less.Service in the restaurant wasn't great. We were booked in for 8pm but didn't have out orders taken until 8.40pm and were not attended too in that time. We were told the delay was because they had a table of 8 that had come late. But here's the thing, nobody else other than this table of 8 were dining ... It may be me who's naive but what do they do here when they're at full capacity? The place was half empty and we were delayed 40 mins? Sorry but this ruined dinner for us.Food was average for the price, again, not enough WOW for a £40 three course meal.And finally, this wouldn't have been an issue at all otherwise, but having been promised a bottle of Champaigne on arrival, we were not given this and I had to do the embarrassing thing of asking for it. This final point sounds very touchy of me, but if everything else had been incredible i'd have let it go.Overall, if you want the best in Richmond, then yes i'd recommend the Frenchgate. However if you want the best in North Yorkshire, there are better stays elsewhere.Thanks for a good stay Frenchgate. I hate criticising anything but just being honest; a lot was lovely!