The Abbey Inn in Ryedale

Love location & fab food. Staff brilliant & knowledgeable about the food & drinks served.

Wow right next door to byland abbey around the corner from their award winning restaurant, very well impressed a tad pricey but had a lovely time , ibwould return again if I'm ever in the area

Some of the best food I've ever ever had, unbelievable 10/10

Almost £17 for a pint and a gin....bloody rip off

Beautiful surroundings, amazing food (especially the chicken liver parfait) and welcoming friendly service

The best pub style food you're going to get anywhere! Classic dishes elevated to a new level. Really nicely done out, feels spacious and modern yet still keeping that cosy, country pub feel. Friendly and relaxed service. Highly recommend to anyone!

We went when it was just opened some time ago and had an excellent meal with great staff. Well, I don’t know what has happened because standards have slipped. A lot. The food was mediocre especially for the price . Just short of £30 for a very average burger . Same for the pork schnitzel which was very large but dry and unappealing. The fish pie , though, was good. Staff were attentive as before. You will get a better meal at the Stapylton Arms at Wass , just down the road, and it will be cheaper ! Someone ,on the management side ,needs to get a grip and sort out The Abbey Inn soon .

Just had an excellent meal (our first, but not last) - surpassed expectations! I’d heard of Tommy Banks from Great British Menu, so was curious to see if pub lived up to expectations. It did! Lovely, friendly service from Rob et al, and the food was delicious, exquisite, without being OTT. What a find and fabulous location too! We will be back - keep up the excellent work!!!

Booked online to secure our table for Saturday lunch. On arrival shown swiftly to our table in the small room on the right. Very nice atmosphere and ambience. Drinks menu & food menu presented and time given to peruse both menus. Our waitress Hannah was very attentive, polite, professional and extremely passionate about her job making us feel at ease. Minds made up we ordered. I chose the cured salmon with elderflower hollandaise, my wife ordered the Heritage Tomato salad. For mains, I couldn't resist the byland burger, my wife choosing the fish pie. Drink wise, I had a pint of Black sheep and my wife a large glass of Tom and the peloton ventoux red. Both of which were very nice. Our food arrived in due course. All I can say is, superb. All aspects of culinary skill and flavour combinations excellently crafted together. We cannot wait to return. Hats off to all the front of house staff, especially Hannah and all the chefs in the kitchen, especially Charlie. Another successful venture under the eagle eye of Tommy Banks. Well done

Booked online to secure our table for Saturday lunch. On arrival shown swiftly to our table in the small room on the right. Very nice atmosphere and ambience. Drinks menu & food menu presented and time given to peruse both menus. Our waitress Hannah was very attentive, polite, professional and extremely passionate about her job making us feel at ease. Minds made up we ordered. I chose the cured salmon with elderflower hollandaise, my wife ordered the Heritage Tomato salad. For mains, I couldn't resist the byland burger, my wife choosing the fish pie. Drink wise, I had a pint of Black sheep and my wife a large glass of Tom and the peloton ventoux red. Both of which were very nice. Our food arrived in due course. All I can say is, superb. All aspects of culinary skill and flavour combinations excellently crafted together. See images to support review. We cannot wait to return. Hats off to all the front of house staff, especially Hannah and all the chefs in the kitchen, especially Charlie. Another successful venture under the eagle eye of Tommy Banks. Well done

Another 1st class meal at The Abbey Inn, Byland owned by Tommy Banks. We opted to sit in the garden and enjoy the sun and the stunning views of Byland Abbey. This time we decided on the small plates between the two of us and finished off with the home made soft serve sundaes which make the trip worthwhile just for them. We can recommend the home made charcuterie and rare breed sausages as well as the Seed & Mead sourdough bread which was accompanied by pounded cheese. Looking forward to our next visit

What an absolutely wonderful evening we have had. The food was amazing and the staff were so helpful and nice. Our room, Abbotts Retreat is stunning. Certainly didn't expect this gorgeous standard at the price. I will definitely be coming again. Next time for longer.

We were on our way to spend a few nights in North Yorkshire and after having been to the Black Swan a couple of times decided to give The Abbey Inn a try. We had booked a table and were located in a side room near reception, the staff were welcoming and friendly. I ordered the burger for £25 which was tasty but nothing out of this world, I’ve had equality as good or if not better for half the price in other gastropubs. My wife ordered the fish pie £28 and I have to say it was very very disappointing, it was described as containing Turbot, Smoked Haddock and Salmon, in reality it was sloppy, tasteless mush which was under seasoned and contained some small pieces of white fish, not the three types of fish described, along with a 175ml glass of ordinary Chein Blanc priced at £16 it was all underwhelming. The two pubs owned by the Banks family are like night and day for the quality of food and value.

This pub literally left a bad taste in my mouth and it wasn't just the food! I'll start with the positives, nice setting and polite, friendly staff giving good service. However, £26 to £28 for a Sunday roast, which on my lamb dinner, came with one small slice of tasteless lamb and a small Yorkshire pudding consisting of a spoonful raw pulled lamb. The beef dinner was the same. The wife's fish and chips looked good and was a good portion but again, wasn't overly special and expensive, similar to my daughters burger. This one was a shocker - £4 for a single slice of Sourdough bread and butter! One small ice cream Sunday, £12.50! Also, the dining area we where sat in was situated near the open reception area of the pub so the experience came with a bracing Yorkshire summer breeze. £190+ for a bang average Sunday lunch with drinks was way over priced and I've had better and more fulfilling experiences at a Toby Carvery. I came away feeling conned and robbed.

Great service, extensive menu & the best views!

Lovely little pub with a good menu if a little pricey. The team were excellent.

Great place to stop by for the refreshment. Outstanding view on an abbey which is free to visit and not overly crowded.

Second visit here… food and drinks will always be awesome but this visit was very disappointing because of the amount of flies everywhere! We must have looked ridiculous, batting away fly after fly whilst trying to eat our meal. Tables and chairs were crawling with them. Gross. Not the relaxing lunch I was anticipating.

We stopped here for a coffee before going on a hike. The service was excellent and the coffee was very good. We ended up ordering some light bites, because the food that was coming out looked so nice. I'd like to go back for a proper meal when I have more time. Highly recommended.

Amazing pub food made with the flair of Tommy Banks

Absolutely loved this addition to the ‘Banks Empire’ just one disappointment. The bedrooms, the huge bathroom with freestanding bath, the views, the staff, the food - everything so perfectly done - so my one niggle did stick out like a sore thumb - although I have to admit a very ‘first world problem’ Why, with such magnificent bathrooms are there 1*, travel lodge style, toiletries. I appreciate the need for recyclable containers but having them attached to the wall ?????!!! As I said, such a small thing, but glaring in such stunning surroundings and service Otherwise - thank you so much

Great Sunday lunch as ever, beef. Beautifully cooked but asked for some extra gravy. It's a mickey take to bring some and then charge £3.50 on the bill. TBF it was twice as much gravy as comes with the dish (ie too much) but in Yorkshire a little extra gravy should be not charged. You can do better than this. (Still a ***** experience though.)

Gorgeous country pub in beautiful surroundings, serving the most delicious food. Very inventive dishes, cooked to perfection and the portions are a good size. I've never known such polite waiting staff. Cannot find a single fault, it was a perfect meal and occasion. Going back there very soon.

Lovely little inn opposite Byland abbey. We popped in for a drink and were given a lovely warm welcome. We sat on a sofa as we weren't having food and next to us was a box of board games which I thought was a nice touch. The food I did see looked delicious and I noticed there was a dog friendly part too. Toilets were lovely and clean. You can stay the night which we will definitely look in to

Ordered well done beef for sunday lunch when it arrived it bright red unable to cut with managed to try to eat but unable to chew horrible chewy uncooked meat .left it only ate vegatables charged £32 for this .waitresses answer was it was slow cooked

Lovely meal and excellent service, thank you Flory x

Visited the pub after visiting the Abbey on an 8 mile hike, so the rest was definitely needed. It may have been the beautiful weather, but the beer garden was great. Lots of seats available and table service too when ordering via the QR code. Decent selection of beers and decent value. Didn't have the food so can't comment.

Location,food and service perfect! Waited a year to finally get back after Tommy Banks reopened it. A pub for all even four legged friends,lovely outdoor area,perfect for taking in the view of Byland Abbey.

Nice hotel but food was very expensive we had a 8oz steak for £40 and a very small cottage pie very disappointing food for the price. Met some lovely people there

If only I had read the reviews prior to our visit!!! But what could go wrong at Tommy Bank's pub for Sunday Lunch... We live local and use many of the pubs in the area for Sunday lunch but this was our first visit to The Abby Inn (and it will be our last). Expectations were high for my birthday lunch as the location is fabulous and the interior of the Abbey Inn is nice. However, the Sunday roast was a shock. We were served a tiny slice of beef, mine was very fatty and had a lot of gristle making it hard to cut. My wife literally could not cut hers because of the gristle so she left most of it. The Sunday roast was really small and did not give value for money. Throughout lunch, nobody came to ask if everything was okay, Once we had finished, the waitress came across and said 'are you all finished?', she took our plates away but did not ask if the meal had been okay, even though my wife had left most of her meat. We were too polite to kick up a fuss and begrudgingly paid the £95 bill including our drinks and left. Perhaps we were just unlucky but at £64 for two roast beef lunches we shouldn't need to be lucky! We will not return and certainly will not recommend to our friends and family. Our next Sunday lunch will be back at The Star in Harome, they know how to do it properly!!

Absolutely beautiful food, welcoming staff and friendly atmosphere. Those who are giving 1* reviews don’t know quality when they see it. Passed this building numerous times and got booked in. Definitely worth the wait. Highly recommended. Another fine Banks family establishment. #TeamTommyBanks

Abbey Inn has three rooms and we stayed one night. The room was spectacular, the room was facing the stunning Byland Abbey, very large, lovely king size bed, ,up market linen, sophisticated and relaxing interior design, fully functioning and easy to use TV and separate large bathroom; everything spotless. I think it might be very warm ln hot days though and there is no aircon. But for our stay no problem. It is expensive' over £200 without breakfast but after seeing and being in the room we thought the price was fair. We wouldn't stay at the Abbey Inn again though. Why? Food and hospitality. On hospitality people were perfectly pleasant but very fragmented. Its a small place but we had no idea who was the manager; the emphasis was clearly on the restaurant side. In the morning the place was literally shut (hotel guests exit via a side door) and no staff around - so no-one to ask the simple questions of 'did you have a good stay', solicit feedback, wish you a good journey (the basic acknowledgement that you've been a paying guest). On the food, I think the Abbey Inn does not know where it's going. Our experience was that wonderful ingredients were spoilt by exceedingly poor cooking. Literally inedible sides of vegetable - composed of fried? steamed? radishes and greens smothered in oil for some reason. Schnitzel and lamb dishes both also with meat beautifully cooled but then, the schnitzel covered in a layer of salt so all you could taste was the salt; and the lamb drowning in a combination of a lot of salt, a lot of vinegar and a lot of rosemary (not quite literally inedible like the vegetables, but unpleasant). The staff were all nice but again hard to see who was responsible for what. This place should be great. There has clearly been a lot of money invested here and the location and provenance (the Black Swan) means it should be beating hands down its competitors in North Yorkshire. But sadly we will not go back there and although we were going to book for the Black Swan we won't be now because we have lost confidence in the brand.

What a pleasure dining and staying at this fabulous place , the service the staff offered was excellent . The Abbey Inn were exceptionally busy which the staff managed very professionally. Loved it!! And the Bloody Mary 😆

Visited after a walk around the lovely area. Beautiful pub, pleasant staff. However, no one seemed to be talking to each other. Ordered beer for outside which didnt turn up and hadnt been put through. There were not enough menus printed, so i asked the waitress for a sandwich, which was explained came with fries...Sandwich came with no sides/fries or salads in the end. £16 for a burger bun style sandwich with no extras...madness... Shame as such a pleasant place with nice people.

We dined here today for my mother’s birthday and we’re extremely impressed - the staff were friendly and attentive whilst remaining profession and the food was quite simply excellent. My beef tartare starter was delicious, and our party all commented on the quality and generosity of portion of the roasts. Good selection of puddings, with the homemade soft-serve ice cream sundaes being a quirky and very tasty selection. Whilst not being a cheap option, we all felt that it offered excellent value for money, especially in comparison with other fine dining/pub crossovers we have visited (I’m looking at you, Hand and Flowers!). Overall would not hesitate to recommend to others, and will certainly return when next in the area, if we’re not dining at The Black Swan Oldstead that is!

Fabulous Sunday lunch of roast beef. Extremely busy but food was exceptional. Bloody Mary was the stuff of dreams, outstanding, perfect blend and so good to have the sherry included 🙌, many years since I had one of this standard! Roast beef was excellent with superb vegetables. Highly recommend

DBB Room was very good the food was okay.

Thank you very much to the staff at the Abbey Inn, who came out to check that my husband was ok after fall off his bike close to the Inn. They also provided him and our group with a coffee. Thanks for your kindness and consideration.

What a shame. We were really looking forward to our first visit here but it was so disappointing. On arrival, two other guests arrived to check in so we were asked to wait in the hallway. After a while being left on our own, we decided to go to the bar to get a seat. Hard benches and not comfy. We ordered drinks and asked if we could have some olives but we we were told they don't have any. They offered a bag of crisps which we opened and handed round to each other. The meal was also disappointing. I had the cod and whilst it was cooked well, the sauce didn't have much flavour. One of our guests asked if she could have some olive oil to dip her bread into but was told they don't have any olive oil and brought out a little dish full of rapeseed oil! Prices are high but if the food and ambience are superb then it is worth it. GBP74.00 for a bottle of wine which was nice but not outstanding. Unfortunately it was a very bland experience and we wouldn't be able to justify visiting again.

You couldn't be closer to the spectacle that is Byland Abbey, and I'm sure on a sunny day you could sit outside and take in the view with your lunch...but on this bitterly cold April day, it was good to be inside where it was cosy and warm, thanks to a roaring log fire. This place is wonderfully welcoming and fuss free. Despite the fact it was a Monday lunchtime and unseasonably cold, the restaurant was full and buzzing at 12.30pm. We joined our friends at a cosy table with plenty of room for the four of us. We were quickly asked what we would like to drink, and given time to peruse the menu, which contained...many interesting things. Two of us opted for the smoke cured salmon to start, and it was magnificent. The terrine oredered by my colleague was huge, he couldn't manage all of it but said it was very good. The main course cod was superb, my wife had this and said it was perfectly cooked. I had a very tasty cottage pie...in fact to get to the point, all the food, including the puddings, was absolutely superb. Dogs are very welcome in this establishment, and our two settled under the table, as there was plenty of room for them to do so. How enlightened to have a fully dog friendly place...lots of diners had their canine friends in tow, and I wonder how many wouldn't have come if their four footed pals were banned. In fact the whole feel of he place was comfy, laid back, and just a great place to be. I've eaten in places in the past where the food is great but the way it is served is pretentionus...not so here. So if you want good traditional food (with a twist) perfectly prepared, and in surroundings where you instantly feel at home, you should give the Abbey Inn a try.

Outstanding food, brilliant service and lovely beer! Couldn’t recommend it enough!

This was our second visit, the first was not long after they had opened and that time my partner who is coeliac ordered the burger and they said they hadn't managed to source any gluten free bread buns they were happy with. We assumed this was teething problems and gave them the benefit of the doubt, booking in again for a second visit several months later. This time was Sunday lunch and they said they didn't have any gluten free options for a Yorkshire pudding or the cauliflower cheese. So his meal came with "extra veg". Interestingly when we were discussing our disappointment and referred to our first visit they mentioned they still don't have gluten free burger buns, so I'm not sure they are even trying to cater for gluten free customers. The food we did have was lovely however I doubt we will return unless they make a better attempt to cater for gluten free customers as having a dietary requirement shouldn't mean having items of your meal removed.

Amazing lunch last Monday and back for supper on Friday night. Proper tasty food.

Fantastic food and great service. We had a lovely view of the abbey as we ate, so many great choices to eat and the rhubarb & custard soft serve was out of this world. Really couldn't fault it, and we'll definitely be back.

We had our 3 rd lunch here in last few months .All superb.The food is something else ,creative ,inventive,different but 1st class .we tried something different each time we visited and everything off the chart.One of the best places we have visited.Will certainly be back again .Food quality and service wonderful. Overall excellent.

Second time and sadly left feeling disappointed this time. Very slow service, food was good but restaurant was really noisy. Not the experience we had expected.

We had been to the Abbey Inn several times. It never let's us down. We took a friend surprising him with his wife for his 65th birthday. Our friend has been to many restaurants like ourself worldwide. He was raving about the food which was the highlight of our long weekend break. Service great. Food incredible. The Tommy Banks team foraging and use of herbs, fruit, meats and vegetables is astounding

We dropped in for a beer after visiting the Abbey and it was wonderful. We’d definitely recommend and hope to return for food next time we visit. The beer was great (Black Sheep, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and a local beer). We’re reliably informed by the friends we visited with that the food is amazing and the burger “the best I’ve ever had”! The Listed building has been tastefully and sympathetically decorated and refurbished. There’s a lovely restaurant space, several cosy snugs and a great beer garden with views of the abbey. The service was great. The barman from Leeds was friendly, knew his stuff and very efficient. This fabulous pub would be dangerous for the waistline if we were local! If you’re visiting the pub, the well preserved ruins opposite really give you a feel for the place. It’s an English Heritage site but free to enter with lots of useful and informative info boards. We visited in April 2024 and at that time the beautiful floors were undercover for conservation. I’d love to see them again when the work is finished.

Absolutely brilliant dinner experience- gorgeous food and brilliant service.

Really expensive at £6 for a pint of larger.

Fantastic, relaxed Sunday lunch just how it should be. Thank you.

Reading some of these reviews, I had to go back and check that I was on the right listing as they are so different to our experience on Sunday. We visited on Easter Sunday for lunch. Service was first class, really welcoming and friendly and we even had a bowl of water and treats brought to us for our dog. Fantastic Sunday Lunch menu and truly delicious food. In fact, it's the best Sunday Lunch we've had since moving up to Yorkshire 4 years ago. We thought the value for money was great when you consider the quality of ingredients, commitment to local sourcing and the outstanding cookery. Will definitely be back, hopefully very soon.

Beautiful Easter Sunday meal, with welcoming staff and good service. There is also a large beer garden here if you’re passing by on a hike

Sunday lunch was a triumph! Delicious food, and nice to have options beyond a roast available (although everyone I went with did have the roast!). Generous portions, and presented beautifully. The puddings were incredible! Some unusual ingredients were brought to life in inventive ways. For those too scared to try a tasting menu up the load in Oldstead, this offers a nice alternative to try something a bit new without going mad! Facilities were clean and tidy. The dining space is really pretty and allowed for a nice atmosphere. Staff were all very kind, polite and helpful.

Went here for a birthday lunchtime treat on a wet Monday in February. After a muddy walk and a quick change, we sat in one of the front rooms with our dog. Even though it was a Monday, the Inn was very busy with all the tables occupied. This is a testament to the excellent food on offer. This is not just any pub with great beer, the food was filling and great quality. The burger was superb and extremely popular. I would guess 75% of diners had this option. My wife had the lamb shank and it was super tender. We were too full to try a desert which was a shame. One minor comment is that there could have been some lighter dishes on the menu, not everyone wants to roll out of the inn stuffed to the gills. But it is hard to resist the great dishes and locally sourced ingredients.

I visited with my husband for an evening meal, overnight stay & breakfast and overall we had a great time. The food was delicious with lots of little twists on pub classics that make this worth the money in my eyes. I note that some reviews think that the food is overpriced but when you consider how much work goes into growing / rearing the produce and then all the work that goes into preserving the items I think it’s worth it. I had the cured salmon to start and it was right up my street although I probably would have picked something else if I’d have known that cured salmon was included in the breakfast. My husband had the bacon & spring green broth which was incredibly tasty. We both had the pork chop with chips & miso hispi cabbage for main. Again absolutely delicious. I’d describe the breakfast as a very classy and elevated continental breakfast. Breakfast felt like an occasion itself! The location was beautiful and the standard of the room was excellent. All the staff were extremely friendly. The cost of the overnight stay is definitely in the premium bracket but the rooms match up to this. The only negative was the volume of the music in pub that could be heard in our room. We arrived just after 4pm and the music was loud enough in our room for us to be able to hear it word for word. It was only early and the music was to our taste so it wasn’t too bad, however when we went back to room after eating shortly after 9pm it became annoying. We were quite tired from travelling so wanted an early night but the volume of the music would prevent this. My husband went down to the bar to tell about the music and they turned it down straight away. Upon check out the lady who was dealing with us asked if everything had been ok so we told her about the music, she was very apologetic and advised that she’d speak to the team about keeping the volume low enough so that it can’t heard in the bedrooms. She also took our arrival drinks off the bill. I wasn’t ideal that we had to go down to ask them to turn the music down as we’d already gotten ready for bed, however it was dealt with immediately and our issue was resolved. I always say that sometimes things will go wrong but it’s how you deal with it that counts and I can’t fault how the staff dealt with the issue. We’d definitely return for another meal and to stay the night.

Was really disappointing. We were looking forward to this meal. Setting, decor and service were all good. Two pieces of bread… £8!!! Bread was not warm and could not understand what made a slice worth £4?!? Not exceptional in any way. Ordered the pie at £24 and had to order mashed potato and veg separately for £6 each! Pie arrived and very, very small. Served in what looked like an iron ramekin with a very small pastry lid. Just a piece of advice… a pie conjures up hearty, comforting food, full of flavour. This was lacking on all counts and terrible value. Filling lacked flavour and gravy was tasteless and watery. There is just so much that needs improvement, I don’t know where to start. The price just made me feel I was robbed in broad daylight. Needs a new chef who understands flavour and portion sizes, particularly as they are appealing to walkers.

We had high expectations for our lunch booking which was meant to be a highlight of our short break in the region. The menu was a bit limited, but that's OK if everything else is good. We selected the burgers which at £25 each should have been really special, unfortunately this was not the case. We came away feeling really disappointed.

After planning this trip for weeks we were very disappointed with the outcome, March 18 2024. We had the Timothy Taylor and beef pie, £24. This was a very small dish of meat with a ring of pastry where the hole in the middle was meant to have bone marrow as in the website photo. My piece of this was tiny and I almost missed it. The principle flavour of the meat was salt. Two sides were three times cooked chips, quite tasty, and grilled vegetables, meagre quantity and bland in taste. The onions and cabbage were watery and the kale too tough to chew. These sides were in the order of £6 each. A 125ml glass of red, we were driving, was probably the highlight of the meal. We dare not risk dessert but ordered coffee which was average. Our bill was just over £90 which was not represented in either quality of ingredients, preparation or presentation. We were served by a lovely young lady and felt disinclined to complain to her even though we know this is encouraged whilst at the table. In addition we had driven 45 miles for what we expected to be a very enjoyable day out and a delicious lunch, so were feeling very dejected by the The Abbey Inn experience. We will not be returning or recommending.

Disappointed from the offset. The pub is sparsely decorated, just plain emulsion walls, no artworks, old damp patch on ceiling in bar. and i am sorry to say hard bench seating, two hard wooden chairs and one sofa with a muddy leather footstool ( not a welcoming place to sit) and busy with people traffic. We ordered the so called beef and ale pie and were told we would have to wait 25 mins so we ordered 2 pieces of bread £8 and two tasteless ham croquettes £7 for 2. We ordered sides of hispie cabbage and mash. The pie was not a pie and was very small, it was a small pot of tasty meat with a rim of pasty round the edge of around 1cm wide and sat on a plate with nothing else at all -£24. We ordered 2 rhubarb and custard sundaes, when our order came it was wrong so one of us had to wait to be served the correct pud. They did serve us two complimentary coffees. There was small pieces of rhubarb but no custard flavour at all just plenty of vanilla ice cream and small crunchy sugary pieces. This meal did not meet our expectations at all and have decided we shall not be going for a meal again, just a walk and a coffee as the coffee was good. I think Tommy has taken on too many ventures and can not oversee everything as it needs. We do not mind paying for really good food in a lovely ambience but this was not good enough for the price.

After our lunch yesterday, March 18, I hoped these feelings of disappointment would fade. However, I am sorry to say this is not the case. A friend and I were attracted by the emails advertising the extended Pie Week. We both had the Timothy Taylor & beef option, £24. Our 'pies' consisted of a very small dish of meat with a thin pastry edge leaving a hole in the centre for the advertised bone marrow , which in my case was so small I almost missed it. The overriding flavour of the meat content was salt. We ordered a side of triple cooked chips £6 and and also one of grilled mixed vegetables, similarly priced. The chips were tasty, but the other side dish was meagre in size and lacking in taste. The cabbage and onion were watery and the kale too tough to chew. Our 125ml (drivers) of red wine was acceptable and probably the highlight of the meal. We felt we dare not risk a dessert, so ordered coffee which was average at best.Our bill total was just over £90 which we felt was not represented in the quality, or presentation of the food we were served. This was done very pleasantly by a very young lady, thank you, so much so that we were reluctant to complain to her, although we know this is the recommended way to deliver dissatisfaction. Plus we had made a special journey of over 45 miles for a lunch which we anticipated would be a very enjoyable experience and felt quite dejected by the outcome of our plan for a lovely day out. We will not be returning or indeed recommending.

Excellent gastro pub. Really casual atmosphere. Great staff, very friendly. Food was superb, easily worth the price.

Visited for my husband’s birthday, we live locally and had heard good things and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Great setting , lovely building and the food! Nice low key service lots of smiling staff and Tom( bar staff) especially friendly. We loved it and will be back

The best meal we had in Yorkshire. Hope to come back someday!

Stayed for dinner bed and breakfast. Tip 1, if you’re staying leave luggage in car when you check in. One checks in st the pub, then have to walk back outside and up a steep staircase to the room. Check in is inexplicably late and inhospitable at 4pm. Rooms are above the pub so I had perfect playback of the music policy ;Beatles Stones Who etc) until dinner. Food was really good but the venue is spartan, not relaxing sofas post meal. The cocktails were pretty awful for £12 each, beer and wine good. Checkout is early (by 8.45am) as breakfast has to be taken a mile away at the Black Swan. Limited choice (full breakfast, omelette or smoked eel with scrambled egg) but the quality was very good bar woefully weak tea. With 11 drinks in total the bill was £564.including service. Wish I’d stayed local and given £250 to charity. I ticked the box on booking re being a birthday, went unacknowledged.

We came to the area to visit the abbey and were delighted to find that the pub opposite was opened and served tea and coffee. All the staff were very polite and helpful. We only wanted a cuppa and were seated in a comfy area. The beverages were served with extra’s. Delicious homemade fudge. My husband then wanted some crisps and I decided to have one of their delightful cocktails. We hope to be back for a meal soon.

We stayed here on Saturday/Sunday nights as part of their 2 night package. We have previously stayed at the Black Swan but to be honest we preferred the rooms here. On our first night we had the tasting menu at the Black Swan and breakfast there the following morning, amazing, could not fault anything. Sunday night we had dinner at the Abbey Inn. On a Sunday they only serve their Sunday menu and the bar closes at 9pm. The food was deliciousl. Our room looked out onto the Abbey, had a 4 poster bed and was really comfortable. The only negative, is that you can clearly hear the music from the dining room. It did not affect us, but some people may find it intrusive. I would definitely come back.

Great ambience created by the beautiful old building that has been restored and extended sympathetically, excellent service and some very fine food, as one has come to expect from the kitchens of Tommy Banks. It is testament to the excellence of the Abbey Inn that it was busy despite the awful winter weather and there was a delightful multi-generational feel to the place. Looking forward to going back later in the year when we can go for lunch and enjoy a walk in the area.

Went for Sunday lunch...was looking forward to a great dining experience. Could not have been more wrong...absolutely awful!! This chef needs to come to my house for a meal and some tips on how to do a proper Sunday roast. One slice of meat and no vegetables worth talking about...what a disaster! I would be ashamed to serve this to my own family. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE...overrated and overpriced...we will not be going back

We managed to get a table for 6.30 on a Thursday, we were the first in the restaurant but within half an hour it was full. Amazing food, generous portions, great friendly service, great value Especially the alcohol. Restaurant much larger than I expected, post dinner drinks by the roaring fire. Loved it

We visited last night with our friends who were as impressed as we were the first time we went .. Tommy Banks has earned a great reputation and the menu here is very accessible , he’s obviously holding himself back from some of his more “ creative “ dishes , which for us is perfect ! If you want to have your sticky toffee pudding with artichoke and chicory root , you can , there is some odd , weirder dishes available.. but the Abbey burger is absolutely fabulous for great comfort food .. My wife thinks the Fish pie could have had a bigger plate and some veg with it instead of a little individual casserole dish .. but our burgers and our friends lamb shank were great ..The place is classy , unpretentious and the food quality is of the highest order . For those who are not excited by “ tasting menus “ but want to have first class food in a nice restaurant with great atmosphere..this is made for you !

Extremely overrated. Extremely expensive for what it is. The fish pie was tasteless, the bottled water warm, the salmon starter was also tasteless. The lamb was nice though. Chips at £6 a portion were nice. Veg is extra. Wouldn’t be tempted to go again. Very disappointing. £40 for a small steak.

Excellent evening with delicious food in a really relaxed comfortable environment. Friendly staff who are knowledgeable and attentive!!!! Desserts deserve a special mention !!!Ice cream sundaes on a different level - we will definitely be returning!!!!

Fantastic pub, food, staff, location. We have been a handful of times and haven’t been disappointed. The fact the meat is from their farm elevates the experience. Well cooked and a focus on locally foraged ingredients too. If you’re in North Yorkshire, it’s worth a trip - book in advance as they’re busy.

A wow dinner with a wonderful room and view of the abbey. Best steak in England, with a well thought out drinks selection and dessert. The room was spacious, comfortable and warm. Well worth a stay

We visited in mid-January, having read some very nice things about the place in both national and regional news. On arrival, the place is pretty magical. You have to be a bit strange to not find the rolling hills, abbey ruins and the pub just over the way a fantastic place to spend an afternoon. On entering, I don't know what I expected but its a fairly narrow corridor in front of you. I suppose its in keeping with the building layout, but that was one very minor criticism, I wasn't blown away. However, the friendly face of the waitress took us to our seats and got a couple of glasses of wine. I felt the service was relaxed, which was lovely in my opinion. This isn't the kind of place you want to be in and out in 1 hour 15 minutes, so we were fine with it. I've seen other reviews suggesting the service wasn't great, but I have to disagree with those. We felt it was excellent and nice you weren't getting stopped mid-conversation every 5 minutes like some establishments. Now the food. The parfait to start was good, without blowing me away, I forget what my partner had, but we both recall been quite happy prior to the mains arriving, so no complaints at that stage. The mains were in my opinion, excellent. I went more fine dining with the lamb, and thought it was one of the best lamb dishes I have had in years. My partner is a massive burger fan and couldn't resist trying the burger. Its hard to articulate how much she rated it. So if you like a burger, give it a go. We both had the chocolate fondant, again this was very good. It was £100 for two people. Having eaten in a few places in central Leeds that have surpassed that total price with ease, but has been bang average food. Overall, I couldn't fault it. The setting and the building itself are really amazing, the food also seems to live upto the hype. I don't think its one star level (yet), but its definitely not far from the standard of other north & east yorkshire starred pubs.

Very welcoming and attentive, small menu at lunchtime but each part well prepared and of excellent quality. Beautiful views of the Abbey and countryside beyond. Can't mark the rooms as we haven't stayed due to being quite local.

Amazing visit -fantastic advice and service from Evie - food just amazing 🤩 can’t wait to visit again -loved the ice Tea as driving

We booked in to have an evening meal, Saturday night, 8:45, seemed like we might’ve been the last table in. I’d had high hopes for this place, I’d then read a couple of the more recent 3 star reviews and so my hopes came back down but boy oh boy, THIS PLACE DID NOT DISAPPOINT We were celebrating our five year anniversary, me and my boyfriend, and as twenty somethings in the creative industry, a meal like this is really special and a once a year sort of deal. We felt special from the moment we walked in the door and were greeted by a lovely waiter who said ‘we’ve been waiting for you’, to all of the lovely waitresses that took our orders promptly and brought our food promptly. They were all really friendly and helpful. The food itself… I’m a big foodie and on multiple occasions I thought I might shed a tear at how good this was. I’d never had beef tartare before and so felt a bit nervous about eating beef that colour but it was incredibly delicious, my boyfriend doesn’t eat meat and so got a yummy beetroot starter. We had the cocktail special negroni, this was delicious also! For the mains, my boyfriend got the cod, and he said it was lovely and flakey and full of flavour. I got the beetroot lamb shank and it really did make me feel like I could cry! It was so delicious, and had some gorgeous cauliflower and kale with it. We recommend getting the grilled vegetable sides and the potatoes! Just to make sure you’re full up. For pudding we got a caramel dessert with citrus sorbet, again delicious. We had a really glorious time and I can’t wait for the next time I have an excuse to go back!

Great Sunday lunch. Good service. Beautifully presented and tasty food. Well priced for what was on offer and service included. Highly recommend. Low key and not pretentious.

We stayed at The Inn recently on a dinner bed and breakfast basis and had a truly wonderful stay. The dinner was excellent with plenty of choice in lovely surroundings and served by very attentive, friendly staff. Our room had a wonderful view of Byland Abbey and was enormous with a lovely sitting area and a huge bathroom. Breakfast was equally delicious and made a change from the usual full English. We have stayed at the Black Swan in Olstead, had a meal at Roots in York and have had one of the Made in Oldstead food boxes and all gave been absolutely wonderful. Many many thanks to all the staff at the Banks family restaurants and businesses.

Went here for special occasion due to good reviews from friends .Staff very welcoming but unfortunately the evening was spoilt as had undercooked food due to human error. I was 3 third person this evening with same food item, same problem. Just disappointing.

Having dated in TB’s other two restaurants numerous times and found them to be exceptional, we were really looking forward to experiencing his pub. We opted for a lunch and walk, upon arrival they seemed taken back, even though we had been booked well in advance. They looked in the room near the checkin desk/till and said our table wasn’t ready as there were people still seated and eating. We were offered to take a seat in the bar area. We found this area and to be blunt it more of a snug and couldn’t cope with ourselves and the other party already seated in it. We were left to order our drinks from the bar, when we were eventually acknowledged by the bar man. Our drinks come in dribs and drabs and we were eventually shown to the table, a table that was different to the one we had initially been shown, but actually better. Our waitress provided us a menu, specials and then a local menu with the understanding the whole table would have to order it. When booking we were asked on dietary requirements, one of our party was pescetarian. When we asked about the local menu, the response was ‘no sorry this is for meat eaters’, why offer it when you knew it would not be appropriate for our party? Loved the map on the back of the menu, very much a lift from “Pig’ chain of restaurants. We placed our orders and awaited the food, again served in dribs and drabs, 2 of the bowls had chips in that had been repaired with a cheap resin! The Beef Tartare, was tasteless and did not live up to the exceptional description. The Skate wings were over cooked and looked like one that was cut in half to make 2 dishes. Our drinks order was wrong on two occasions, the desert menu that was presented was actually the main menu. Our lunch order consisted of 4 starters, 4 main courses, 2 deserts, 3 liqueur coffees, 2 G&T’s, 1 Lg glass of Muscadet, 2 pints of bitter, 2 diet cokes. The Bill just short of £400! Yes thats nearly £400 including the service charge!!! £400 for lunch in a pub. Overall Location/Ambience - 10/10 Overall Service - 2/10 Overall Food Quality - 3/10 Overall Value - 1/10 Our conclusion, trading on the reputation of the other two places and certainly their prices, but quality on so many front significantly lacking!

Maybe the headline is a bit harsh after one visit but expectations were high after all the media hype and, on that basis, The Abbey Inn didn't deliver. We were passing and it was a lovely sunny day so thought we would pop in and hope they had a table outside which they did. Reviews in press raved about the burger so we thought that would be good for lunch. System is to go inside, get a menu, go back to your table, decide what you want and then go back to the counter to order. Which is a bit clumsy as there were people all crowded round the counter trying to order each time I went in. Why not do table service? Burgers were then a bit disappointing, mainly because bread was soggy having presumably been assembled for a while before being brought to the table. Not sure £60 for 2 burgers and 2 drinks was the best value either. Were booked in for an evening meal a few weeks later but decided to cancel.

Walking in the area with my brother and decided to pop in for an adhoc pint. Felt a little awkward as there’d been a lot of rain so we were pretty called in mud and were in full walking gear, etc. Noticed a sign directing us to the beer garden saying that we could order from the table. Very fortunately for us, the QR code on the table didn’t work, so I popped inside and was greeted by someone I assume was a manage. I asked if we were ok for a couple of pints, pointed to my muddy boots and told him we were fine sitting outside. He was immediately welcoming and replied, “Of course! We’re fine with mud, come in, the bar’s there, get yourselves comfortable by the fire and we’ll come and take your order.” From there, all the staff were friendly and attentive, the beer was really well kept and at a decent price point, the atmosphere was relaxed and casual yet professional, with an obvious air of quality. As we finished our drinks, the barman nodded and asked if he could get us another round, unfortunately, we had to decline, but it was a very nice touch. I settled up and we were given a cheery goodbye as we left. We didn’t eat, however the food that we saw being served looked and smelled fantastic. The Abbey Inn is obviously a destination gastro pub, but we were welcomed and given a five star experience for the price of a couple of pints that certainly made an impression. If the staff here were part of my team, I’d be over the moon with them, I imagine this is exactly the level of service that’s being aimed for. Looking forward to returning without the muddy boots to enjoy a full Sunday Dinner!

Extremely slow service. Food hit and miss. A waitress mopping around us while we ate. Staff not attentive enough. Missing drinks. Spillages. Food not all coming at once - these are just some of the issues we experienced. This is not how this “acclaimed” pub should be - especially at the prices you are paying. I beg to the Banks family to sort this out - having read other reviews, I know we are not alone.

Went hoping for wonderful things. We waited by the fire to be seated - very cosy - and were seated promptly at our booking time. Two of our party ate a decent 'Sunday roast' albeit a bit pricey. The meat was very good, however, be...

Excellent bar snacks - very tasty high quality homemade food - sat right by the fire very cosy on a cold day Great service from Hannah and Rob And an excellent Flat White !

Lovely “pub”. A bit too good to be called just a pub. Very good food, without being to pretentious or “gastro pub”. As usual with places that know what they’re doing, the service was very good. Attentive without being intrusive, knew enough about what they were offering to be able to make suggestions. Just right. Lamb rib starter was excellent, as was the red mullet. Both mains very good, solid winter food. The cassoulet was lovely but a touch salty. Would definitely come back and try the burger, which I saw in the next table and it looked epic. £140 for lunch and a bottle of decent red and a pint of Guinness. Lovely.

There is so much to love about this place. Set in beautiful landscape across the road from Cistercian ruins, the Abbey Inn is a skilfully renovated flagstone floored pub with a comfortable traditional interior. The food successfully embodies Tommy Banks ethos of natural and foraged...

A Disappointing Experience: Beware of Illusions, Our anticipation was high as we booked a reservation at this supposedly charming boutique pub with rooms , led by a Michelin-starred chef and offering just three exclusive rooms. The website conjured up an image of a cosy evening...

Popped as the final hurrah for our holiday. Food was very very good the burger was the tastiest I've ever eaten. Party of 5 everyone enjoyed their food and the tonics and iced tea exceptional. Have already booked a return visit.

It's a risky road in, a dark country road but worth the trip . Partners food was faultless my steak at £42 was fatty. That said I would return for maybe lunch . Always happy to try somewhere a 2nd time given it was a...

We stayed here for two nights as part of the special deal combing dinner at the Black Swan on one evening. The room was beautiful with a stunning view of the Abbey. The bathroom needs a heated towel rail especially in the winter. The dinner...

Absolutely wonderful - what a perfect evening. We had cocktails (and a pint of Landlord) by the fire, before moving to our table for three courses of delicious food and wine, with friendly and knowledgeable service. We can't wait to come back.

Came to be Abbey Inn for a birthday meal with family. We were greeted by a friendly staff team and taken to our table in the window overlooking the Abbey and surrounding scenery. Our drinks were taken promptly and arrived within good time. To eat,...

Received exceptional service from the moment we arrived, the food was excellent- had high expectations having been to Roots restaurant, one of Tommys other restaurants and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Can’t wait to go back with the rest of the family and friends

Not for the working classes it is a rip-off. We have been going to the Abbey tea Rooms for 20 years prior to the new owners but yesterday we called in and asked for 2 cups of tea when they arrive. The 1st cup was filthy and we had to ask it to be returned and replaced at the end of it, we were charged just under £9 for 2 cups of tea. This prevented us from ordering a meal as we could clearly see that we were going to get ripped off again. It’s a shame but we will not be frequent in this place again, and we will not be recommending it to our friends and family . It’s obviously for the rich people middle upper classes and certainly not for the hard-working people of this country. Ps we tried to contact them to explain about our disappointment, but their phone is continually turned off Not very Encouraging is it?

We went for a meal here and the menu is very limited. The prices are over the top and they add a 10% service charge to supplement the staff wages. The food we had was good quality but it's all just too much for what...

very disappointing and a Rip off. ‘ we called to the Abby Tea Rooms today to which we have been frequented for the last 20 years in an absolute beautiful position outside the Abbey. But today we walked in and asked for 2 cups of...