The Fairfax Arms in Ryedale - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

One of our regulars! Always something good on menu whether you want bar food or fine dining. Friendly service. Choice of tables outside, in bar, or orangery.

Fantastic place to stay, very tasty breakfast and dinner. Rizz and the other staff made us feel very welcome and the room was perfect. Would highly recommend and would definitely stay here again.

Stayed here for one night after visiting Castle Howard - only 8 miles away. Both our double and the family room were delightfully furnished with the toiletries you would expect including bath robes. This is an independent hostelry - not a chain - and the family touch is evident in the welcome, service and atmosphere. We had both our evening meal and breakfast within the restaurant. Good choices - well cooked and presented. A great base to explore this part of Yorkshire

We had been nearby at Castle Howard and were lucky to walk in and get a table. I found the service to be really great and as a vegan the options were lovely heritage carrot starter, gnocchi main and cherry pie dessert. I had three courses with wine. Would definitely go again.

Such a lovely restaurant pub, delicious food and nice atmosphere. Service was 5 star, very attentive and friendly waiter!

A wonderful experience from beginning to end, service was precise and friendly, food was very well executed, and the surroundings are conducive to an enjoyable evening out. Starting with a well served pint of Black Sheep and focaccia with oil and balsamic, I never felt in a rush to get to the main course. Even with a large group joining the Orange Room, it was a peaceful environment, at a pleasant temperature on a cold autumnal day. I can imagine that it would be wise to book for couples or groups. (It was interesting to walk into such a busy pub in the middle of the North Yorkshire countryside!) An aspect that warms the heart is background music that remains in the background. The lamb special was very well cooked with just the right balance of gravy, mint, vegetables and mash. Service was excellent throughout. Five stars of five. Thank you Fairfax!

Oops all is not well here, food quality down, service unfriendly, loos scruffy and unkempt, staff not happy, an ‘atmosphere’ evident, and nobody bothered to ask if we had enjoyed our visit or our meal. Big shame, used to be well worth the significant effort to get there.

Pleasant, hardworking staff. The room we sat in was lovely and airy. Food was good pub grub - large portions.

Pleasant surroundings and a good selection of cask beers. Young staff were engaging and friendly, more elderly less so, little or no involvement. What used to be a brilliant steak pie failed to please today; pastry overcooked and meat bulked out with too many carrots. Not one of the better days here.

Our friends booked a table for a meet up at this pub, and so as we all ate something different, we saw great consistency in the quality of their dishes. The dessed crab, pies and chicken dishes were all of a high standard, and resaonably priced. Highly recommended.

An otherwise nice stay spoiled by noisy, inconsiderate drinking guests sitting out in your smoking shelter all night, talking and laughing loudly and continuously. On asking them to keep quiet or go inside the pub, I was ignored. I asked them again and was argued with and told they were there to enjoy their "thirsty Thursday"! Only when I eventually had to become shouty and sweary with them did they eventually go inside. You need to manage this. You can't have people behaving like this right outside guest bedroom windows. I needed a good night's sleep before attending a family funeral the following day and this tainted my whole experience.

All fur coat and no knickers Visually appealing pub with orangery but the food was distinctly average. Attentive service was lacking but put that down to young staff possibly being ‘trained’ Have been to other pubs in the same price range that have better tasting options Only here for a week on holiday but won’t be revisiting.

Wow what an amazing menu Artisan cheese board Amazing attention to detail Chef clearly passionate about his food Wonderful service Very very dog friendly Very reasonable prices Had a wonderful experience

Dinner was disappointing. Setting very nice: Orangery clearly had been professionally designed. ( hence 2 stars rather than none!)An uninspiring menu with nothing other than standard choices-in the end my husband chose the stuffed smoked meat chicken breast & I had grilled sea bass with roasted veg couscous. The chicken was ok but I could tell he was not inspired! I sent my sea bass back as the couscous was horrid & clumped in lumps. It was returned shortly but still looked ' unhappy'. It had been either too long prepared or even frozen. It was tasteless. When asked how things had been ( on removing my half eaten plate,) the waitress looked embarrassed when I said it it had been very disappointing & tasteless. She clearly did not know how to respond. Overall an uninspiring occasion Not to be recommended....( costly wine too!) Oh dear.

We stayed in a room behind the pub which was excellent. Clean, tidy and well appointed. Nice tea, coffee, chocolates and biscuits to satisfy all. the food was really nice and the staff very friendly - would definitely revisit.

Beautiful location by a steam in a picturesque village. The staff could not have been more accommodating.we needed to check in early to get ready for a nearby wedding and they had prioritised the room prep.many other guests were doing the same thing and we all needed a quick lunch.Delicious freshly cooked food,and calm,prompt service. Lovely very clean room,very comfy bed,well equipped bathroom,chocolates,what more do you need? They provided coffee for the survivors who arrived as breakfast was getting going,which was held in a lovely sunroom,with the doors open.Tremendous,well cooked and delicious.We were all sorry not to be staying another night to sample the evening menu.

Accommodation is reasonable - food is good - restaurant was Ok for the price and we enjoyed sitting by the stream at lunchtime. The village is utterly gorgeous

Fabulous stay at this lovely country Inn. Faultless and attentive staff, superb evening meal and the breakfast was delicous. Thank you.

Very impressed with the service and the meal we had at the Fairfax Arms last night. I had one of the specials, Potato Rosti and Red Onion Tart and my husband had the Steak and Ale pie. Both were delicious! There was a small taster of beetroot and cream cheese (I think?) this was also very nice. Also tried the Sticky Toffee pudding which I had to share as it was such a large portion! Would definitely visit again if in the area.

What a fantastic find. We stayed overnight here after visiting Mathewson's car auctions in Pickering and really glad we found it. The accommodation was excellent and the evening meal and hospitality also top drawer. To top it all off It was probably the best full English breakfast I have had for a long, long time. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay so enjoyable.

I guess 5/5 should mean the best imaginable, but more pragmatically I’d say 5 is when nothing could have been any better. So it was, for us at the Fairfax, nice welcome, cosy bar restaurant, nice unpretentious staff, excellent menu, good drinks choice, great coffee, and couldn’t argue with the bill, in today’s world. Special mention for the food - a nice intriguing menu, wide enough for plenty choice, compact enough that you could tell it was going to be freshly-prepared; excellent quality, portion sizes, and presentation. On top of the overall feel and ambience of the place, we definitely want to go back, maybe for a stay, and by the way it’s in a beautiful village, just a stone’s throw and a pair of hiking boots from spectacular Ampleforth.

We stayed for two nights and ate lunch and dinner the first day. The welcome was excellent, the food was very good and proper Yorkshire portions! The room was perfectly good, spotless, warm and well appointed. Good value and a great base to explore the...

Having visited previously, we decided to call in for lunch when in the area again. The welcome was slightly delayed, and we selected a table. The menu was not extensive, but provided sufficient choice including meeting a particular dietary requirement. Orders are taken at the...

We arrived today for a family meal. We got seated promptly and menus and drinks order taken. One of the party ordered a Steak Rare but when it arrived it was more like Medium. None of the staff came and did a check back on...

Friday in the heatwave, and after a few hours exploring local villages as candidates for our next house move, we closed the day at the Fairfax Arms. So, relaxed it was sitting ouside in the comfy chairs as the very hot day evolved into a...

Visited here on Sunday and was very impressed on the whole. A great set up and location and very polite and friendly service too. Being dog friendly was also a huge bonus. Decently priced food that tasted excellent. I had the loin of pork that...

Shocking! Once one of the great pubs of North Yorkshire, now terrible. Ordered a sandwich, I never knew you could make something totally tasteless! More flavour in paper! No wonder there was no one in there! Avoid at all costs!

My Wife and I ate here for a Saturday (Easter) evening meal in addition to 2 breakfasts while we stayed for 2 nights. As with the rest of our stay, a real highlight is the friendly and attentive service we experienced. Despite being extremely busy,...

Staying in the area for an early January break - we visited the restaurant twice - a couple of days apart., once as a group of 4 - - with 2 dogs & then again as a couple still accompanied by our two furry friends....

We called here for a drink today. They forgot our drinks order, so we had to ask again, and also moved the specials board they pointed us to before we had chance to look at it, so we didn't order food. We asked if it...

Visited this pub via our Chauffeur Service from nearby Studford Lodges. We arrived 7.30pm on a Tuesday and the place was relatively quiet. Despite this it had a nice feel and you didn't feel as if you had to whisper. Very warm and welcoming. Great...

Two dinners as part of a DBB deal all four selections were tasty and used fresh ingredients . Lovely ambience in the orangery dining room

Visiting North Yorkshire for a weeks break, booked into the Fairfax Arms and to be honest after contacting 4 different places, the Fairfax were the only ones to get back to me, but what a choice, amazing food and lovely friendly young staff. In such...

The Fairfax is set in a beautiful village and has lovely inside and outside dining. The menu is unpretentious and takes pub dining to another level. All locally sourced food and homemade with lovely staff in a beautiful building. We pop in every time we...

We had driven past this pub on many occasions and were excited to be finally staying. The check in was not very welcoming, merely shown to room and that was it. We booked a cosy double. The word cosy very appropriate! Tiny room overlooking the...

Our first visit here, and our first inside dining experience after lockdown, and it exceeded our expectations. What a fabulous place. The weather was awful, but I imagine on a lovely day with the bifolds open, it would be even more stunning. The service and...

Fantastic food served by efficient, friendly staff . Will definitely stay here in the near future - the rooms in their colour brochure look lovely too

We had lunch here yesterday. It was excellent my wife had grouse beautifully cooked the whole dish full of flavour. I had the fish and chips. Huge fish thin crispy batter not overloaded with chips but more than enough This place is back to its prelock down standards. Most enjoyable. Staff cheerful and friendly.

We stayed here last week for 3 nights, we booked bed, breakfast & dinner, good value for money, expecting rain but weather brilliant, sat outside & watched the N Yorks countryside go by! An excellent centre for many local attractions, despite the current restrictions we felt safe there. The menu was interesting & varied, breakfast was something to behold! This was out second visit & we have booked a overnight stay & dinner the week before Xmas

I been there with my family twice both times very enjoyable and great meals .friendly staff excellent service with smile. Only thing which I can understand was limited menu due covid19 .hope things gets back to normal. Will visit again and again thanks guys

Family lunch. The Fairfax Arms was such a safe environment post-Covid. Relaxed meal in a beautiful room with glass doors fronting on to the village street. Fish and Chips was excellent, temper-type batter, cooked to perfection. Steak & Ale pie, well seasoned, tender meat, absolutely lovely. Service is spot-on, attentive, but relaxed.

We called and booked to have tea here on the off chance and had a table booked for 5:30pm. We were located in the orangery and this was a lovely airy room, well ventilated. Portion sizes were reflective of the price and the steak pie was beautifully cooked. Our little man wanted soup and then changed his mind so we ordered fish and chips, this came on time with our meals so didn’t take long to cook at all which was great. I had a child’s mini prawn cocktail to start and my husband had the mushrooms, which was a large portion size. We had 2 soft drinks and 2 pinks of lager, the bill was £70 which isn’t a large bill but I did feel that in comparison, we have had meals with more finesse. The staff were tentative and the place looked clean throughout. My only very small criticism would be that the ladies toilets were right next to the kitchen and the door was propped open, which couldn’t be closed. I felt it would have been more hygienic to have had the toilet door closed, especially so close to the kitchen. Overall, it was a nice meal in a lovely pub and we would return.

A typical Yorkshire pub. Great selection of drinks. Didn’t eat but the food looked lovely. Beautiful setting in a quaint little village. Definitely worth a visit.

We stopped here on the off chance on one of the hot days in August for lunch. There was no tables available as they were all reserved. However we found a picnic table and sat there but were told we could not have any food as they were very busy. However after sitting with a drink someone came out and told the people on the next table that they could have food. When we asked we were told begrudgingly that we could have a sandwich. It was lovely and would certainly recommend it. By the time we go up to leave the reserved tables were still there empty. The main meals we could see that other guests were having looked lovely and we wished we could have tried some. However as our first experience was not great we decided not to eat there on a day when the eat out scheme was not on. I think this would have been our loss. I have since looked at the rooms and I would certainly give this place a second chance if we were in the area again.

A last minute decision to have a Sunday roast rather than cook at our holiday rental and what a great decision it was.The Fairfax Arms has gone to great lengths to protect staff and customers and you felt safe and secure. The staff were welcoming, the menu was excellent and our gluten-free teenager had plenty of choice. The roast dinner was great value - “too much meat” if my wife is to be believed - and the fish was hanging off the plate, truly great value for the money.Gilling East is a bit off the beaten track but well worth the detour for great food, drink and friendly service.

Stayed 2 nights at the Fairfax and ate in the restaurant both nights too.Had the beef Sunday roast. Wow!! The beef was rare and delicious. Husband had the pork which was equally delicious.Night 2 I had the seabass. I'm not a big fish eater but couldn't resist trying it. Soooo glad I did. It was creamy and a generous fillet.If you want a fabulous locally sourced breakfast then you're in the right place. 5* food by both chefs. Great service as always.Highly recommend the Fairfax

Just reviewed our lunch on the Hotel bit, can't Trip Advisor unite the listings? Anyway, delicious friendly lunch served by a well managed team around one of their lovely outdoor tables with actual chairs which are comfortable.

We had a wonderful evening here for our sons 30th birthday. There were 6 of us in the party and we were made very welcome by all the staff who went out of their way to make it a special evening. We had a lovely table in a very cosy location near the log fire. The service was excellent, the food very good and the staff made the whole evening memorable including a surprise for our son at the end of the evening. We will definitely visit here again when in the area.

From the moment we entered the Fairfax to departure 2.75 hours later we were treated with professionalism, super service and food of the highest quality! Hidden away in a picturesque setting, the Fairfax had beautiful decor and the meal was served in a large oak beamed conservatory with an expansive log-burner. The Italian Multipolicello was stunning and fabulous with our food choice. And oh my goodness, the food was amazing! Try out the seafood platter starter! The goat cheese Arancini with basil and the duck breast, equally magnificent, not to mention the mouth-watering cod in pancetta! A real dining experience! Of note was our waitress, Molly, who displayed exactly the right amount of attention for guests - thank you. Cost? Well how much are you prepared to pay for such a privileged eating experience with fine wine!

we were staying in the village for a few days and walked to the pub, really nice food, had the sirlion of beef sunday dinner, loads of veg, very tasty, finished with sticky toffee pudding in butterscotch sauce and ice cream - wow - will go back if in the area.

We were 9 friends who play golf together having a meal from the Xmas menu. From start to finish we were well looked after by Catherine and her team. We had a varied menu choice and everyone was happy with their selection. Probably the best meal I have had there in a number of years. The overall cost was not too bad either. Many thanks Catherine you were a pleasure to deal with.

Popped in again for lunch on our way to Keldy Lodges. Amazing food in a beautiful village. I would fully recommend the Daube Of Beef and the Sticky Toffee Pudding. This place is a must for anyone in the area.

On Friday we took our family for lunch having been before in the summer and loved it. The Fairfax Arms is picture perfect in a beautiful village. The food was amazing and the service first class. I fully recommend the Daube of Beef or the Seabass. We will be visiting again asap.

Stopped off at this lovely pub on way to Helmsley. The hot beef sandwich was the best we have had - thoroughly recommend, service, friendly and efficient- we will definitely return if in the area.

Great venue good rooms good food used by the locals. Very pleasant staff. Very quiet area but 1 hour to York or the coast. Very nice bit of Yorkshire

A lovely warm and friendly pub where you won’t be disappointed. Amazing breakfast. Everything quality. Well located for all your travels around North Yorkshire.

Have dined at this pub on several occasions and have never been disappointed.The food and service are of a high standard.The orangery which was added to the pub is a great place to dine,being modern but tasteful and spacious.The outside area is also a very nice place to have a drink or something to eat.The only downside is that parking is at a premium if the pub is busy.

A wonderful pub in a pretty village setting next to a stream. Tables outside on a big terrace if the weather is nice.

Had a lovely birthday lunch I had Scampi served with chips and salad both were very hot and lots of both my hubby enjoyed his ham sandwich also with chips . Disappointed there was no seafood platter as I had really been looking forward to giving this a try will just have to return another day.

We went to the restaurant here on Friday 19th July for my wife birthday. We were seated in the orangery which is very nice, there were 4 of us altogether. We were looked after on our table by Grant and Dom and they really looked after us. All the food was absolutely excellent, they brought in a birthday cake which my daughter had baked and asked us if we wanted any of it but we had no room for it. All in all a great night out in a very friendly establishment and we will definitely go there again.

We stay nearby for our break and always return to the Fairfax on several occasions for an evening meal. Staff are very welcoming and the pub sits in the middle of the village in a picturesque setting. Food is exceptional.

I ordered a cheese, bacon & black pudding panini.

We were invited out for Sunday Lunch to celebrate a friends wedding. There were approximately 25 of us in the group. Our tables were in the conservatory which was light & airy. Staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble. The meals were excellent, well presented and served with plenty of vegetables, all piping hot. Would highly recommend this venue.

We visited for on a Tuesday lunchtime, out of season, and the place was packed. What does that tell you? Luckily we had reserved a table in the dog-friendly bar and were given a hearty local welcome. It is undoubtedly a destination venue, set beside a trickling stream in a quaint Yorkshire village. I would imagine parking might be a problem in the height of summer, as guests sit outside drinking in the view.

So earlier in the year my husband, little boy and I visited for Sunday lunch and had an amazing experience. Food was outstanding and the service even better. I did a fantastic Facebook review and recommended the place to everybody that would listen! We then decided to return for a special treat over May bank holiday with my daughter and father and what a difference. I was embarrassed to have dragged them all that distance and even more embarrassed that I have sent other people there. The food was ok, it would have been a reasonable visit if the service hadn’t been so bad. I don’t know if the difference is where you sit? First visit we were in the orangery and this time tucked round a corner in the bar so may have been forgotten? Last time there was a really good man who seemed to be in charge so this time halfway through we went to find him to ask what was going on, he apologised and assured us it would be sorted and he’d make sure it was better. Unfortunately the service continued in the same way right through the meal. I think on another review by another member of our party the management replied to say we’d had an explanation and free round of drinks. Well as the organiser I can confirm that did NOT happen, I can only presume management got us mixed up with another party. Unfortunately I won’t be returning.

Our second visit, we took a group of ten. The welcome and service were excellent. We all loved the food. There is a lovely atmosphere in a great pub in a stunning area. The staff couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful.

This was our second visit and certainly will not be our last.

I wasn’t going to write a review as another of our party has written one for the Sunday lunch we had and I agree wholeheartedly with his comments.

Drove out here to experience the Sunday roast and it didn’t disappoint! Excellent lamb, good service, we were in the bar area as we had a dog with us, but no problems and a very pleasant experience.

Lovely midweek treat sat in the Orangery. What a wonderful space to have dinner. Great service by Helen and Maggie and very welcoming bar staff, Grant and Connor. Look forward to coming again soon.

Bur I didn't have them. I had the rack of lamb which was for me, too red in the middle (rather than pink) Can't say I'd recommend it unless that's how you like your lamb.

Breakfast was really good. You wouldn’t go hungry even if you was a picky eater. Fast service, polite staff (Rebekah), just what you need to start the day.

We went with some Friends which included 4 young children and we received a warm welcome and we all enjoyed delicious food.

What a gem. Great pub (Saturday lunch) - lovely atmosphere, excellent staff and food. Well done Fairfax - will definitely be back. Feeling very relaxed after a hectic week.

Came again with a group of friends. Better than ever. The rooms are really comfortable, the food is perfect, wine and beer top notch and service great. And all of that at good value for money. Excellent.

Booked a table for four in conservatory. Lovely surroundings shame the meal wasn't as nice. Is it really that difficult to cook chips. All we were given were scraps are potatoes really that expensive.My wife ordered scallops a person with very strong reading glasses would have difficulty finding them in the thick cheese and oil they were served in. Very disappointing has been great on past visits.

Lovely country pub, friendly staff. Service seemed a little slow, but that could be just because we were so hungry. We had fish and chips and scampi and chips, both were excellent, the batter was very light and crisp. The scampi was battered rather than in breadcrumbs which made a nice change. Home made tartar sauce. Comfortable relaxed surroundings, would definitely go again.

First class from start to finish very well presented hostelry both inside and out bar staff and waitresses couldn’t do enough for us very friendly and quick service sublime food well kept black sheep ale and reasonably priced throughout we will be back

Relaxing comfortable surroundings. Great food and friendly staff. This is a dog friendly pub which is fantastic!

This is a truly lovely place to meet up with friends and enjoy a relaxing drink. Beautifully presented establishment, just wish it was closer to home., we would visit here more!!!

Very disappointing, We went for supper. the service was terrible, the waiters were rude and not interested, and the food was poor.

My husband & I visited The Fairfax Arms for Saturday evening meal whilst we were staying in nearby Crayke. We were shown to a table in the conservatory, which was nice, bright & airy, making the dining area in the pub seem rather dark & dismal. The staff were friendly & attentive, although no one person seemed to be responsible for our table.

Our 2nd visit to this lovely pub and we were not disappointed. We rang late Sunday morning as we were in the area. Unfortunately they were fully booked, however 10minutes later they rang back and offered us a table. We had roast beef Sunday lunch which was very tasty, beef was excellent. Lovely vegetables especially the cauliflower cheese.

Sunday lunch is the best Sunday lunch ever, had roast pork was absolutely delicious followed by Eton mess, heaven on a plate can’t wait to go back!! service is excellent great food spotless clean what more could you ask for xxx

We were joined by two friends from the South who love coming up North. We were fed in the Orangery - excellent setting. The food came quickly and it was superb - 2 lamb pies ,a half chicken and a salmon which was quite large.We 2 men had a starter - the scallops in garlic butter were yummy. I had a creme brulee .With 6 drinks it came to £104 which we thought was Good value for the quality. Very attentive service - a visit is recommended. If you can raise a group of friends and live or are staying within a 10 mile radius of the pub they will lay on a free collection and return mini bus. Ask for James to discuss.

We recently went to the Fairfax Arms with family for dinner. We sat in the new conservatory and had a good meal , with good service for what I thought was reasonable value for money. The pub favourites were excellent as were the daily specials and so after all of this we decided to return the following Friday and booked a table for 5 . The food on our following visit was just as good but the table I’d specifically booked for the night wasn’t available and the service in the bar area wasn’t as good as the the service we’d experienced in the conservatory. A good eatery 5 star first visit / 4 star on the second.

Fabulous food with attentive staff. Great choice to select from. A true country inn in a superb village setting. A great find on the internet so pleased we stayed here.

If we had only had one meal here the review would have been excellent. The lady who seemed to be in charge could see our table from the bar and made sure that we got menus and offers of drinks regularly. The food was really good, especially the mint sauce bread and the lamb dish I had. We both had dessert and then shared a great cheese board. We enjoyed it so much we rebooked for Saturday night and a very different experience. The lady wasn't there and the young man who seemed to be in charge sat us in a corner, took the order for mains and then seemed to forget about us. He spent a lot of time on the phone. He didn't offer us bread or any more drinks, so we went to the bar. I had ordered half roast chicken with chips and salad, after quite a wait what arrived was a small breast of chicken with fondant potato and jus. It was nice but I was disappointed not to receive what I had ordered with no explanation. We didn't stay for dessert as nobody came back to our table. It was disappointing as we thought we had made a great find.

The most delicious meal in the most fabulous setting, friendly staff well worth a visit!! Will be returning.

I have dined here several times. The food has been excellent every single time.

We phoned late afternoon to ask if a table would be available- not a problem!

Stopped here for our dinner , nice surroundings friendly and good service and decent food would return without hesitation

Earlier this week I dined at the Fairfax Arms and enjoyed a superb Steak and Ale Pie, my frustration is that the Fax, which has a selection of Pub Favourites does not have this pie on the menu all the time

The Fairfax is a home from home with excellent service and excellent food and indeed excellent wine.

We looked at the menus on line and chose the restaurant because of the vegetarian option. When we arrived we were told that that choice was no longer available. The only vegetarian option was risotto. I hate risotto! So the restaurant very kindly agreed to make me a mezze board. And then I was told that the chef would make me the dish I'd hoped to,get when I arrived. What fabulous service. All our meals were delicious, mine especially. I find that most restaurants have very boring veggie options. The Fairfax Arms certainly rose to the challenge. Thank you very much.

Inventive and tasty food if a little pricey, but there is no doubting the quality of the provenance.

Sorry this has taken so long in posting sooo welcoming and friendly Lovely room. Menu choices amax=zing and every dish chosen was 5* Just go xx

Seven of us had lunch. A special occasion and we were all looking forward to eating in the new conservatory which is splendid and would have a lovely atmosphere except for very intrusive piped music. We asked for it to be turned down but this only happened after the second time of asking. The food was excellent but the service was appalling. A bottle of prosecco in a cooler was placed on the floor (yes - on the floor!) next to someone's chair without her knowledge, so not her fault when she knocked it over. To be fair, we were not charged for this and did get a very grudging apology from the sulky waitress. We had to fight for everything. When we sat down the wine list was not offered. Apparently the waiter had asked if anyone wanted a dessert, but only one person heard him and then the waiter disappeared. When, eventually, he reappeared he was obviously put out that any of us should want to continue the meal. We were never offered coffee and, by that time, we were all exhausted by the sheer strain of trying to get any sort of service at all. Such a pity, the chef is obviously superb but we had some of the worst service I have ever experienced which spoiled the whole afternoon.

We were 16 coming from around the country to celebrate a 70th family birthday. We hadn't been before, but chose the Fairfax Arms based on the TripAdvisor reviews. The pub is beautifully appointed, the food fantastic and staff were excellent, attentive and very accommodating - letting us bring a cake for after lunch. We had the privacy of the orangery and had a perfect afternoon. We were all very impressed and would definitely recommend and return. Thank you for making it a wonderful occasion.

Eating solo is not one of my favourite pastimes but if you are in this situation and in this part of North Yorkshire this is the place to head. I was so seriously well looked by Christian, Lily, Rebecca and Mike. I need not have worried and felt I would have blended well into the wall paper had there been any to blend in to. So you now the scene was set.. in a marvellous new Orangery ... Toasty warm on a cold winter's evening.