The Plough at Wombleton: With great food and drink, The Plough at Wombleton is everything a good pub should be

Food is optional, but if you have it, make it good, it does not need to be fancy or pretentious.

How great to find a pub that is all of that and, not on the doorstep, is nearby where we live. The award-winning Plough at Wombleton in North Yorkshire is such a pub.

Wombleton is a tiny, pretty village with the pub at its heart and has been serving here since the 15th century when they claim the monks brewed and served food to weary travellers. It is a picturesque, low-ceilinged, beamed longhouse, so watch your head.

We popped into the pub when passing by last summer and were blown away by the warmth of the welcome and a cracking pint of Black Sheep.

On a winter’s night, we returned and found it even more welcoming with a roaring log fire, a buzzing atmosphere from the bar crowd, and diners filling the tables eating supper. All in all, rather lovely.

The Black Sheep was still as good, plus there’s Theakstons Best Bitter, a good wine list with a few by the glass, and the small bar is groaning with everything else.

The Plough has Driftwood restaurant, which is a separate room from the bar, but on our visit, we ate a more than adequate dinner seated in what I can only describe as a former fireplace near the bar, we loved it.

The menu is full of comfort foods, and amongst it all, there’s what they call a Wombleton Whale and chips, and it was almost a whale plus so tasty half of it went home with us. What is not to like here?

The Plough Inn, Main Street, Wombleton, York, YO62 7RW Tel: 01751 431 356

Bar open: Mon, Wed and Thursday 5:30-Close, Fri and Sat 12-12 and Sunday 12- Close