Ilkley restaurant offers finest dining in all of Yorkshire

The Box Tree Restaurant took home the Oliver Award in March 2019 for ‘best fine dining’, the latest in a string of awards for the elegant eatery.

And there could be more gongs in the offing as Executive chef Simon Gueller takes to the stove.

Simon, who runs the prestigious restaurant with his wife Rena, has a reputation for offering exceptional standards of cuisine and earned his first Michelin star in 1995 at Rascasse in Leeds.

Though the menu changes frequently, diners can expect sophisticated combinations like dashi roast halibut, aubergine caviar, red pepper, lemon salsa or salt aged fillet of beef, marrow crusted cheek, mushrooms, onion, cavolo nero to name but a few.

The couple took over the Box Tree in 2004 and take pride in offering fine dining in a unique and welcoming atmosphere at the popular restaurant.

“We’re celebrating our 15th anniversary this year and feel honoured to have been a big part of the Box Tree’s heritage and we’re really looking forward to the next chapter,” says Rena.

Opened in 1962 by Malcolm Reid and Colin Long, the Box Tree earned a reputation as the North’s most successful restaurant, with two Michelin stars to its name.

Big-name chefs like Michael Truelove, Edward Denny and Marco Pierre White have taken their turn in the kitchen – in fact White, who worked there in the 1970s during his teens, has said he considers the Box tree his spiritual home.

As well as serving modern European cuisine every evening from Wednesday to Saturday, the Box Tree is open for lunch on Friday and Saturday, and offers an unmissable Sunday lunch for a special occasion.

Starters vary but may include cauliflower velouté with parmesan and parsley, mackerel with grape, apple, celery and lettuce or galantine of chicken and duck, served with pickled vegetables, pear and raisin.

On Sundays, the mouth-watering main courses include a traditional roast sirloin of beef, with Yorkshire puddings, slow cooked lamb rump, thyme jus.

Those with a sweet tooth will love the signature soufflés like the passion fruit with mango and lime or the delice of Jivara milk chocolate.

To try the finest dining in Yorkshire, visit www.theboxtree.co.uk or call 01943 608484 to book a table.