Pub Of The Week: Wolds Inn, Huggate

It may be an unusual distinction, but the Wolds Inn in Huggate can legitimately claim to be the first pub that David Hockney ever got drunk in.

According to the great man himself, when he was a youngster he used to work summers stooking corn in the fields around Huggate and one day after work he was taken to the pub and over-imbibed for the first time. That odd boast will interest art-loving Hockney Hunters predicted to flock to this part of the Wolds soon seeking the nearby “Bigger Trees near Warter”.

Hockney picked a great pub in which to break his duck. The Inn has served Huggate since the 16th century, and for the past 18 years John and Jane Leaver have been in charge. They run a simple, no-nonsense country boozer with a comfy lounge, 50-seater dining room, local hand-pulled real ales and a kitchen that turns out marvellous (and voluminous) pub classics. All the meat, fish and veg come nearby villages nearby and appear in proper Yorkshire portion sizes. The pub is always busy for Sunday lunches but, at other times, have a go at the “Wolds Topper”, a mixed grill consisting of – deep breath – sirloin steak, gammon, pork chop, lamb chop, sausage, black pudding, eggs, tomato, mushrooms and home-battered onion rings. David Hockney, incidentally, returned a couple of years ago and showed remarkable restraint by ordering half of bitter.

Dave Lee

The Wolds Inn, Driffield Road, Huggate, East Yorks, YO42 1YH. 01377 288217; www.woldsinn.co.uk

THE VERDICT

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