The Abbey Inn, Byland Abbey: First look inside Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks' new Yorkshire pub

Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks’s pub The Abbey Inn at Byland Abbey has now opened and we have had a first look at what people can expect.
Catherine Scott
By Catherine Scott
Published 24th May 2023, 16:53 BST

The last few weeks has been spent working on a refresh of the pub, with a state-of-the-art kitchen, relaxed dining room and cosy bar area equipped with roaring fires and a bar stocked with the team’s favourites.

The historic 70-cover Grade II-listed pub is the latest acquisition for the Tommy Banks Group which owns Michelin starred The Black Swan at Oldstead and Roots in York as well as the at home box service, Made in Oldstead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Boasting views over the historic Byland Abbey, The Abbey Inn was built by monks in 1845 as a farmhouse, but by 1853 had been converted into a public house where both Tommy and his brother James worked when they were teenagers.

Tommy Banks outside The Abbey InnTommy Banks outside The Abbey Inn
Tommy Banks outside The Abbey Inn

“Washing pots in this building was one of my very first jobs when I was a kid, so to now open my own pub in it is a dream,” says Tommy who is also running a food and drink festival at Lord's Cricket ground, London in September. “One of my main goals in opening a third place is to continue my mission for championing hyper-local, sustainable produce. We’ve been rearing our own cattle, sheep and pigs for a while now, and The Abbey Inn allows us to get one stop further in our journey to complete carcass balance and true nose-to-tail dining.”

Spearheading the food, alongside Tommy, is Head Chef Charlie Smith who has worked for the Tommy Banks Group for more than five years across.

“The Abbey Inn will be very different from the Black Swan and Roots – it will be a proper pub really. No tasting menus but kids welcome, dogs welcome – just a good time for all,” says the father of two. Dining tables have been crafted in the workshops on the farm at Oldstead and the pub’s sign has been hand carved by Tommy’s father, Tom Banks.

The pub’s three bedrooms will open on July 31 and Tommy aims to offer packages which will enable visitors to experience fine dining at the Black Swan and a more relaxed meal at the Abbey Inn.

Related topics:YorkshireMichelin