The Tickled Trout, Bilton-in-Ainsty: The 17th century pub where you can eat seafood in a wooden ski-lodge and a teepee
You can always tell a pub has a good reputation by looking at its car park; if it’s full, as it was at The Tickled Trout on a Tuesday in late August, that says it all. Social media reviews may well be favourable, but they don’t tell you how many customers are inside, and on this lunchtime, the pub was pretty busy.
Just off the B1224, the Wetherby-York Road, The Tickled Trout, founded in the 17th century, is a prominent feature in the attractive, rural and quiet village of Bilton-in-Ainsty, four miles from Wetherby.
From the 1600s until 2019, this pub was known as the Chequers Inn, but when it was bought by Karl and Amanda Mainey, they renamed it. Karl’s a keen fisherman, hence the name, and since spending many thousands on renovations, the name change has been good for business. Despite these renovations is has maintained its flag stone floors and real fires, oak tables, big rugs and comfy chairs
Indeed, I’m told that people are happy to drive from North Leeds, Wetherby and York just to taste Karl’s crab soup only. Sea bass is also popular. The have their own herb garden, bake their own bread, make their own butter and even have their own hives for the honey.
In addition to the dining room, the snug, the bar and restaurant, what’s unusual is you can also eat in a wooden ski-lodge and a teepee, both behind the pub.
Employing 30 full and part-time staff, including head chef Nathan Sharpe about 250 meals will be served duringa busy weekend; a main course on Saturdays costs £23.95, and if you book for Sunday lunch, you can have two courses for £31.95, but you can still choose one course or three.
They also have five boutique bedrooms.
As pub’s fight to survive – this one certainly is – you could say it’s fitting that the Battle of Marston Moor (1644) was fought just up the road; several Royalist prisoners were held in the village church (1166),therefore, unable to drop in for a pint.
The Tickled Trout, Church Street, Bilton-in-Ainsty, York YO26 7NN. www.tickledtrout.co.uk/
Welcome5/5
Food5/5
Atmosphere5/5
Prices5/5