Region takes seat at top table in food list

The Yorke Arms in Ramsgill has picked up the accolade for the best restaurant in Yorkshire and the North-East in a nationwide poll.

The restaurant, near Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire, picked up the overall 14th spot in the national survey after it was awarded an average score of 9.57 out of 10 by diners who helped compile The Sunday Times Food List.

The long-established Box Tree in Ilkley followed it in the regional rankings with an average score of 9.23 out of 10.

The successes in Yorkshire came as the latest list revealed that half of the top 100 restaurants are outside London. The figure stood at only 40 per cent in last year’s poll.

The co-owner of the Yorke Arms, Frances Atkins, who runs the business with her husband, Bill, is one of only six female Michelin starred chefs in the UK.

She said: “Yorkshire has so much to offer, and more and more people are beginning to realise this when they come and visit. We have a wonderful team at the restaurant who have been together for pretty much the last 10 years. You certainly cannot run a restaurant on your own, and this success is down to them as well.”

Van Zeller in Harrogate, which was launched in 2009 by chef Tom van Zeller, came third in the regional list with a score of 9.04 out of 10. The Star Inn at Harome came fourth after being awarded 8.84 out of 10, while The Pipe and Glass Inn in Beverley was fifth with 8.67 out of 10.

More than 8,000 diners submitted in excess of 80,000 restaurant reports for this year’s list. The rankings are based solely on the food served, although ratings for ambience were used in the event of a tie.

The 32-page survey, listing Britain’s top 100 restaurants, will be published in The Sunday Times this weekend.

email [email protected]