It seems more and more London chefs are finding their home in the north, perhaps escaping from the madness (and cost) of southern/city prices, rents, rates, staffing shortage (hello Brexit – remember us?). Michael Wignall at The Angel at Hetton, or that lovely Sugarboat in Helensburgh to name but two. Yes, we know all restaurant prices have gone up – £30 – 40 not being that unusual for a main course, and £100+ for a simple lunch for two. That makes running a restaurant anywhere very hard work. A couple of the recent GFG Best Local Restaurants 2023 have given up, and James Close of the Raby Hunt has taken the plunge to close and join Steve Gibson to try to get his restaurant at Rockcliffe Hall finally on the map. Good luck with that.

The Homestead Kitchen is similar, but different. Peter Neville was head chef and co-owner with Mrs Pern at the Pheasant in Harome, just along from the Star run by Mrs Pern’s husband, Mr (Andrew) Pern. Apparently Steve Gibson (remember him?) came along and bought it, having built his monumental new country house close by, and wanted somewhere to eat. Now, Peter and his partner Cecily, and their two children, have ended up in Goathland, where Cecily grew up.

We tried it out earlier in the year, and ended up there with four very dear friends to celebrate the start of a New And Hopefully Tory-Free Year. The Homestead has a three bed little cottage next door where we six stayed. The rota for the single toilet worked out well, since you ask.

Saturday 30th December was the standard menu, with the 31st being a tasting menu with wine pairing. Lovely. Stunning. Simply delicious. Monday saw self catering with crab bisque and haggis. Oh, and wine. 

We celebrated the last day of 2023 in a packed Whitby, though the kipper shop was closed (sold out!). January 1st saw us walk from Goathland to Grosmont and back along the old railway line. We passed the mythical Birch Hall Inn at Beck Hole. It was supposed to be closed but there were quite a few people sitting outside with what looked like pints of beer. Alas the sign in the window said “cash only” and we didn’t have any. Going down the passage to the “snug” where the serving hatch is didn’t help – the sign on the door said “remember, cash only”…next time we’ll be ready. 

The simply delightful, friendly and welcoming Homestead Kitchen, Goathland

PS…The Ruby Hunt (2**) has closed, James Close and his team moving to open a new restaurant at Rockcliffe Hall owned by…Steve Gibson. Steve has tried lots of chefs there to try to get a Michelin Star, but so far has failed. This time maybe…?

Birch Hall Inn.. alas no cash!

The welcoming bar for those with cash…

You can get a model of the pub to go with your Hornby 00 layout [we haven’t…yet]

…and the real thing at Grosmont station