Back in June, my friend Rebecca and I got to stay at Ox Pasture Hall Hotel, an absolutely beautiful place to stay or dine in stunning surroundings. My first impressions were that the hotel feels quite remote, with the location giving the impression of being miles from anywhere, it was so tranquil and peaceful, green, and quintessentially English. The hotel itself was traditional, with immaculate presentation but not showy. But beware of not looking up your journey before you go – phone data reception and signal cannot be relied on because of the location, and myself and Rebecca got a little bit lost on the way but this added to the adventure and it didn’t take us too long to find. In reality though, despite the location, it is only minutes away from the nearest village, so if you do feel the need to shop you don’t have far to go.
We found the entrance and reception quite small, and a family would be snug with all of their suitcases whilst checking in but there was a real intimate feel to the whole hotel as you are walked to your room and staff were very pleasant without trying too hard. The welcome we received was wonderful and we felt cherished as guests and very appreciative to be there. The hotel itself is close to the sea and in easy reach of Filey, Whitby, Helmsley and York, so you are not far away from anywhere at all. It is set within seventeen acres, filled with scenes dales and beautiful landscape.
Our room was absolutely beautiful, it was stylish and modern, very well maintained, with a cottage-style feel to it. It had clean lines architecturally speaking, and every part of the room was super clean, with lovely views, and even though we were in a remote area we felt totally safe. There was a luxurious bath with beautiful waterfall taps and a rainforest shower, a kettle complete with coffee, tea, and milk, bottled water and drinking glasses as well as a hair dryer, super soft and fluffy towels, dressing gowns, face cloths, bathroom extras such as cotton wool balls, cotton buds, shower gel, shampoo & conditioner and even moisturising cream. Pretty much anything and everything you could need or want from a hotel stay. The bath felt huge when you were lying in it, and it seemed the perfect place to have a long relaxing bubbly soak in the tub, with plenty of room on the side for a glass of wine and a place to put your book. It had beautiful wooden furnishings, and there were no doors once inside the room, leaving the different areas easily accessible – it really did feel like a home from home, in fact I rather wish my home was as beautiful as Ox Pasture Hall.
The grounds themselves were very natural, simple whilst providing the necessary facilities. It was a wonderful area for walking – therefore excellent for guests who had brought dogs, and there were plenty of seating areas dotted around to take ten minutes and appreciate the surroundings. There was a lovely large pond and the pond area was occupied by local wildlife, with lots of colourful, elegant flowers. There was so much to explore and get caught up in without having to be somewhere at a certain time or forever clock watching or checking your phone. I also noticed lots of little hideaways dotted about, enabling you to sit outside, enjoying the views but still having a little bit of privacy, and between the restaurant and main reception area and the rooms was a beautiful courtyard. It was raining for most of our stay but we still enjoyed looking around and discovering all of the different areas of the grounds.
After checking out the grounds, we settled down to Afternoon Tea which was plentiful and traditional, with an intimate restaurant setting, and we had a table near the French windows which was perfect for watching any activity outdoors including weddings! The staff truly could not do enough for us and of course the other guests in the hotel, they were discreet but helpful. Afternoon Tea was amazing, and between the two of us we couldn’t manage it all, but we tried our best as the quality and taste of the food was too good to leave. Afternoon Tea is available everyday between 2-5pm and you can enjoy it either in the restaurant, or if the weather is being kind to you, on one of the pretty terraces or thatched gazebos. There are various different options, but the main Afternoon Tea is £15 per person which I find amazing value considering all the scones and cakes are baked fresh that day.
The hotel also has a separate function room, large enough for weddings, and whilst we were staying there, there was a wedding being held in the grounds, but with the large function room being separate to the main hotel, there was absolutely no disturbance for us as regular guests whatsoever, although it was lovely to watch some of the wedding party being photographed in the stunning grounds. Rebecca actually attended a wedding here a little after our stay, and the bride was so pleased when Rebecca had mentioned how wonderful our stay there had been, and luckily for the bride and groom, they had the sunshine and Rebecca had said how smooth the whole process had been for the bride in the lead up to the wedding and on the day itself and couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Being one of the premier wedding venues in Yorkshire, Ox Pasture Hall provides the perfect picturesque setting whether you are wanting a quiet or elaborate affair, there is something here for everyone. There is a wonderful converted barn in which you can get married, or if you are wanting to get married outdoors, there are the beautiful thatched gazebos. As there is so much land surrounding the hotel, there is definitely plenty of room for the hotel to help you customise your big day any way possible, whilst Rebecca and I were staying the wedding party had some outside attractions for them to enjoy and the children were having an amazing time, being able to roam around the grounds, with their parents knowing they were safe. The hotel has an array of different style rooms and suites, along with prices to suit different budgets, which I think is super thoughtful when thinking of a wedding venue as it can be an expensive time. The hotel have a wedding coordinator who not only offers help with your preparation and planning, but who can offer you a list of wedding suppliers local to the area to make your big day extra special. The hotel is also licensed for civil weddings and partnership ceremonies and has hosted romantic fairytale weddings, large and small, for couples from throughout Yorkshire and the rest of the UK. As well as beautiful, picture perfect weddings, Ox Pasture Hall also cater for a wide range of other occasions and events, including Christenings, Birthday and Anniversary Celebrations, Family Gatherings, Funeral Teas, Corporate and Charity Events, Annual Dinner Dances, Christmas Parties and much more, catering to your every whim and need, nothing is too great or too small to ask any of the staff, who give you a warm reception all around the hotel.
The award-winning restaurant was super impressive with an à la carte menu, catering for a range of specific dietary requirements which are checked for before ordering. There was an amuse bouche provided – which was different for each table which was a nice little surprise element to the meal. Orders were taken in the lounge before being taken through to the restaurant, so that you weren’t sat at your table for too long, but instead lovely and comfortable on the sofas and in front of a roaring fire. There was a formal but relaxed atmosphere in the whole lounge/dining area of the hotel. The food was extremely high quality as well as aesthetically pleasing and is regarded one of the best restaurants in Scarborough, after received two rosettes for its culinary experience. For starters, Rebecca chose Pate, which came with beetroot sorbet, crisp bread and salad, whereas I chose the Crab Risotto with a Shellfish Cream. Rebecca really enjoyed hers, as I did mine, it tasted divine, and I found that the food wasn’t scalding hot, but pleasantly warm so that you could dig in straight away. For main Rebecca chose the Vegetable Tart, which looked stunning and I chose Steak, which was cooked to perfection, and served with Onion Rings, Mushrooms, Tomato, gorgeous handcooked chips and a delicious stilton sauce. For dessert, Rebecca chose Creme Brûlée which arrived with homemade shortbread and I went for a Chocolate Retro Trio, which came with an arctic roll, chocolate cake and a piece of chocolate. I have not tasted food like it, everything was executed professionally and it is by far on the most luxurious restaurants I have had the pleasure of dining in, and by far the best restaurant in Scarborough.
Amuse Bouche
The table was laid beautifully
Rebecca’s Pate Starter
The most flavoursome Crab Risotto I have tasted
Amuse Bouche
Rebecca’s Tart and Ratatouille
My cooked-to-perfection Steak
Rebecca’s delicious Creme Brulee and homemade Shortbread Fingers
My Retro Chocolate Trio
In the morning we went down to breakfast and again the food was good quality and more than an adequate range for the size of the hotel. As always the staff were helpful and friendly and nothing was too much for them, they definitely make the stay more than worthwhile. We enjoyed the fact that we were not rushed through breakfast to make way for other guests, but were left to enjoy the meal at our own pace. We enjoyed cereals, yoghurts, a full English breakfast, of which we could say if we did or didn’t want something included, pastries and lots of delicious fresh juices, as well as different teas and coffees.
Everything you could possibly desire
Love how they use Yorkshire tea!
Table once again set out beautifully
Full English breakfast with locally sourced ingredients
Cooked exactly how you like it
The staff were fantastic without exception and they make customers feel valued from front desk staff, to bar staff to site staff. All of the staff were singing from the same hymn sheet, being super impressive without being over-the-top. We absolutely couldn’t have asked for better.
On exit we were given hand-made fudge, chocolate brownie pieces and a bottle of water for the journey home, which I have certainly never received at any other hotel. Also the delightful receptionist offered us the chance of a route home to be printed out which is wise and super helpful considering the lack of signal and very thoughtful.
Wifi was available when password(s) requested although the signal doesn’t cover the whole site. We couldn’t get it in room 30 but we were the furthest we could be from the signal, but when you are in such beautiful quarters, this isn’t high on your priority list, and actually I found it wonderful as you find you are able to have more conversation with people rather than staring at phones all the time. We found the bar prices were very reasonable considering what hotels can charge. We enjoyed speaking with other guests in the hotel who were clearly regulars and when interviewed, shared our experiences and only had positive things to say about the hotel. When someone returns time after time, for years on end, you know you are in the presence of quality and fabulousness. I am so glad I got to spend time with such a good friend in such a beautiful place before she moves away to America to start a new chapter of her life.
If you are looking for a luxury Yorkshire hotel and/or wedding venue located in Scarborough, Yorkshire along with an amazing restaurant then please follow the link to Ox Pasture Hall Hotel here. You can also find this fabulous boutique hotel on Twitter here and Facebook here.
Love,
Kathryn xxx