Just wondering if anyone has been there when Tommy Banks was actually in the kitchen cooking? Still serves bread and butter as a course, very funny.
John W
We have had the experience similar to others of the draconian cancellation policy operated by Tommy Banks. If you can plan not to be ill within 14 days of a reservation then you might be ok. We had booked liked most people months in advance to celebrate our 42 nd wedding anniversary. We unfortunately had the experience that my wife was taken ill 72 hours before we were due to eat and stay overnight. As a result we phoned to see if we could rearrange as you would expect would be a normal business practice with an admin charge applying. The lady we spoke to was not sympathetic and her only solution was to see if they could sell the booking in which case we would get the refund of £300 minus an admin charge. We heard nothing so I phoned them to be told sorry it hadn’t been sold. On the evening of our booking there were spare tables so maybe we helped fund their evening. Irrespective the whole experience has soured our view of re booking as who knows if short term illness could hit you. It’s about time the draconian cancellation policy is reviewed as it is unacceptable. We will not on principle rebook with Tommy Banks and will not recommend the place to any of our friends. We were so looking forward to the experience but have been left with a sour taste of the place and the poor after sales service. They should remember all those of us who supported their mail order business through the pandemic, but clearly they are busy enough to not need to care.
Janet H
We stayed overnight at the end of our holiday in Easingwold as a treat for our birthdays celebrated that week. Our room at the back overlooking the kitchen garden was lovely and all mod cons provided. The tasting menu was a truly wonderful experience. We have dined in several Michelin star establishments both here and abroad and can honestly say this is the best we have ever been to. The thought and work which went into each and every dish was mind-blowing. Our dinner was made even more special as Tommy himself served our main course - the belly pork. I bought his Roots cookbook, which was signed and I will certainly take on board a lot of his ideas for preserving the seasonal produce from my allotment. Whether I will be brave enough to try some recipes remains to be seen! Breakfast the next morning was an equally different experience and the granola had even been prepared to take into account my request not to eat nuts and seeds. Thank you. The staff and service here are second to none and if you are feeling flush, then this is one to absolutely recommend.
Voyager737919
The food is wonderful, every course on the tasting menu was delicious. However the outstanding item was the knowledge and friendliness of the staff. They went out of their way and were so accommodating. Would highly recommend.
HPnerd86
One of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Staff were amazing. Their drinks were fantastic and they make their own syrups for cocktails. All of their food is local or home grown and they are very environmentally conscious about their sourcing. Their food is seasonal and they pickle and jar a lot of products that are out of season as to not waste anything. We absolutely loved the experience by their chefs and staff. Don’t mind the price as it is worth every bite!
Church43
Absolutely awesome. Service, food was soooo good. So many explosive flavours that you wouldn't imagine. This was a real treat. Can't say any more but superb. Overnight stay was brilliant too, thanks to all the team. Will be back
Con
We went to the Black Swan for a surprise 40th birthday for my partner, also deciding to stay over in one of the beautiful garden rooms.Overall it was a wonderful culinary experience, and the room was fabulous. We opted for the basic wine pairing which complimented each dish perfectly. Each dish was full of flavour and cooked to perfection, a superb dining experience.The waiting staff were superb, exceptional attention to detail, and courteous and friendly throughout the evening.My one issue was the supplement they charged for one of the courses, this was an optional choice that we agreed to; however, charging £28 each for the lobster ravioli, given the cost of the tasting menu, seemed at tad inappropriate. We have eaten at other Michelin starred restaurants and I don't recall supplement charges being added to the tasting menus. I would suggest that Tommy Banks reviews this element of their menu.Regardless of this, we still had a fantastic time and this minor issue did not detract from the exceptional dining experience we had.Rooms: Beautiful room set in the garden
Curtistravelling
We went to the Black Swan for a surprise 40th birthday for my partner, also deciding to stay over in one of the beautiful garden rooms. Overall it was a wonderful culinary experience, and the room was fabulous. We opted for the basic wine pairing which complimented each dish perfectly. As one would expect, this is a significantly expensive experience, especially with the additional cost of the room. My one issue was the supplement they charged for one of the courses, this was an optional choice that we agreed to; however, charging £28 each for the lobster ravioli (just one piece of filled ravioli in a sauce) seemed at tad unfair, given the cost of the tasting menu. There was also an additional £23 each supplement for the cheese course. We have eaten at other Michelin starred restaurants and supplement charges have never been added to the tasting menus. I would suggest that Tommy Banks reviews this element of their dining experience. Regardless of this, we still had a fantastic time and this minor issue did not detract from the exceptional dining experience we had.
Carl Tester
My expectations were as high as could be so to have the entire experience go massively above these was a absolute bonus. The entire team made the evening so special and really deliverd a once in a life time experience. Not to mention the food was by far the best food I have tried anywhere in the world.
We had an amazing overnight stay and the best quality food and wine. Such a relaxing break in an amazing setting. The most welcoming place to dine and have some great pre dinner cocktails. A beautiful place and a must do if you love fine dining and being spoiled.
Thehappycouple346
I ordered the hunger gap signature menu home delivery for a surprise special birthday meal for my husband. The menu was really extensive and sounded incredible. It came with matching wine for 3 of the courses. Our expectations were high but what we received exceeded our expectations by a long shot. Firstly the packing. Each course was beautifully packaged separately with everything ( and I mean everything..even down to an egg yolk to glaze the beef Wellington) included. Secondly, the instructions were really straightforward. Easy to understand and follow. Lastly the food and wine. Everything was just exceptional. Each course was beautifully created with skill and the highest quality ingredients. It only required heating , a little bit of cooking and assembly as per the instructions to create a real fine dining experience in our own home. The wines complemented the food wonderfully. The portions were very generous, causing my husband to check with me a few times that we hadn’t ordered a meal for 4 people rather than 2 ? Over all it was a brilliant experience. We would highly recommend this and will be ordering again in a heartbeat. When you factor in the entertainment element, the fact that we didn’t need to pay for taxis, tips or babysitter as we were enjoying this feast at home, it was great value for money. Hats off team Oldstead ? The menu: Canapé: Potato & Truffle Croustade Bread & Grazing: Haxby Sourdough, Chicken Fat & Cep Butter, Yorkshire Coppa, Oldstead Salami, Oldstead shredded Cornichons Fish course: Scallops, Mussel Broth, Dill Pickled Apple, Fermented Pepper Powder Main: Beef Wellington, Hen of the Woods, Leek Top Emulsion, Onion Sauce Pallet Cleanser: Apple & Gooseberry Juice Dessert: Douglas Fir & White Chocolate Cremeux, Caramelised White Chocolate Crumb, Douglas Fir Sherbet, Lemon Verbena Curd Petit Four: Toasted Hay Fudge
David B
Fab 2-night experience eating at the Abbey Inn and the Black Swan. The food was delicious on both nights and the breakfasts were equally impressive. Everything felt very well organised. Our room in the little cottage next to the Black Swan was very cosy and comfortable. It was lovely to be able to spend 2 nights in Oldstead and explore the local area with some short walks during the day as well. A fantastic short break for any foodie!
Chris Parker
Absolutely lovely food, staff are very friendly and competent.Had an amazing meal and wine pairing, cannot fault it.Location is a pig to get to, but once you are there and especially if you are staying in one of their rooms, it's a lovely village.
NIKROSE
We went for an overnight stay including bed, breakfast and evening meal as a special treat for the pair of us after having a small windfall . Having eaten at a number of high end restaurants previously we both had some idea of what to expect . The settings are lovely and the building itself is delightful . Our room was very spacious and comfortable with all that was required for an overnight stay , including double blinds on all but one window which I shall get back to later . Our meal was booked for 19:30 and we started with an amuse bouche of beetroot and crab apple juice which was sensational , accompanied by 3 other appetizers one of which was a smoked eel and celeriac tartlet that was off the scale . On choosing the wine flight for my wife we took to our seats .The first dish at the table was a beef plate with accompanying jus , very tasty indeed , followed by sourdough bread and sour butter. This was ok but the bread needed more proving and the butter wasnt anything special to be honest , creamy and tasty and thats about all i can say .We were told to keep some bread back for the fish course as it came with an amount of sauce . Yes the sauce was velvety and lush but the Turbot as lovely and well cooked as it was required a much needed boost in size , the portion was slight and the dish seemed more of a sauce dish than fish plate . Their show stopper was the main event of home grown pork with possibly the best event of the evening which was a pork sauce , I could have downed a jug of this , however the potato component lacked in seasoning and was tasteless , the pork loin was a little over done and but the pork belly very nice . So to dessert courses , a frozen whey yoghurt and birch sap greeted us which was stunningly good , followed by a twist on rhubarb and custard that was in need of a flavour punch, but the best was last in the form of a mushroom and artichoke sweet that punched well above its weight and was probably the star of the night . My wife chose a cheese platter that was unimpressive and poorly presented without any sidekicks such as grapes or celery which was conspicuous by its absence . The final mouthfuls offered included a delightful chocolate dense in flavour and a lovely end to a meal that pleased and disappointed in equal measure , which was sad as we both really wanted to savour every morsel . In addition the 6 glasses of wine with the wine flight totalled 3 full glasses and was charged at £85 per person , very poor value it has to said . So we retired to digest and get a comfortable nights sleep , or at least that was the idea . The one window that had a single blind allowed a steam of light from an outside light , which we found out later was on a timer till 1:00am , to fill our room and kept us awake for hours . The following morning my wife was very unwell and we had to leave and get her home quick smart , this was relayed to the hotel prior to breakfast service and noted that neither of us would be attending breakfast because of this . On paying for our stay etc I was given a silver foil package with two somewhat stale pastry offerings in recompense for us not being able to indulge in breakfast which was paid for . I simply wanted to get my ill wife home and did not make any issue of this at the time , however , i have since been in contact with the restaurant several times regarding the lack of sleep due to the lack of window covering and the breakfast which we had been charged for which we did not attend . They have offered us nothing for our troubles and have been given every opportunity to do so . This has left us both with a very bad taste in our mouths and disappointment instead of elation .We have both followed the success of this place and the brothers who own it with Yorkshire pride but can not honestly recommend this to anyone else , and we are truly sorry for that .
Just wondering if anyone has been there when Tommy Banks was actually in the kitchen cooking? Still serves bread and butter as a course, very funny.
We have had the experience similar to others of the draconian cancellation policy operated by Tommy Banks. If you can plan not to be ill within 14 days of a reservation then you might be ok. We had booked liked most people months in advance to celebrate our 42 nd wedding anniversary. We unfortunately had the experience that my wife was taken ill 72 hours before we were due to eat and stay overnight. As a result we phoned to see if we could rearrange as you would expect would be a normal business practice with an admin charge applying. The lady we spoke to was not sympathetic and her only solution was to see if they could sell the booking in which case we would get the refund of £300 minus an admin charge. We heard nothing so I phoned them to be told sorry it hadn’t been sold. On the evening of our booking there were spare tables so maybe we helped fund their evening. Irrespective the whole experience has soured our view of re booking as who knows if short term illness could hit you. It’s about time the draconian cancellation policy is reviewed as it is unacceptable. We will not on principle rebook with Tommy Banks and will not recommend the place to any of our friends. We were so looking forward to the experience but have been left with a sour taste of the place and the poor after sales service. They should remember all those of us who supported their mail order business through the pandemic, but clearly they are busy enough to not need to care.
We stayed overnight at the end of our holiday in Easingwold as a treat for our birthdays celebrated that week. Our room at the back overlooking the kitchen garden was lovely and all mod cons provided. The tasting menu was a truly wonderful experience. We have dined in several Michelin star establishments both here and abroad and can honestly say this is the best we have ever been to. The thought and work which went into each and every dish was mind-blowing. Our dinner was made even more special as Tommy himself served our main course - the belly pork. I bought his Roots cookbook, which was signed and I will certainly take on board a lot of his ideas for preserving the seasonal produce from my allotment. Whether I will be brave enough to try some recipes remains to be seen! Breakfast the next morning was an equally different experience and the granola had even been prepared to take into account my request not to eat nuts and seeds. Thank you. The staff and service here are second to none and if you are feeling flush, then this is one to absolutely recommend.
The food is wonderful, every course on the tasting menu was delicious. However the outstanding item was the knowledge and friendliness of the staff. They went out of their way and were so accommodating. Would highly recommend.
One of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Staff were amazing. Their drinks were fantastic and they make their own syrups for cocktails. All of their food is local or home grown and they are very environmentally conscious about their sourcing. Their food is seasonal and they pickle and jar a lot of products that are out of season as to not waste anything. We absolutely loved the experience by their chefs and staff. Don’t mind the price as it is worth every bite!
Absolutely awesome. Service, food was soooo good. So many explosive flavours that you wouldn't imagine. This was a real treat. Can't say any more but superb. Overnight stay was brilliant too, thanks to all the team. Will be back
We went to the Black Swan for a surprise 40th birthday for my partner, also deciding to stay over in one of the beautiful garden rooms.Overall it was a wonderful culinary experience, and the room was fabulous. We opted for the basic wine pairing which complimented each dish perfectly. Each dish was full of flavour and cooked to perfection, a superb dining experience.The waiting staff were superb, exceptional attention to detail, and courteous and friendly throughout the evening.My one issue was the supplement they charged for one of the courses, this was an optional choice that we agreed to; however, charging £28 each for the lobster ravioli, given the cost of the tasting menu, seemed at tad inappropriate. We have eaten at other Michelin starred restaurants and I don't recall supplement charges being added to the tasting menus. I would suggest that Tommy Banks reviews this element of their menu.Regardless of this, we still had a fantastic time and this minor issue did not detract from the exceptional dining experience we had.Rooms: Beautiful room set in the garden
We went to the Black Swan for a surprise 40th birthday for my partner, also deciding to stay over in one of the beautiful garden rooms. Overall it was a wonderful culinary experience, and the room was fabulous. We opted for the basic wine pairing which complimented each dish perfectly. As one would expect, this is a significantly expensive experience, especially with the additional cost of the room. My one issue was the supplement they charged for one of the courses, this was an optional choice that we agreed to; however, charging £28 each for the lobster ravioli (just one piece of filled ravioli in a sauce) seemed at tad unfair, given the cost of the tasting menu. There was also an additional £23 each supplement for the cheese course. We have eaten at other Michelin starred restaurants and supplement charges have never been added to the tasting menus. I would suggest that Tommy Banks reviews this element of their dining experience. Regardless of this, we still had a fantastic time and this minor issue did not detract from the exceptional dining experience we had.
My expectations were as high as could be so to have the entire experience go massively above these was a absolute bonus. The entire team made the evening so special and really deliverd a once in a life time experience. Not to mention the food was by far the best food I have tried anywhere in the world.
Absolutely superb in every
Restaurantji Recommends
We had an amazing overnight stay and the best quality food and wine. Such a relaxing break in an amazing setting. The most welcoming place to dine and have some great pre dinner cocktails. A beautiful place and a must do if you love fine dining and being spoiled.
I ordered the hunger gap signature menu home delivery for a surprise special birthday meal for my husband. The menu was really extensive and sounded incredible. It came with matching wine for 3 of the courses. Our expectations were high but what we received exceeded our expectations by a long shot. Firstly the packing. Each course was beautifully packaged separately with everything ( and I mean everything..even down to an egg yolk to glaze the beef Wellington) included. Secondly, the instructions were really straightforward. Easy to understand and follow. Lastly the food and wine. Everything was just exceptional. Each course was beautifully created with skill and the highest quality ingredients. It only required heating , a little bit of cooking and assembly as per the instructions to create a real fine dining experience in our own home. The wines complemented the food wonderfully. The portions were very generous, causing my husband to check with me a few times that we hadn’t ordered a meal for 4 people rather than 2 ? Over all it was a brilliant experience. We would highly recommend this and will be ordering again in a heartbeat. When you factor in the entertainment element, the fact that we didn’t need to pay for taxis, tips or babysitter as we were enjoying this feast at home, it was great value for money. Hats off team Oldstead ? The menu: Canapé: Potato & Truffle Croustade Bread & Grazing: Haxby Sourdough, Chicken Fat & Cep Butter, Yorkshire Coppa, Oldstead Salami, Oldstead shredded Cornichons Fish course: Scallops, Mussel Broth, Dill Pickled Apple, Fermented Pepper Powder Main: Beef Wellington, Hen of the Woods, Leek Top Emulsion, Onion Sauce Pallet Cleanser: Apple & Gooseberry Juice Dessert: Douglas Fir & White Chocolate Cremeux, Caramelised White Chocolate Crumb, Douglas Fir Sherbet, Lemon Verbena Curd Petit Four: Toasted Hay Fudge
Fab 2-night experience eating at the Abbey Inn and the Black Swan. The food was delicious on both nights and the breakfasts were equally impressive. Everything felt very well organised. Our room in the little cottage next to the Black Swan was very cosy and comfortable. It was lovely to be able to spend 2 nights in Oldstead and explore the local area with some short walks during the day as well. A fantastic short break for any foodie!
Absolutely lovely food, staff are very friendly and competent.Had an amazing meal and wine pairing, cannot fault it.Location is a pig to get to, but once you are there and especially if you are staying in one of their rooms, it's a lovely village.
We went for an overnight stay including bed, breakfast and evening meal as a special treat for the pair of us after having a small windfall . Having eaten at a number of high end restaurants previously we both had some idea of what to expect . The settings are lovely and the building itself is delightful . Our room was very spacious and comfortable with all that was required for an overnight stay , including double blinds on all but one window which I shall get back to later . Our meal was booked for 19:30 and we started with an amuse bouche of beetroot and crab apple juice which was sensational , accompanied by 3 other appetizers one of which was a smoked eel and celeriac tartlet that was off the scale . On choosing the wine flight for my wife we took to our seats .The first dish at the table was a beef plate with accompanying jus , very tasty indeed , followed by sourdough bread and sour butter. This was ok but the bread needed more proving and the butter wasnt anything special to be honest , creamy and tasty and thats about all i can say .We were told to keep some bread back for the fish course as it came with an amount of sauce . Yes the sauce was velvety and lush but the Turbot as lovely and well cooked as it was required a much needed boost in size , the portion was slight and the dish seemed more of a sauce dish than fish plate . Their show stopper was the main event of home grown pork with possibly the best event of the evening which was a pork sauce , I could have downed a jug of this , however the potato component lacked in seasoning and was tasteless , the pork loin was a little over done and but the pork belly very nice . So to dessert courses , a frozen whey yoghurt and birch sap greeted us which was stunningly good , followed by a twist on rhubarb and custard that was in need of a flavour punch, but the best was last in the form of a mushroom and artichoke sweet that punched well above its weight and was probably the star of the night . My wife chose a cheese platter that was unimpressive and poorly presented without any sidekicks such as grapes or celery which was conspicuous by its absence . The final mouthfuls offered included a delightful chocolate dense in flavour and a lovely end to a meal that pleased and disappointed in equal measure , which was sad as we both really wanted to savour every morsel . In addition the 6 glasses of wine with the wine flight totalled 3 full glasses and was charged at £85 per person , very poor value it has to said . So we retired to digest and get a comfortable nights sleep , or at least that was the idea . The one window that had a single blind allowed a steam of light from an outside light , which we found out later was on a timer till 1:00am , to fill our room and kept us awake for hours . The following morning my wife was very unwell and we had to leave and get her home quick smart , this was relayed to the hotel prior to breakfast service and noted that neither of us would be attending breakfast because of this . On paying for our stay etc I was given a silver foil package with two somewhat stale pastry offerings in recompense for us not being able to indulge in breakfast which was paid for . I simply wanted to get my ill wife home and did not make any issue of this at the time , however , i have since been in contact with the restaurant several times regarding the lack of sleep due to the lack of window covering and the breakfast which we had been charged for which we did not attend . They have offered us nothing for our troubles and have been given every opportunity to do so . This has left us both with a very bad taste in our mouths and disappointment instead of elation .We have both followed the success of this place and the brothers who own it with Yorkshire pride but can not honestly recommend this to anyone else , and we are truly sorry for that .