Review – Ox Pasture Hall – Yorkshire

We were recently invited to accompany Meg on a visit Ox Pasture Hall, a dog friendly hotel in North Yorkshire, to review the dog friendly facilities on offer.

One of the most striking things about the hotel is the tranquillity of the surroundings in its enviable location. Although it is only a short distance from the bustling seaside town of Scarborough, it is far enough into the countryside for the only sound to be the birds as they swooped over the lake.

On arrival we were greeted by the resident dog and friendly reception staff – Meg was very impressed that she was made a fuss of and given some dog biscuits. We were shown to our room, a dog friendly suite on the ground floor, which had spectacular views across the hotel lake and then out across the open countryside.

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The room had some very nice touches such as robe and slippers, biscuits, drink making facilities and bottled water. Even though it was one of the assigned dog friendly rooms at Ox Pasture Hall, it was absolutely immaculate, and there was no trace that another dog had ever been there. The bedroom was a good size, so there was plenty of space for Meg’s bed on the floor next to the luxurious King Size bed.

Before dinner we took Meg for a walk around some of the 17 acres of grounds which surround the hotel. Some of Meg’s favourite places were the path round the lake where she could watch the geese, and the water fountains in the internal courtyard gardens. There are several outside seating areas for people having a meal or drink from the bistro. The tables are each under individual canopies and spaced far enough apart to give guests some privacy.

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There are two places to eat at the hotel, the Bistro which served traditional gastro pub food, and the Courtyard restaurant which had imaginative and creative dishes using local produce. Dogs are welcome in the Bistro, but diners can chose from either menu when they are seated in this area. We chose to dine from the Bistro menu, and felt relaxed in the cosy atmosphere with exposed beams and log burner. We started with some drinks on the comfy sofa in the traditional bar area while we decided what to eat, and then moved into the dining area when our starters were ready. Meg had a nap under the table for most of our meal, only popping out to say hello to the friendly waiter who gave her some attention whenever he checked on us.

Both the service and the food in the Bistro were exceptional. The staff went out of their way to make us feel at home, and every aspect of the meal was served promptly and professionally. Some of the dishes included in our selection for the evening were Ham Terrine, Wensleydale soufflé and corn fed chicken – all of the food was excellent quality and beautifully presented. After clearing our plates we decided that we could just about manage a desert, and were glad we did when the chocolate fudge cake and raspberry sorbet arrived! We both felt that the quality of food and level of service was at the equal to that of a top quality restaurant, and it was lovely to be able to enjoy this in a relaxed atmosphere where Meg was welcome.

Everyone in our party slept well, surrounded by the absolute silence and darkness of the peaceful North York Moors National Park setting.

 

Breakfast is normally served in the restaurant, but guests staying with dogs are welcome to eat with them in the Bistro. We made our way there to find that tables had already been set for us and some other guests who were staying with their dog. We took it in turns to visit the restaurant to collect items from the cold buffet which include cereal, yoghurt, toast and various juices, and also ordered some cooked breakfast from the waiter who tended to us at our table.

After breakfast we had another stroll around the garden, then a look at the selection of leaflets showing local attractions in reception.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Ox Pasture Hall, and were very impressed that not only was Meg was allowed in our room, but was also able to join us for breakfast the next morning. We felt that the hotel was a rare combination of luxury accommodation and excellent quality food while being very accommodating to dogs.

We would recommend the hotel to anyone wishing to visit the North East.

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