Restaurant at The Blue Lion

A traditional Yorkshire pub in the heart of Wensleydale, situated in the most perfect unspoilt village. As Les Routiers say: "Since his arrival in 1990, Paul Klein has successfully created one of the finest inns in North Yorkshire, offering twelve comfortable and individually furnished en suite bedrooms and quality modern pub food that draws the crowds from miles around."

The bar meals are of a high quality but it is the a la carte restaurant, where meals are served every night and Sunday lunch, this is where the chef really comes into his own.

With starters like roast king scallops with lemon risotto and Gruyere cheese, crispy fried squid with chilli and coriander salsa, or marinated vegetable bruschetta. While equally appealing, main course options might range from pan-fried cod with seafood risotto, and sea bass with vegetable noodles and black bean sauce, to roast chump of lamb with Mediterranean vegetables and pesto mash. Puddings could include a wonderful dark chocolate tart with orange sorbet.

Whilst the coaches may no longer rattle up to the door plenty of other people do, particularly on Sundays when that wonderful English art form, The Roast Sunday Lunch is offered up to an eager and appreciative clientele. Why is that as a nation, when we have something good we tend to mess about trying to find alternatives when what we really want is under our nose ends? Excellent draught beers like Black Sheep and Theakston's on tap and a decent wine list with over 100 wines.