Contributor/ Woody Anderson
Best Known For
Hipping Hall is a five-star luxury country house, built in the 15th century. The property houses an award winning restaurant and accompanying ten bedroom hotel. Situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and just south of the Lake District, the hotel came to fame when Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon visited as part of their gastronomic journey around the North of England, for the BBC 2 TV series – The Trip.
The Good Stuff
My girlfriend and I were in the area on a walking holiday and decided to stay at the property to rest our weary legs. As standard when booking a room, a table at the triple AA Rosette restaurant is also booked for you. We soon realised that the hotel was more a restaurant, with rooms, something that we were very excited about as we both love fine-dining. Once seated in The Great Hall, where the restaurant resides, we opted for the nine-course taster menu with wine pairing. Chef Oli Martin who sticks to his ethos of purity, simplicity and freshness conjured up a delightful feast, effortlessly blending seasonal ingredients and locally sourced produce to great effect. Every dish was bursting with regional flavour; the pheasant and walnut was exceptional, and the ‘Eccles Cake’ was a delightful surprise.
The Vibe
Hipping Hall is charming, friendly, and the staff are personable. You feel like you’re staying with an old friend as you enter the stone house that was once owned by the Tathams, a family of Blacksmiths who catered for travellers on the old packhorse route. More recently an additional five rooms have been added with the transformation of the former stable block. The designs were conceived by Harrison Pitt architects with the interior by designer James Mackie. The stables are available for booking individually or as a whole to create an exclusive ‘house party’ feel with the added benefit of private dining; a great choice for a special occasion.
Inside the Hotel – 6/10
You come to a place like this to relax and unwind, to turn off your mobile and cut off from the outside world. To sit in front of the log fire and read the Sunday papers without interruption, and to soak up the tranquility and calm that’s all around you. At the time of writing the main hotel bedrooms and restaurant were being refurbished, bringing the look and feel into line with the new stable upgrade.
Outside the Hotel – 6/10
Hipping Hall is perfectly located for exploring the nearby Howgill Fells, the high Pennines, the beautiful Forest of Bowland, or for the more adventurous the White Scar caves which is the longest show cave in the UK. But to be honest we didn’t venture far on this occasion, we simply strolled around the delightful gardens, taking in the views of the countryside and waiting for the next meal to be served.
