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Staying at Ox Pasture Hall Hotel
On a wet day in February, during half term, we set off to spend the night at Ox Pasture Hall Hotel. Situated a few minutes drive from the seaside town of Scarborough in seventeen acres of grounds overlooking the North Yorkshire Moors, Ox Pasture Hall is a tranquil country retreat. Driving up the country road to it we were beginning to think we had taken a wrong turn when we suddenly came across the sign for the hotel. Turning into the car park we found the luxurious country house.
Ox Pasture Hall Hotel was originally a farm which was farmed by the Asquith family from 1919 until it was sold in 1961. During the second world war the two Asquith daughters opened Dovecote cafe which served afternoon and high teas. The cafe became well known in Scarborough and visitors would walk out to enjoy their tea, either on the lawn overlooking well kept gardens. or inside the farmhouse. It is fitting that Ox Pasture Hall is now a hotel.
The staff were very friendly and welcoming, making sure that the stay was a pleasant one. From the moment we arrived they were attentive to our needs, without being intrusive. Little touches, like having a spare toothbrush on hand for my son who forgot his, made our stay very pleasant. Check in was quick and easy and we were shown to our room. The rooms are named after Yorkshire towns and villages. We were staying in the Skipton suite, which was appropriate as my granddad was from there. The barns and outhouses of the original farm have been transformed into accommodation and as a result there are lots of courtyards and passages to explore around the hotel. This gives it a definite charm and you feel there is a surprise around every corner.
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The rooms
There are 32 bedrooms at Ox Pasture Hall hotel which come in a range of different sizes from singles and doubles to luxury suites. We were staying in one of the suites which had a lounge, bedroom and bathroom. The sofa in the lounge turned into a bed to accommodate my son. Entrance to the suite was via a courtyard with an ornate fountain in the centre of it.
Inside the suite the bedroom had a king size bed, which was gigantic. The window overlooked the courtyard but had both blinds and curtains. We did not feel that we were overlooked. The room had a large flat screen TV.
The suite contained everything you could need from an iron and ironing board, a safe, extra bedding, a hair dryer, a selection of hot beverages and plenty of storage. There were also fluffy bathrobes hanging in the wardrobe. The design is open plan and a doorway leads though to the lounge.
The lounge had a lovely view out over the fields and my son was excited to see an RAF plane flying low over the moors at one point. The sofa bed was out but there was still plenty of space. There is also a TV and a radio/cd player in the lounge.
Beyond the lounge was the bathroom which was very large and luxurious. Tastefully decorated with stone tiles throughout it felt like the sort of bathroom a film star would have. The bath was large and roomy and the shower felt like walking under a waterfall. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.
The Food
Ox Pasture Hall Hotel offers two dining experiences. The courtyard restaurant, named as it overlooks the courtyard, has been awarded 2 rosettes for culinary excellence and recommended in the Michelin guide. The menu uses locally sourced ingredients to create a modern British menu. If you prefer something more relaxed then the Bistro offers traditional British gastro pub food. We ate in the courtyard restaurant which is tastefully decorated with quirky touches. I particularly like the pictures of the Italian chef on the walls.
The food is gorgeous and beautifully presented and the portions are more than adequate. There is plenty of selection on the menu and it is difficult to choose as everything sounds lovely. These are some of the thing we ate.
A taster of the soup of the day to start served with a choice of bread. The soup was tomato with fennel and aniseed. I really do not like aniseed or fennel but the soup only had a very slight hint of this which worked really well to complement the soup.
Starter – Traditional Prawn Cocktail £7.95
Both my son and I ate this and we loved the presentation, it looked really special and tasted gorgeous.
Main Course
My husband had the lamb – 2 Bone Rack of Lamb with Lamb and Kidney Faggot, Dauphinoise Potato, Butternut Squash Puree – £21.50
I had Pan Fried Sea Bass with Chorizo Ratatouille, Fondant Potatoes and Red Pepper Coulis – £18.50
My son chose Crispy Smoked Haddock Tartlet with pea purée and potato gnocchi – £15.95
For dessert I had Lemon which was Lemon Cheese Cake, Yoghurt, and Lemon Tart Ice Cream – £7.95.
The food was absolutely gorgeous and the staff were attentive but did not rush you in any way.
Breakfast the next morning was also lovely. There was a continental breakfast with toast, cereal, yoghurt and fruit and we also opted for the full Yorkshire breakfast. This set us up for the rest of the day.
The surroundings
Ox Pasture Hall Hotel is surrounded by gardens which are filled with surprises around every corner. It is lovely just to walk around and explore enjoying the tranquillity and bird song. The hotel is dog friendly, you are allowed to bring your dog and there is plenty of space to let them run around. This is very welcome as it can be hard to find someone to look after your dog when you go away. Children would love investigating the gardens as well, and there are plenty of places just to stop and sit.
Inside is equally welcoming with a bar area next to the Bistro and two lounges, one with a roaring fire and both having overhead beams. It is the perfect place to sit and relax after an afternoon exploring.
If you are looking for a relaxing break away from everything Ox Pasture Hall excels. It is lovely and quiet with gorgeous scenery and you really do feel that you are deep in the heart of the country. If you are looking for bright lights Scarborough is not far away and Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay are within driving distance.
We were provided with an overnight stay and our food in return for an honest review but the opinions are my own. I would like to say a big thank you to the staff at Ox Pasture Hall for a lovely relaxing break.
Samantha from North East Family fun says
Looks like you enjoyed a wonderful stay Ali – we love Scarborough and usually stay in caravans or apartments – will certainly keep here in mind for future visits.
Dragons and Fairy Dust says
It was a really lovely place to stay and so restful. I would definitely go back
Galina V says
Oh my, what a luxurious place to stay! Love the size of that bed, and all the meals look delicious. Most beautiful views too
Dragons and Fairy Dust says
It was lovely, I would definitely recommend it