Tommy Banks is not one to put his feet up
He already has a steadily growing empire of restaurants in Yorkshire including The Black Swan, Roots, and The Abbey Inn, as well as his Banks Brothers canned wine range and Made in Oldstead at-home meal kits. And now he’s teamed up with other hospitality pros, Matthew Lockwood, James Banks and Neil Armstrong, to launch a new group Jeopardy Hospitality.
The group’s first opening is The General Tarleton, an 18th century coaching inn situated in the village of Ferrensby, just outside Harrogate. The place has been completely restored and refurbished over the past year, transforming the old pub, and adding eight bedrooms on the floor above.
We checked in on a Saturday night in late October, after a big long autumn walk in the nearby Staveley Nature Reserve, which we loved. Probs best to give the Royal Oak Staveley a miss if you fancy a pint though, especially if you’re up from London. Man, the bar lady did not like Londoners at all.
Much better to settle into the cosy rooms at the General, which have been designed by Yorkshire-based designer Abi Hancock, in a nice stripped back style. There’s warm neutral tones, patterned rugs, and splashes of red in the throws and cushions on the plush bed and armchair. The bathrooms are decked out with red tiles, gold shower fixtures, and have underfloor heating, a very welcome addition in the cold Yorkshire evenings.
Downstairs, there’s a few different areas to sit in including a new conservatory, as well as the old pub rooms, with lots of little snug corners to tuck into. The place was already heaving at 6pm. The menu is rooted in pub classics – cod cheeks, steaks, a signature GT burger – and makes full use of the incredible produce you find in Yorkshire, including beef from the Banks family farm.
It’s more expansive than just pub grub of course – alongside an absolutely perfect scotch egg from the starters, we had a pretty roasted beetroot terrine with smoked cod’s roe, a dish that wouldn’t be out of place in a Hackney wine bar.
From the mains, we went all in for the steak and ale pie, which came with a super rich satisfying gravy, roasted carrots, and baked potato mash. We also had Yorkshire chicken with BBQ gem lettuce, local oyster mushrooms, morteau sausage, pearl onions and sorrel, plus a side of creamed spelt with turnip and celeriac – rather than more elevated than your average pub roast chicken.
For dessert, do not miss the sourdough treacle tart, in all its sticky, sweet glory.
Harrogate Rd, Ferrensby, Knaresborough HG5 0PZ
generaltarletonferrensby.co.uk
