The idea of a nice evening drive with a welcoming pub that serves good food at the end of the journey is always appealing. Mind you, if your partner isn’t keen on being driven along the A61 that leads from Harrogate to Ripon and has more twists, turns and spin than any political speech you care to remember, then an alternative route might be a good idea.
The Staveley Arms is situated in the quiet village of North Stainley, a few miles north of Ripon. It’s a country pub with a good reputation for dining – upon arrival on our mid-week visit we found that the car park was almost full, a good indication that our fellow diners were probably in the know too.
A friendly traditional pub
The stone floor, wooden beams and whitewashed walls gave the pub an authentic atmosphere. Dogs are welcome at the Staveley Arms with photos of diners’ four-legged friends enjoying their visits appearing on its social media sites (although these don’t include their owners savouring their food). With the pub having lots of nooks and crannies, there’s plenty of seating to choose from depending upon your mood and where you feel most comfortable.
Having been shown swiftly to our table, we had our drinks order taken. Naturally there is an extensive wine list, with bottles starting from £22.00 and prosecco from £26.00. My partner’s white wine arrived within minutes, thankfully, to cure any nerves after our country drive on the winding roads. Unfortunately, my order of a Coke Light must have got lost along the way. It arrived after I asked a second time.
Classic dishes with lots of flavour
The food menu is not too extensive, concentrating instead on the pub classics with a few surprises such as seafood risotto with salmon, prawn and crab with a lobster glaze. If not that, maybe the gnocchi with sunblushed tomatoes, toasted walnuts and feta crumble might tickle your tastebuds.
We shared the chicken liver pate and chutney served with crusty bread. Nicely presented, the rich taste of the pate was full of flavour and as good as any I have eaten in France.
For mains my partner decided on the ale battered fish and chips served with tartar sauce and mushy peas. The fish was so large that it hung off the plate. The batter was crisp with the haddock cooked perfectly. Sticking to a traditional pub dish, I thought that the steak and ale pie would be a good choice. The pie itself was full to the brim with tender steak and just the right amount of gravy. The addition of cabbage and bacon, peas and some very chunky chips all confirmed that it was a good decision indeed.
After all this indulgence we shared the delights of the cheeseboard with our three choices of a tangy blue cheese, a strong cheddar and a crumbly Wensleydale served with crackers, grapes and apples. The price of £11.00 seemed a tad expensive for what was presented, though it was pleasing to discover the cheeses served at room temperature as so many restaurants take the cheese straight out of the fridge and onto the diners’ table, not allowing enough time for it to breathe properly.
By the time we departed the pub was practically full, with the majority of the diners I spoke to having made a special journey to visit it. As for our journey back home, we ditched the bending roads and returned on the A1. This nicely sums up our visit to the Staveley Arms, which indeed was A1.
Chicken liver pate, chutney and crusty bread(£7.00); ale battered fish and chips(£18.00); steak and ale pie with vegetables and chunky chips(£18.00); cheeseboard with three cheeses (£11.00).
The Staveley Arms, Greenfields, North Stainley, Ripon HG4 3HT.
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