The wise Owl at Hawnby stars in prestigious hotel guide

The Owl at Hawnby, one of Yorkshire’s most picturesque inns, has been praised in a highly prestigious national guide.

The Daily Telegraph’s guide to Britain’s Top 250 Hotels, published this week, has selected The Owl as one of best inns and hotels in the country.
The Telegraph writes: “In an area of North Yorkshire where destination dining is ubiquitous, The Owl at Hawnby stands out from the crowd with its rich, home-style cooking, served with views of the surrounding Howardian Hills.

“There’s a real warmth within these walls: expect a friendly welcome, slightly eccentric décor, cosy fires, and the hum of walkers, locals and guests gathering for a pint.

“The village of Hawnby is idyllic. Becks trickle, pheasants gallop across roads, and the night skies are some of the darkest in England. Views from the terrace, dining room and some of the rooms are completely absorbing.
“Kick the evening off with a glass of crémant and a plate of warm, creamy cheese gougère choux puffs. Starters such as duck rillette with candy-like chunks of pickled rhubarb can be followed by a superb dish of roast cod in a soupy tartare sauce with mussels and crispy potatoes. By the end, you’ll be ready to roll into one of the nine country-chic rooms.”

Jamie Savile, director of Hawnby Estate, commented: “As you can imagine, we are absolutely delighted with this magnificent accolade from the Daily Telegraph. All the staff at the Owl work so hard to make the Owl a very special place in which to eat, drink and stay, so this awesome testimonial is for them. I feel it is richly deserved.

“These are not the easiest times for the hospitality industry, to put it mildly, with pubs and hotels across the UK closing daily. To succeed, you must be dedicated, passionate and on the top of your game all the time and I am proud of everyone at the Owl for being exactly that.

“We are privileged to live in the most beautiful village, famous not just for the Owl, but also for our nationally acclaimed dark skies, for a wonderful community shop and tearooms and stunning walks, including the popular hike up Hawnby Hill.”

This starring role in the Daily Telegraph follows a range of awards and accolades for the Owl. For example, it was named as one of the 2025 Timothy Taylor Good Food Guide’s Top 100 Pubs in the UK.

The guide praised the Owl for creating a “welcoming retreat, a place to come for unfussy food and a comfortable bed for the night. Whether you eat in the stone-flagged bar in front of a warming stove, the dining room or the splendid terrace on sunny days, you'll find crowd-pleasing dishes.”

Meanwhile the accolades and the testimonials for the Owl don’t stop there. The Northern Echo has just described the inn as “a gem of a place, thanks to its cosy atmosphere, scenic views and hearty food. It has become a popular stop for walkers, day-trippers and those seeking a quieter countryside escape”, while the I Paper included the Owl in its Best 20 UK Pubs for A Weekend Walk this month (May).

The Michelin Guide’s latest Best Pubs in Yorkshire enthused: “This characterful rural pub benefits from an enviable location perched above a pretty valley in the North York Moors National Park. A former drover’s inn dating back to the 19th century, there’s a vintage style to the décor and a lovely, welcoming vibe thanks to the friendly team. Hearty, unfussy and downright tasty dishes are the order of the day, with old favourites like devilled kidneys and toad in the hole sure to satisfy.”

The last words, though, should go to the Daily Telegraph, as the paper’s reviewer reflected on puddings and breakfast:

“The Owl’s puddings eschewed the standard brownie and ice cream style offering in favour of cheese, affogato and the creamiest rice pudding. The palate-cleansing grapefruit and Campari sorbet that knocked me off my chair with flavour. Breakfast is a simple but lip-smacking selection of cooked dishes, featuring the likes of cured trout with scrambled eggs, breakfast rolls, Owl English breakfast (homemade sourdough), and house-made granola with yoghurt and honey.”