Food and drink

Bit of a foodie?  You’ll be right at home in Ryedale

There’s a reason why we’ve developed a bit of a reputation for food and drink, and it stems from our fantastically fresh local produce, our bustling farmers markets, independent cafes and gastro pubs and our award-winning delis, fine dining restaurants and food festivals.  We even have our own brewery and vineyard.

With celebrity advocates, including James Martin and Antonio Carluccio, we’re definitely on the food-lovers map. Here’s what makes Ryedale so special:

Malton – Yorkshire’s food capital

Wander around Malton’s attractive Georgian centre, and the bijou (and brilliant) Talbot Yard Food Court, and you’ll find yourself in a bit of a gourmet capital.  Discover artisan bread, quality meat, fresh roasted coffee, exquisite patisserie and every imaginable flavour of ice cream.  Malton’s is home to gastro pubs and rustic cafes – and if you fancy using our fabulous produce yourself, you can book at the cookery school.

Markets and festivals

A great way to stock up on Ryedale produce is at Malton’s monthly food market where many local producers sell direct to the public. And if you time your visit right, there’s the annual Food Lovers’ Festival, and the Great Northern Food and Drink Festival.

Breweries, vineyards and distilleries

You won’t go thirsty in Ryedale. The Ryedale Vineyards are the most northerly commercial vineyards in Britain, producing award-winning reds, whites, rose, sparkling wines, cider and apple juice.

The Ryedale Brewing Company is a wonderful craft brewery, producing delicious ales.  Pop into one of the cosy, local pubs and sample a pint of your own.

And in Malton’s Talbot Yard you’ll find the Rare Bird distillery making a delicious gin. They even have their own gin school for lessons you will love.

Independent cafes

There’s no shortage of cosy, rustic cafes in Ryedale.  Wander the streets of any of our market towns and you’ll stumble across a great range of eateries serving freshly brewed coffee, patisserie cakes, home bakes and deliciously prepared food.  

The freshest produce

Street markets are a big thing in Ryedale and you’ll find fresh produce at weekly markets in Malton, Helmsley, Pickering and Kirkbymoorside.  You’ll find everything from locally produced fruit, vegetables, cheeses, cured meats and ciders to pies, bakes and cakes.

And a trip to beautifully historic Helmsley isn’t complete without a visit to the Walled Garden.  As well as an impressive range of flowers, this carefully restored, ancient garden is well stocked with fruit and vegetables – many of which are available to buy, straight out of the ground.

Fine dining

If you’re planning something special, or just fancy treating yourself to a meal out, Ryedale is host to some exceptional fine dining experiences – from a Michelin star restaurant, inns with a smart contemporary menus, to contemporary gastropubs with roaring fires.  And there’s something very rewarding about a day out walking or cycling in our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, followed by an outstandingly good meal.