A beautiful pub in Yorkshire has been awarded one of the highest foodie awards going.
The Punch Bowl Inn, North Yorkshire, was recently awarded an AA Rosette for its great quality ingredients, culinary expertise, and meticulous attention to detail - making it one of the best places to eat in the region.
This award is reserved exclusively for restaurants that showcase a real talent for their craft, with precision and a passion for excellence apparent in all of their dishes, and it's not given out lightly.
Known for its great pints and beautiful surrounding country views, the pub's Head Chef, Alex Wood is inspired by seasonal flavours and uses these to inform the menu at The Punch Bowl Inn.
Image: The Punch Bowl Inn
The village pub also takes pride in growing its own, fresh produce at the nearby kitchen garden in Mount St John estate in Felixkirk. The private, walled kitchen garden supplies seasonal produce all year round to the Marton-cum-Grafton pub.
Speaking about the prestigious award that has put The Punch Bowl Inn on the map, General Manager, Paul Neesam, said: “We pride ourselves on the provenance of our food so being recognised with an AA Rosette award is an incredible achievement for us.
"Alex is an accomplished chef who deserves to be recognised for the incredible dishes he creates, supplemented by produce from our kitchen garden.
Image: The Punch Bowl Inn
"The hospitality industry has experienced such a tumultuous time so it’s a real honour to be recognised in such a way. We are also hugely grateful to the local community in Marton-cum-Grafton for giving us their support and helping us to achieve this award.”
As well as a warm Yorkshire welcome, The Punch Bowl Inn offers a light lunch menu featuring the likes of gourmet sandwiches and light bites, such as haddock fishcakes with a lemon and baby caper beurre blanc and Yorkshire Wolds chicken breast with gnocchi.
Or for those looking for something a little more substantial, the a la carte menu packs a punch with sticky beer braised oxtail, Mount St John beetroot cured salmon, Yorkshire wagyu burger and Yorkshire reared free range duck breast with Chinese greens and a hoisin jus, amongst an array of other tasty dishes.
The dog-friendly pub is part of Provenance Inns, a group of seven sites based around Yorkshire.
Image: The Punch Bowl Inn
The group's latest acquisition is The Coach and Horses in Harrogate which is due to open in 2022.
Each pub has its own personality and prides itself on attention to detail when it comes to the food they serve.
Their passion for the county they call ‘home’ was most recently showcased in sales of their ‘Yorkshire Special’ – a chicken and chorizo pie with £1 from every pie sold donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance that ran for one month.
The group has managed to raise over £500 to donate to the charity. Paul concluded:
“We’re really proud of our Yorkshire heritage and this helps to inspire our offering. We hope that this AA Rosette award encourages more people to come and taste the delights on offer at The Punch Bowl Inn. They can be sure of a proper Yorkshire welcome and some incredible food.”
A bookshop in Leeds is inviting its customers to vandalise Harry Potter books for charity.
Well, this is definitely one we haven't seen before.
The Bookish Type on Great George Street in Leeds is a fabulous independently-owned queer bookshop that prides itself on being a safe space for all.
They're raising money for trans healthcare by inviting customers to vandalise Harry Potter novels for just 25p per go.
A bargain if you ask us, and all for a good cause. And don't worry, all the books are second hand and have been donated.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're not understanding the immediate connection between the two, then allow us to fill you in.
J.K. Rowling, the author of the famous Harry Potter novels, has over recent years expressed transphobic comments and anti-trans political beliefs on social media.
Yesterday, Wednesday 25 March, the trailer for the new HBO Max Harry Potter series was released which has encouraged many people to speak out against Rowling and claim she should no longer be supported.
So, The Bookish Type are showing support for the trans community and asking those who feel frustrated to have a doodle and whilst they're at it, donate to a good cause.
If you're not able to make it into the shop, The Bookish Type have said "You will soon be able to donate online and we will personally deface a page with your message/doodle/scribble."
We're absolutely obsessed.
Find out more about The Bookish Type and if you can, pop in for a browse and a doodle whilst you're at it.
Featured image - The Bookish Type Leeds (Supplied)
News
Leeds to be transformed into a giant board game as Trivial Pursuit takes over the city
Clementine Hall
Leeds is set to become a giant board game this summer as Trivial Pursiot arrives in the city centre to celebrate a landmark moment in its history.
To mark 400 years since Leeds was granted its royal charter, LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District) is transforming the city into a live interactive version of Hasbro’s iconic Trivial Pursuit board game, inviting residents and visitors to test their knowledge of all things Leeds.
It follows the huge success of the MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover back in summer 2024 and this year, LeedsBID is once again working with leading game, IP and toy company Hasbro to bring another of its iconic games to life.
This time, the focus is on the stories, achievements and surprising facts that have shaped Leeds over four centuries.
Running from 25 July to 30 August 2026, the free experience will see participants journey across the city centre answering questions and collecting wedges, just like the classic trivia game.
Key locations will represent the six traditional Trivial Pursuit categories: Entertainment, Geography, Sports & Leisure, Science and Nature, History, and Art & Literature.
Matt Proulx, Senior Vice President of Global Experiences, Partnerships and Music at Hasbro said: “After the incredible response to the MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover in 2024, we’re proud to collaborate with LeedsBID once again to reimagine another iconic brand in a bold new way.
"This is exactly how we think about Global Experiences at Hasbro - taking our brands beyond the table and creating experiences that are social, shareable and deeply connected to the communities they celebrate."
Andrew Cooper, Chief Executive of LeedsBID, said: “TRIVIAL PURSUIT Leeds is about celebrating everything about this great city, from those headline facts and figures people know to the lesser-known surprising details and discoveries.
“LeedsBID’s raison d’etre is to put Leeds on the map and tell the stories and successes of the city. Trivial Pursuit Leeds is doing just that, providing a free, fun and entertaining activity for all ages while sharing new and interesting achievements of this amazing place.”
Georgina Pellant -
29th October 2021 
