When John and Tanya Sipling bought a home in Lothersdale, near Skipton, five years ago, the one thing they felt village life was lacking was a pub befitting such an historic and beautiful village.
That all changed last year, when "we put our money where our mouths were" and John and Tanya seized the opportunity to buy the local pub, the 17th century Hare and Hounds.
Now, after a stunning transformation, not only is the Hare & Hounds a beautiful country inn that villagers can be proud of, but word is spreading and the inn is attracting a legion of fans from far and wide.
“When we arrived after years working abroad, we loved the village, but the pub was tired and run down," said John. "We often talked about what we would do to restore the place to its full potential if we had the chance, so when the pub came on the market we decided to put our money where our mouths were!”
“The project became a real labour of love. We’ve worked very hard to create a wonderful traditional inn with a reputation for home cooked food and a real draw for families.
"The Pennine Way passes our front door and we warmly welcome walkers and four-legged companions.”
Outside, the inn has been transformed with the mellow stone revealed from under its blanket of old white paint, and inside the plaster has been stripped away to reveal the exceptional charm of the old inn and two cottages.
In the newly-installed modern kitchen, the excellent chef Trevor Smith – who worked at Steeton Hall with the inn’s general manager Nick Marriner – is serving up traditional pub classics using local suppliers. Drake and Macefield sausages from Skipton are teamed with mash and caramelised onion gravy, Baxendale bacon chops are complemented by a pineapple salsa. There’s Whitby scampi and chips, and one of the burgers comes with Yorkshire chorizo and Yorkshire blue cheese.
Trevor’s pie of the day is becoming legendary, with a growing fanbase of returning, happy customers. The meat, fish and vegetable platters are also firm favourites. There are plenty of choices for vegetarians and vegans, including a sharing platter of a selection of spinach and sauté garlic mushroom, vegetable spring rolls, cherry tomato bruschetta, hummus, tempura vegetables, mixed leaves and pickles, warm baguette and crispy potato skins. Vegans love the blackberry crumble, served with vegan vanilla ice cream.
“Our home-made food is perfect for families and is tasty as only home-cooked food can be. Unlike nine out of 10 places we don’t buy pre-prepared meals and you won’t hear the ping of a microwave,” said John. “We cook for everyone and will cater for all dietary requirements, including gluten-free dishes. Because we make everything in-house, we know exactly what ingredients are in our food.
“We are proud to support local suppliers, who are producing wonderful food. This extends to our bar, which stocks a good selection of Yorkshire craft beers and cask ales, such as Naylor’s, Bridgehouse, Timothy Taylor’s, Ilkley Brewery and Dark Horse. There’s also a full wine list for all palates. We welcome customers popping in for a drink at the bar.”
The now welcoming and friendly Hare and Hounds, which reopened on Valentine’s Day last year, was a well-kept secret in the surrounding areas of Skipton, the Dales, Colne and the Aire Valley for a while, now this is changing.
The local community has embraced this new asset too. “The Hare and Hounds has become an important and much-loved place in the hearts of villagers, and we are so grateful to them for supporting us,” John adds.
“We believe in the importance of a good pub in rural communities such as ours, and are honoured to have restored the Hare and Hounds to its rightful role in the village, a welcoming place to meet friends and relax, to share a meal with family, a place they can forge life memories. We serve our community through hosting social events as well as Christenings, wedding breakfasts and wakes; it is our privilege to make these events extra special.”
To book a table at The Hare and Hounds, visit the website, call ahead or just pop in.
Hare & Hounds Inn, Lothersdale, Keighley, BD20 8EL
Telephone: 01535 63120
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