This story is sponsored by Provenance Collection.
With a history dating back as far as 1830, the Coach and Horses is a Harrogate institution.
The much-loved traditional pub was bought last year by Provenance Collection, which promised to keep it true to its heritage.
Work to revamp the pub has been extensive. The once central bar has been moved to the back of the ground floor and there is a restaurant upstairs.
It was here, after a warm welcome, that we enjoyed dinner-for-two on a sunny evening overlooking the Stray.
The classic decor is inviting, with dark wooden tables, plush seating and colourful artwork adorning the walls. The large windows frame the outside greenery perfectly and it was lovely to look at the view while sipping a cold glass of rose.
We skipped straight to the mains, however there are plenty of starters to choose from if you are hungry enough, including Doreen’s black pudding scotch egg (£9) and baked camembert (£10.50).
The main dish
With £1 from each sale going to Martin House Children’s Hospice, I chose the Coach & Horses Burger (£16). A tasty, homemade traditional burger, the thick, juicy patty was made with quality wagyu beef and topped with cheese and a zingy relish. It was served with skinny fries and dill pickles, which were covered in a crispy light batter.
My partner went for the aged sirloin steak (£32). Cooked medium rare and seasoned well, it would be easy to enjoy without the sauce, although the peppercorn added extra richness.
The chunky chips were crisp and fluffy on the inside, like good pub chips should be. Other mains include a steak and ale pie, a chicken tikka masala curry (both £16) and beer battered fish and chips (£16).
Leave room for pudding
As a pudding fan, I usually leave room for dessert and on this occasion I was glad I did.
We shared the sticky toffee pudding with miso caramel and vanilla ice cream (£7.50). The miso and caramel was the perfect blend of salty and sweet and the sponge was light and fluffy.
Agreeing to share was a mistake. Other options include vanilla creme brulee (£9) and chocolate mousse (£7).
While change might not be for everyone, the newly-revamped Coach & Horses undoubtedly boasts good quality pub food and a decent selection of cask ales, served in a relaxed and friendly setting.
The Coach and Horses’ famous Sunday night pub quiz has also returned, with all proceeds going to Martin House Children’s Hospice.
A new sandwich menu has been launched for those who want to pop in at lunch time, and it continues to boast some of the best views in Harrogate.
Take advantage of the pub’s latest offer from Mondays to Thursdays where diners can get a free drink – either a beer, house wine or soft drink – with any main course on the à la cart menu.
63rd+1st: A taste of Manhattan in Harrogate town centre
This story is sponsored by 63rd+1st.
Harrogate’s answer to a Manhattan cocktail bar, 63rd+1st, launched in November last year and has continued to grow in popularity on the town’s dining scene.
We visited after work on a Monday evening and it was a perfect way to start a busy week.
Decked out in trendy dark blue and gold, and featuring lots of greenery, the restaurant, lounge and bar on Albert Street gives off a relaxed and welcoming vibe.
The menu is inspired by Manhattan street food and features small plates to enjoy with a cocktail or mocktail.
The restaurant area.
It includes a signature burger, steaks and seafood, as well as plant-based and vegetarian dishes and loaded fries.
The idea is you choose a few dishes each and order more if you fancy it – like an American-style tapas.
To start, I had seared king scallops, black pudding and pea puree (£12). The scallops were cooked perfectly and melted in the mouth like butter. The pea puree provided a refreshing accompaniment to the saltiness of the black pudding. My partner went for the Maryland crab bon bons and crab mayo (£10), which had a light, crispy coating and were perfect for sharing.
Scallops.
We followed this up with a mozzarella corn dog on a stick – just like you have in New York – and a sirloin steak. I’ll admit, I’ve never had a steak sharing dish before, so I was delighted to be able to pinch a bit of my partner’s sirloin (£14). It was perfectly cooked and came with a tangy chimichurri sauce. You can also choose a topper to add to your steak from options including garlic and chilli prawns, seared scallops and short rib croquettes.
Sirloin steak.
We decided to order loaded fries with chipotle mayo and crispy onions to accompany our dishes (£5). We could have kept going, but decided to save room for a dessert instead.
If there’s one thing Americans know how to do, it’s dessert. And it did not disappoint. We chose a banana taco, which was served with salted candied pecans, caramel and vanilla ice cream . It was essentially like a banana pancake and the salty pecans added the perfect crunchy texture to the dish. Ridiculously good. Other desserts include peanut butter and jelly donuts (£6) and an NYC baked cheesecake (£7).
We also had some fabulous cocktails to accompany our meal from the (very) extensive cocktail menu, including an old fashioned woodford rye (£15).
If you fancy a drink and a few nibbles after work, this is a great place to visit as you can order as much or as little as you want.