West Yorkshire restaurant among UK's best for outdoor dining

Shibden Mill Inn is no stranger when it comes to being highlighted among the very best restaurants.

But it seems it’s the place to be when it comes to making the most of eating a spot of lunch or dinner outside during the warmer months of the year, thanks to its “wonderful” service and food.

With summer on the way (we hope), OpenTable’s prestigious list includes over 70 that are dog-friendly (including Shibden Mill Inn).

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The rankings are based on more than 2.2 million diner reviews and metrics, including diner ratings and the percentage of five-star reviews.

You can see all of OpenTable’s top 100 restaurants for outdoor dining in 2024 here.

Shibden Mill Inn among the UK's best for outdoor dining

Shibden Mill Inn has received a 4.7/5-star rating on OpenTable from more than 2,000 reviews.

One customer posted: “Food and service wonderful. Beautiful old coach house and surrounded by stunning scenery. Visited many times and will return soon.”

The restaurant's profile on OpenTable reads: “Having always been at the heart of Valley life, the 17th century Shibden Mill Inn was originally a corn and spinning mill, before being converted into a country pub in 1890.

Shibden Mill Inn is also dog-friendly (Image: Tripadvisor)

“Today’s visitors are welcomed with warm hospitality to enjoy first class dining against an inviting backdrop of open fires, low beamed ceilings and a cosy bar. Eleven individually styled bedrooms make comfortable and luxurious retreats, epitomising boutique country style and featuring lots of thoughtful touches.

“And if you can drag yourself away from the Inn, there are wonderful walks from the doorstep and world class attractions within easy reach. For a spot of retail therapy or a cultural fix, Halifax is a 10-minute drive and Leeds is just 30 minutes away.”

Elsewhere on Tripadvisor, Shibden Mill Inn has also been highly praised with a rating of 4.5/5 from 880 reviews.

This recent visitor who enjoyed a Sunday roast wrote a review which said: “Delicious Sunday lunch, cooked perfectly. My husband had the roast beef which was extremely tender and I had the pork, again really tasty. The deserts were outstanding. The service was faultless, really friendly staff and the surroundings were lovely.”

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With 60% of British dog owners admitting that they have been prevented from dining out with their dog in the past due to difficulty finding a pet-friendly venue, OpenTable’s new list aims to make eating out with your dog a breeze, even if you’re one of the over half (55%) of Britons who admit to having shared the same meal as their dogs whilst dining out.

Laure Bornet, vice president of international growth at OpenTable commented: “The majority of UK dog owners are usually on the lookout for pub gardens when dining alfresco with their dogs, with courtyards and waterfronts also proving popular.

“From a charming pub garden at The Duncombe Arms in Derbyshire to a waterside terrace found at Gaucho Richmond in London and seaside spot at the Bank At The Bude in Cornwall, our nationwide Top 100 Restaurants for Outdoor Dining list has an alfresco setting for all, with over 70 dog-friendly spots.”