The bistro at Coniston Hall in Coniston Cold, near Skipton, is one of the most atmospheric eating houses in the district.

There's a sense of being in a medieval hall with the stone walls, high open ceiling, the beams exposed to the roof tiles and stone floor.

Its location too is impressive, set back in its own grounds off the main road between a limestone outcrop, Coniston Hall and the lake.

It caters for about 40 diners and when we arrived, early on Saturday, it was very busy, but we were promptly ushered to our table after 15 minutes scrutinising the menu at the bar.

The restaurant offers both a set menu, at £14.50, and a relatively more expensive a la carte choice.

There were four of us and as the set menu had four starters, four main courses and a choice of at least four puddings, plus as much coffee as we wanted at the finish, we plumped for it and each tried a different dish.

While we waited for the first course, I quizzed the waitress about the name of the bistro. It had no connection with the political giant, Winston Churchill.

This Winston was a Jack Russell terrier who was loved by customers at the hall before the restaurant was developed. He died, aged 20, shortly before it opened. His photograph is on the walls surrounded by pictures of the Dales.

I started with pheasant with black pudding brioche and mustard. The black pudding was lean and spicy, complemented by the gamey flavour of the pheasant.

My companions were equally impressed with their starters, especially the caramelised onion and goats cheese tartlet and the home-made tomato soup.

There was no skimping on helpings and the second course - I had lamb casserole with herb dumplings - was a really succulent, richly-flavoured feast. The roast chicken wrapped in bacon was also well received.

Puddings were a hurdle for our stomachs, but too tempting to ignore and we feasted on sticky toffee pudding, ginger syrup sponge and champagne cheesecake.

It was not an inexpensive night out - we washed it down with two bottles of red - but it was a memorable feast.

Clive White

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