The Rose & Crown

A ‘haven of peace and calm, with excellent pub food and friendly, efficient service,’ this 18th-century inn stands beside a Saxon church ‘in a stunning village’ in Teasdale. It is owned by a local farming family with deep roots in the Teasdale soil. Characterful, country-chic main-house bedrooms and more contemporary courtyard rooms with outside seating area have fresh milk, home-made biscuits, Molton Brown toiletries. ‘Especially comfortable’ Laithkirk has ‘a range of books that would do credit to any library’. ‘Number five courtyard room is smaller than the others, but comfortably appointed, with a good shower.’ Food is served in the dog-friendly bar at lunchtime, and alongside more ambitious dishes at night in the bar and oak-panelled dining room. ‘Dinner was superb, a skate dish that would have been a winner on Masterchef, and a fish platter so generous my wife could not finish it.’ ‘The best pork chop and apple sauce I have ever eaten – so good I had it twice!’ A ‘hearty breakfast, with locally sourced produce’ is cooked to order. ‘Highly recommended as a base for exploring Teasdale, dipping in the river Tees, and hiking the moors.’ (Tessa Stuart, David Ganz, and others)