The Beverley Arms – Review
By Karl Hornsey, February 2025
The reopening of the Beverley Arms Hotel a few years ago under the Thwaites banner enriched the town with something it had been missing. Beverley has an awful lot going for it – not just that I was born and now live there – but it didn’t have something quite like the Beverley Arms, which goes a long way to explaining its popularity.
There’s a huge amount of history attached to the building, dating back as it does to the 18th century and its traditional use as a coaching inn for travellers to find rest, but one of the most important things that the owners have got right is how it’s pitched in relation to the town itself.
“Efficient and friendly”
There are a couple of out-and-out fine dining restaurants in Beverley, and then all manner of excellent eating and drinking establishments as well, but the Beverley Arms seems to nestle somewhere between the two, offering outstanding quality food and the best accommodation in the town. It’s somewhere to go for that special occasion and any tourist heading to the town, of which there are many, will surely see the Beverley Arms as the place to stay.
As with any establishment, first impressions matter, be that the cleanliness of the building, the quality of the furnishings or, arguably most importantly of all, the welcome given by the staff. And on all three, the Beverley Arms couldn’t be faulted. From the receptionist to the waiting staff in the evening and morning, all of the staff were efficient and friendly, and more than happy to help.
“Spacious and light”
The room, in our case one of the larger family rooms, was spotlessly clean and offered a wonderful view out over St Mary’s Church, one of the many must-see places in Beverley. With quite possibly the largest bed I’ve ever slept in, underfloor heating in the bathroom, an excellent coffee machine and comfortable sofa and chairs to relax on, the room had everything we could possibly have wanted.
Our evening meal in the spacious and light dining area was chosen from a menu that again pitches itself right – plenty of standard favourites such as fish and chips, pies and steaks, with a smattering of dishes that were a cut above, and some seasonal specials to choose from as well.
“Great accompaniments”
Our delicious starters were spiced potted pork and Moroccan lamb ravioli (which I could have done with much more of on my plate), which set us up nicely for the curried monkfish tail and the chicken burger. The latter may seem like a basic staple, but this was done as well as any we’ve tasted, with some great accompaniments, while the curry was delicately part of the monkfish dish, rather than dominating, and judged perfectly by the chef.
There was room for dessert, which was a deep and rich sticky toffee pudding and a light (and astonishingly green) pistachio cake with cherries, that was just the job to round things off.
“Very decent ingredients”
Following a peaceful and relaxing sleep, more excellent food was demolished in the morning, with two Full English breakfasts proving most welcome, with clearly very decent ingredients being used, which makes all the difference.
All in all, there’s no question that the Beverley Arms is one of the best places to stay, not just in Beverley itself, but across the region, and it’s obvious in so many ways why it’s been so popular since reopening.
The Beverley Arms, 25 North Bar Within, Beverley, HU17 8DD
Based on two people sharing, a Cosy Double starts at £145
beverleyarms.co.uk
Karl’s love of writing was piqued at the age of eight, when he won a Blue Peter badge in an essay-writing competition. The location of said badge might be a mystery now, but the memory never fades. Hours spent writing about sport as a teenager, in pre-internet years when you had to make your entertainment, honed his skills, and Karl has worked in TV and radio listings at PA Media for 28 years, and the age of hybrid working means 50% of that can be at home listening to Classic FM and thinking about his next visit to his beloved Yorkshire Dales.
@KarlHornsey, hornskar
