Best fine dining restaurant in the Lake District

A meal at SOURCE, the Michelin-starred jewel in the Gilpin Hotel’s crown, in the Lake District, is something special. Treat yourself and your favourite person this year (just so you know, I’m always available).

Best vegan food in Sheffield

It’s not a city and it’s not just dumplings. What it is is a fantastic all-vegan restaurant, currently based in The Tramshed Bar, focusing on a wide range of Chinese and East Asian-inspired dishes.

Best fusion tasting menu in the North

We can’t recommend the Taste Of The Black Bull menu enough. Focusing on seasonal ingredients, it takes influences from chef-owner Nina’s Japanese and German heritage, as well as her partner James’s upbringing in the Dales. The result is a gloriously unique meal, full of surprising twists on traditional British cooking.

Best field-to-fork dining in the North

A meal at Groobarbs Field Kitchen is something special indeed. Based at Groobarb’s Wild Farm in Knutsford, Cheshire, they offer field-to-fork dining, which is exactly as it sounds: ingredients sourced from right outside, from the 6.5-acre kitchen gardens you can see from the window.

Best small plates in Stockport

As central Manchester becomes bigger, bolder and more Dubai-like by the day, it’s time to start looking further afield for those charming, independent venues that used to define areas like the Northern Quarter a mere decade ago. Inventery is exactly that.

Best afternoon tea in Liverpool

If you’re looking for a treat, or just fancy a really nice Wednesday afternoon (with incredible views over a beautiful city), Gino’s afternoon tea is definitely up there with the best in the North.

Best Michelin-star dining in Lancashire

A meal at Northcote isn’t just a great example of fine dining in the North, it’s one of the most impressive sensory experiences in the UK. Everything is designed to induce a sense of awe – the presentation of the food, the perfectly paired wines, the sheer inventiveness of the ideas, and most memorably, the flavours.

Best traditional dining in North Yorkshire

Shoulder Of Mutton is at the heart of Middleton Tyas, a picturesque village not far from Richmond, North Yorkshire. It’s also an old-timey inn, dating back to the 18th century, and, unsurprisingly, the food is as traditional as it gets. Expect hearty plates of locally sourced meat and veg designed to fill the belly of locals after a hard day’s work.

Best bistro-style dining South of Manchester

Nordie is a superb independent bar with some of the best food and drink options for miles around.

Best hospitality staff in Liverpool

At Albert’s Schloss Liverpool, the first thing you’ll note is the atmosphere – during our Friday evening visit, the venue is packed with friendly post-work groups of friends, all age ranges, all out for a good time, all in high spirits. This is due, in no small part, to the excellent staff.

Best cocktails and small plates menu in South Manchester

In an area jam-packed with great bars and restaurants, The Jane Eyre Chorlton stands out as one of the most appealing destinations on Beech Road. From kitchen to bar, you’ll find a wealth of forward-thinking ideas and unforgettable flavours.