When the postal address is the Village Green and the village in question is Lealholm – a delightful corner of the North York Moors National Park – you can be pretty confident that the local inn is worth shouting about.
Landlord Alistair Dean and his partner Karen arrived here when the place was on its uppers; since then, they have turned it into a warm and welcoming local with a lounge bar that pays more heed to comfort than modish interior design. The cosy lounge area is decked out with vases of fresh flowers, a roaring fireplace and leather sofas that are just asking to be sunk into. It is also obvious that The Board Inn is a real cornerstone of the community and acts as a hub for local village life -just check out the array of photos and trophies dotted around the place (the pub is home to quoits, darts, dominoes and cricket teams, as well as acting as a meeting place for the WI and the Young Farmer’s Association).
If running the place was not enough, adding to the homespun feel is the fact that the licensees also rear their own livestock and keep bees. There is nothing fancy or overly pompous about the food here; it is just good, solid homely dishes to go with pints of Theakston’s or Black Sheep Bitter – not forgetting around 60 different malts.
On warmer evenings, head out to The Board Inn’s charming waterside terrace, where you can keep an eye out for the local wildlife or even indulge in a spot of fishing. The terrace also plays host to a number of events throughout the year such as summer barbecues and pub quizzes, while dogs and children are welcome too - truly a community pub in every sense of the word.