Member Article

Nag's Head in Pickhill named as one of the UK's best hotels

A much-loved North Yorkshire inn, which first opened its doors 300 years ago, has been named one of Britain’s best hotels.

The Nag’s Head, Pickhill, near Thirsk, is named as an Editor’s Choice for Value in the Good Hotel Guide published, the latest in a long line of accolades for landlord Edward Boynton and wife Janet who have run the Inn for more than 40 years.

Mr Boynton, who said attention to detail is the key to the hotel’s success, said: “It’s very nice to receive awards like this because you don’t know in advance you are being inspected.

“Word of mouth is very important but so are respected guidebooks, people are very careful how they spend their money these days and they do their research.”

The Nag’s Head has drawn praise from Alex Polizzi, star of TV’s Hotel Inspector, who stayed there whilst filming her other TV show The Fixer.

In a national newspaper column she described Mr Boynton as “the charming owner” and recounted an evening of “simply marvellous” dinner, “perfectly formed” wine list and “riotous” Jenga.

Mr and Mrs Boynton would never betray the confidence of visitors who have graced the Nags, but locals confirm sightings of numerous other famous faces over the years.

It was a haunt of Prince Andrew when stationed at nearby RAF Leeming, Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott are amongst scores of cricket stars to have visited, leading flat and national hunt owners and trainers regularly call in as have actors Kevin Whately and Daniel Craig. It was also the scene of many Bullingdon Club-style parties and stag nights in the 1980s.

The Nags Head remains an integral part of Pickhill village life with Mr and Mrs Boynton sponsoring the football strip for the local primary school, equipment for the village cricket team and regularly hosting fundraising evenings.

The next is this Sunday, October 12 when the annual Harvest Home auction takes place to raise funds for the School and Church.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .