Eating and Drinking In Swaledale
Updated 29 October 2023
Our top local recommendations
Most pubs and restaurants locally are very good and all offer vegetarian options. As with life you get what you pay for. Many do have vegan dishes and if you are not sure on any allergy options do check with the pub or restaurant. Most will be very happy to accomodate you. And don’t forget check out all the local beers that are on offer from the Yorkshire Dales Brewery, Richmond Brewery, The Wensleydale Brewery, Black Sheep and Theakstons.
So here, after extensive research, are our views on the best pubs, restaurants and other options in Swaledale local to Swale View.
Check opening times as many pubs are moving to winter opening hours so often close early on Sunday and also on Mondays.
Fish and Chips - Low Row
Every Friday the fish and chip van stops almost opposite the Punch Bowl by the village notice board on the main road at 7pm to 7.20pm . Very good fish and chips. Watch everyone else queue up while having a pint at the Punch Bowl and then go down to get your fish and chips.
The haddock is very popular and is cooked fresh to order but cod, sausage, chicken and more is also available. Mushy peas as well!
About £8 a portion, card payments only now and be there on time to be sure of getting served.
Punch Bowl Inn - Low Row
The Punch Bowl serves up very good food, decent beer and while it’s a wee bit above mid price range the seats outside at the front, see photo, offer a good view over Swaledale and a roaring fire on cold days is lit inside.
The Mezza starter was absolutely brilliant and amazing value!
It can get busy on bank holidays so book if you can. Sister pub of Charles Bathurst in Arkengarthdale pbinn.co.uk/
Opening times
Monday & Tuesday - 3pm - 11.00pm
Wednesday - Saturday - 12.00pm - 11.00pm
Sunday - 12.00pm - 11.00pm
About 5 mins walk from Swale View
Charles Bathurst Inn - Arkengarthdale
The Charles Bathurst Inn (known as CB’s) is the sister pub of the Punch Bowl. Good food and beer, nice garden with swings for the kids.
Can get very busy so book in advance. Also has a pool table. It’s a popular stop with cyclists en route to the Tan Hill Inn further up the road. They do a nice pot of tea and coffee.
Pricier end of things, locally but still good value. Dogs welcome. cbinn.co.uk/
Opening times:
Monday & Tuesday 3.00pm (closed Mon & Tues lunchtime)
Wednesday to Sunday 12.00pm
Lunch Served 12 - 2.30pm Wednesday - Sunday (Sunday 12 - 3pm) & Dinner 6pm - 8.30pm every evening
About 10 mins drive (great views) from Swale View or an hours walk
The Buck Hotel - Reeth
The Buck Hotel – now under new management. They have a great fire when it’s cold outside. And a darts board and two pool tables!
A new menu which is all available as a takeaway and bookings not required.
There is a live quiz once a month and music most weekends during peak season. They are cask marque accredited and give CAMRA discount. Bargain!
There is a mall seated area at the front to watch the hikers walk through Reeth and a large beer garden to the rear. .
Website here
About 7 mins drive from Swale View
The Bridge Inn - Grinton
One of our favourites as much more of a local pub that caters for visitors very well. Super dog friendly, good food at good prices, lots of good ales on tap which regularly change, seating area at the front of the pub.
Live music from the locals on Thursday evenings around 8.30 ish, folk style mostly and if you play you can join in.
An interesting games room, check it out, and fishing permits here.
Website here.
Closed Monday & Tuesday
About 10 mins drive from Swale View
Tan Hill Inn - Tan Hill
Britain’s highest pub, if it snows you will get stuck, probably. But worse places to be I suppose! Nice drive up there though. Recently renovated, beer ok, not eaten there recently but am told it’s good now.
Slightly above average price wise. Live music there quite often and there is a shuttle bus running there and back and I am told will drop you off. Best to check details though, it’s a long walk back!
Popular with cyclists and the orange Hellcats you see in the photo have been converted so you can stay in those overnight!
tanhillinn.com Dogs welcome.
About 20 mins drive from Swale View
The Kings Arms - Reeth
Bang in the middle of Reeth, seen here behind the weekly market, the Kings Arms has a big fire inside, dog treats usually in a bowl, beer kept very well, a mate swears he had the best ever Theakston Old Peculiar here. Never eaten there but they seem to do ok with plenty of space for eating.
Now offering new takeaway and delivery menus including pizza, curry on Wednesday, Sunday Roast and Fishy Friday!
Seated area outside with a few benches on the cobbles. Dogs very welcome. thekingsarms.com
About 7 mins drive from Swale View
The Black Bull - Reeth
I believe this is oldest pub in Reeth (there were 10 pubs in Reeth at one time) in the heart of Reeth. It has a pool table, cheaper end of things drink and food wise. Plenty of room for the kids to run around inside. Darts and Sky TV was still there last time I paid a visit. Beer ok, never eaten there, sorry!
theblackbullreeth.co.uk Dogs welcome.
About 10 mins drive from Swale View
Image courtesy of yorkshiredales.co.uk
The Burgoyne Hotel - Reeth
The Burgoyne Hotel also has a fancy restaurant, formal, pricy but I am told very, very good. Would serve well for special occasions and celebrations. And they have a bar within the hotel as well.
More info at theburgoyne.co.uk Not sure on the whole dogs thing.
About 7 mins drive from Swale View
Image courtesy of boutiquehotelier.com
Kings Head - Gunnerside
This is a community owned pub so please support for beer, wine and food! It’s only a two minute drive away or about 40 minutes walk along the river from Swale View.
Dog friendly and you can always eat your Friday Fish and Chips there. eta 7.30 pm. More info at kingsheadgunnerside.com
Soon to be under new management as of November 2023.
Opening times:
Closed Monday/Tuesday Except bank holidays
Open bar from 12:00 - 22:00
Open food from 12:00 - 2:30 & 6:00 - 8:30
Image courtesy of kingsheadgunnerside.com
The Blue Lion- East Witton
Not going to lie, the food here is amazing, not cheap, but you know, you get what you pay for. And for special occasions I cannot recommend this restaurant/pub too much.
I had an amazing cassoulet on one visit and my mate still goes on about the licorice ice cream! thebluelion.co.uk
Image courtesy of thebluelion.co.uk
About 35 mins drive from Swale View
George & Dragon - Hudswell
This pub comes very highly recommended, not from me but from locals and also CAMRA as it was National pub of the year in 2016 and has been the Yorkshire pub of the year for the last four years since 2016. So expect great beer! But also the food is amazing, all prepared onsite and locally sourced. Vegan and Vegetarian roasts on offer on Sundays (options all other days) along with the usal meat courses. There is an annual beer festival, open mike music on the 1st Monday of each month and weather permitting ‘quoits‘ is played every Tuesday. And the word on the street is they are opening their own brewery! Watch this space. georgeanddragonhudswell.co.uk/
About 30 minutes drive from Swale View
Image courtesy of georgeanddragonhudswell.co.uk
Two Dales Bakery - Reeth
Some really great breads, a wee cafe and coffee to go! Well worth a visit, open Tuesday to Saturday 10 till 2 pm inclusive. Situated on the right as you leave Reeth heading to Low Row as part of the Dales Centre. The buttermilk tin loaf was heavenly and lasted ages! Vegan options always available.
Image totally borrowed from their website twodalesbakery.co.uk. Hope they don’t mind.
About 7 mins drive from Swale View
Farmer Arms - Muker
Open Wednesday to Sunday
At some stage you will find yourself in Muker, bound to happen, some nice walks in and around the local area. So why not stop into the Farmers Arms, it has good beer and the food when I was last there did the job. I had a really nice pie and chips if memory serves me correctly!
Offers vegetarian options, check out the ‘specials of the day‘ board and the use local produce for vegetables, cheese, meat and fish.
Super dog friendly, had my old German shepherd and Papillon there a few years ago.
The pub has just undergone a refurbishment, Dec 2020 and is now open.
Check food serving times. farmersarmsmuker.co.uk/
About 15 mins drive from Swale View
The Red Lion - Langthwaite
A nice wee traditional local pub offering a selection of ales, wine, cider and a small range of pies, pasties, pork pies and sausage rolls.
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate and soft drinks also available during opening hours.
Also available are a selection of off sales as well including sweets , chocolate and ice cream to help you on your walk, or keep your sweet tooth happy!
And driving over from Low Row you get to go through the water splash made famous in All Creatures Great and Small!
More information here: langthwaite-redlion.co.uk/
About 15 mins drive from Swale View