The Blacksmiths Inn, Westow

[bakerestates]

Morning Advertiser 1 March 2007

Yorkshire Food Pub Snaffled

Read this headline in todays Morning Advertiser ......

'The Blacksmith Inn at Westow near Malton in North Yorkshire - voted Best Yorkshire Dining Pub 2006 - has been sold. The pub was bought by Jonathan Cliff and partner Emma Shaw from Black Cat Taverns Ltd. It is their first pub venture'

Is this correct?

Edited March 1, 2007 by bakerestates (log)

[Gary Marshall]

Indeed it is.

Time for a rest and plenty of time on the right side of the bar.

Thanks to all those who ventured up and wrote kind words about us, it meant a lot.

No, we won't be doing it again

[bakerestates]

Time for a rest and plenty of time on the right side of the bar.

←

I know how you feel.

No, we won't be doing it again 

←

If you change your mind....I know this lovely old character inn in a picturesque village.........

From reading these posts, your site and Observer review, you seem to have achieved a lot. Well done.

[Gary Marshall]

i think we did achieve a lot in a short space of time, i particularly wanted a good food guide entry and a national review so that was box ticked. The business was developing as planned, it was more a personal decision than a financial one to sell

from the outset i expected to have more time to dedicate to the business, things worked out differently and you just need to be there, there was only so much of me and sarah to go around. We increasingly found ourselves without much of a life so you have to question why continue!

[BertieWooster]

Shame, but can understand it. Didn't look like Sarah had much of a life outside the pub! And your liver would probably have exploded if you'd kept the place for too long.

Congrats on all the two of you achieved though

[Bapi]

Time for a rest and plenty of time on the right side of the bar.

Thanks to all those who ventured up and wrote kind words about us, it meant a lot.

←

I take it all back you shandy lightweight.

It takes and intelligent person to take on such a buisness- make a great success of it, receive plaudits and awards and then sell at the top of their game. So, naturally, I am assuming it was Sarah's idea

Rare sincere moment alert: Well done mate, it was a fabulous place and you both richly deserved those kind words.

Now get the beers in you tight Yorkshire git.

[ludja]

It has been wonderful to follow the development of your inn and restaurant. Thank you for sharing it with us! I must admit, it was on my list for my next trip to England so selfishly, I'm sad to hear the news. Good luck in your new ventures and I hope the new folks are inspired by the type of place you created.

Edited March 2, 2007 by ludja (log)

[Basildog]

Nice article in today's Caterer on Andrew Porter, but they still have you as owner Gary.

[Gary Marshall]

was it menuwatch?

i assumed they'd dropped the article as it was a couple of months ago i was talking to them and spent ages doing the pics etc.

they kept pushing for tight dealines so i thought the article was iminent.

i shall have a wander to smiths for a gander later....

[Basildog]

yup, Menuwatch.

[Gary Marshall]

just got a copy, nice article, pity it's a few months too late!

will look good for Andy as well.