A Review of Skipton Pie and Mash Shop, North Yorkshire

We welcome a lot of tourists and visitors to the town and as part of my day job, I’m lucky enough to eat in and review local restaurants.

A leisurely dinner in an elegant restaurant is always wonderful and there are few things I enjoy more, but sometimes, especially when out for the day with (seemingly permanently starving) children, we need something straight forward and which does what it says on the tin so to speak. With this in mind, I’d like to recommend Skipton Pie and Mash Shop. It is one of the only places to sit and eat traditional pie and mash in the North. Located in the canal basin very close to Coach Street Car Park, it’s easy to find and enjoys beautiful views over the canal. 

It’s very well signposted…

I visited with my friend Sally on a busy
Friday lunchtime. So busy in fact that the chef was
making more pies as they had run out, testament to the popularity of this family owned café. 

The menu is written on a blackboard and offers a
wide selection of pies, baked on the premises and served with a choice of
chips or mash and mushy or garden peas. 

Orders are placed at the counter and
then brought to the table. I chose steak and ale pie with mushy peas and
Sally opted for the Homity pie with garden peas. Neither of us could resist the chunky homemade chips. The pies are substantial and hearty yet the
pastry is light and flaky. Mine was generously filled with steak, locally
sourced. Sally’s was equally packed with leek, onion, potato and cheese. 

There
is a wide selection of pies including vegetarian and gluten free options as
well as a selection of soups. Drinks include bottled soft drinks, hot
drinks and a small wine selection, so there is something for everyone.

The café has extra seating up the most
colourful flight of steps I ever did see. 

This is where we sat. It
was homely and welcoming with a fireplace, beamed ceiling and various
memorabilia paying homage to the owners’ interest in the waterways.

Despite the heartiness of our main
courses, being blessed with generous appetites and having seen the array of
mouthwatering cakes on display, we were unable to resist a dessert.  Sally, something of a connoisseur ordered her
favourite- hot chocolate pudding with ice-cream. She thoroughly enjoyed it and
said it was the best she’d ever tasted. 
The hot puddings and scones are baked freshly on the premises by the
chef each day. The cakes and tray-bakes are brought in each day from the local
Craven Bakery and it was one of their carrot cakes that I had, served with
pouring cream. The bakery itself has an excellent reputation so it came as no
surprise that the cake was as light, moist and as delicious as it looked.

It’s little wonder Chef had to make more
pies when the food tastes this good!

If you visit Skipton I hope you’ll give this brilliant cafe a try. You could even take a canal boat trip afterwards.

Love Lizzy x

Skipton Pie & Mash Shop                                                                                   

Waterside Court                                                                                                          

Coach Street                                                                                                      

Skipton                                                                                                                             

01756 228371                                                                       

www.skiptonpieandmash.co.uk