Autumn has a way of bringing people back to the table. Whether it’s a drive through the countryside or a weekend away, the journey often feels just as memorable as the meal itself. From cosy pubs to destination dining, these are five restaurants to visit this autumn.
The Black Swan at Oldstead, North Yorkshire
Nestled on the edge of the North York Moors, The Black Swan at Oldstead is a Michelin-starred restaurant with deep ties to its surroundings. Owned and run by the Banks family, who have farmed the land around Oldstead for generations, the kitchen draws on what they grow, rear and forage themselves, creating a tasting menu that offers a distinctive expression of North Yorkshire.
On an autumn evening, the warmth of the fire makes a fitting welcome before settling in for a menu shaped by the season. Think Herdwick hogget, wild ingredients gathered from the surrounding countryside and cocktails created in Oldstead from fruit, herbs and flowers. It’s an intimate dining experience that feels closely connected to the place beyond its doors.
Photography by Andrew Hayes-Watkins
The Parkers Arms, Lancashire
Tucked into the trough of Bowland, The Parkers Arms is a rural country pub with a story of its own. Once a derelict landmark, it was brought back to life by Kathy and Stosie in 2007 and has since become a much-loved destination for cooking rooted in the region. Menus change with the seasons and the availability of local produce, with traditional Lancashire dishes reimagined in the kitchen’s own style.
A visit calls for something hearty from the kitchen, whether that’s the famous curried mutton pie or a Lancashire classic such as hotpot, followed by a walk through the surrounding countryside. With generous food, local ales and views across the Bowland landscape, The Parkers Arms is the sort of country pub that makes a day out of lunch.
Horrell & Horrell, Somerset
Set within a rural Somerset smallholding, Horrell & Horrell offers a dining experience that feels more like being invited to a friend’s house for dinner. Jules and Steve Horrell welcome guests into their old cow barn for seasonal, mostly homegrown cooking, with ingredients gathered from their kitchen garden, orchard and surrounding hedgerows, alongside produce from local growers and makers.
Bring a bottle, settle beneath a blanket at the long sharing table and let the evening unfold over plates designed around the week’s harvest. An arrival drink sets the scene before Steve cooks over fire and the conversation begins, creating the feeling of a generous dinner shared with friends, only this time, everything else is taken care of.
Inver, Scotland
Set on the shores of Loch Fyne, Inver is a restaurant where Scotland’s west coast shapes every plate. Menus celebrate the very best of the region, from freshly landed seafood to native game and locally grown produce, all served with uninterrupted views across the water. Whether visiting for a leisurely lunch or an evening tasting menu, every dish reflects the changing rhythm of the year.
As autumn settles across the loch, few places feel more inviting than a table by the window. Looking out across the water as the landscape begins to turn, the meal draws to a close with a warm apple crumble that feels perfectly suited to the season. It’s the kind of place that encourages one last look at the view before setting off again, making the journey every bit as memorable as the meal itself.
Photography by @alexbaxter.co
Gorse, Cardiff
In the Cardiff suburb of Pontcanna, Michelin-starred Gorse offers a modern expression of Welsh cooking, led by chef Tom Waters. The menu is shaped by the abundance of the surrounding landscape, with the majority of ingredients grown, reared or made in Wales by a close network of farmers, fishermen, growers and local artisans. Wild game, fish, shellfish, seaweeds and coastal vegetables are given a contemporary treatment while remaining firmly rooted in Welsh culinary heritage.
For an autumn table, the menu might bring wild mushrooms, Breconshire fallow deer, bilberries or organic swede from Abergavenny, each dish offering a glimpse of the landscape beyond the restaurant. With it’s intimate setting and quietly confident approach to Welsh produce, Gorse makes a compelling case for making Cardiff part of your next dining destination.
From country pubs and lochside tables to long sharing tables and modern Welsh cooking, these are the places worth booking this autumn, with a little extra time set aside for the journey too.