IF the idea of staying in a themed hotel conjures images of tacky decor and a bedroom full of Disney characters, there is gem tucked away in the West Yorkshire countryside which promises to change your mind.
The newly renovated Craven Heifer in Addingham is dedicated to Yorkshire's finest; this proud hotel has seven rooms all decorated in honour of the county's treasures.
It seems like a well-intentioned concept, but I was still a little dubious as we packed and drove 190 miles to Yorkshire. After escaping the monotony of the M6, we hit the rolling countryside, with the kind of scenery that makes you pull over to marvel and take in lungfuls of fresh air.
Arriving at the quaint village of Addingham, the Craven Heifer is hard to miss. The large stone building sits on the main street with narrow pavements and winding roads that look like they were never designed to take more than the occasional horse and cart.
Inside is a small dining room, a traditional bar and a narrow, steep staircase to reach the top-floor rooms. Behind each of the wooden doors sprawl spaces so uniquely decorated they have to been seen to be believed.
Among them are Big Splash, inspired by painter and draughtsman David Hockney and his 1976 painting A Bigger Splash. The interior design mimics the painting with furniture, colours and smooth plaster. Chuffin Eck is dedicated to former Yorkshire and England cricket legend Fred Trueman and features a bespoke "stumps and bails" bed, cricket bat desk, custom-made cricket jumper cushions and a scoreboard and cricket ball signed by the man himself. And, named after the first stage play of the York-born actor Dame Judi Dench, Cabaret has red velvet drapes, a dressing-room mirror and various theatrical props including 16th-century ruff collars.
Our abode for two nights was the Crow's Nest, dedicated to Captain William Scoresby Jr, an Arctic explorer, scientist and clergyman born in Marton, North Yorkshire. There's a oak floor, a bed handmade from driftwood, a cast-iron bath and old-fashioned captain's desk complete with an emergency bottle of rum.
After settling in we headed to the restaurant to sample the food. Choosing from the a la carte menu we started with cheese and pickle (whipped goat's cheese ravioli, baby gem and pickles), and ham, egg and chips (ham hock terrine, homemade brown sauce, slow cooked egg yolk and confit potatoes). Our main courses brought butter-roasted Waterford Farm sirloin beef, braised cheek, garlic snails and roasted beets and North Sea halibut with chicken and truffle terrine and Scottish girolles. All courses were flawless, and washed down with wine recommended by our friendly waitress.
After a day exploring the Victorian spa town of Ilkley and York we returned to Addingham and dinner at The Craven Heifer's sister restaurant and pub, The Fleece Inn. A former AA Pub of the Year, the Fleece was cosily full, with low wood-beamed ceilings, fireplace, dark wood furniture and a range of cask beers including Ilkey Brewery.
We opted for the pumpkin, pineapple and sage macaroni with chive creme fraiche and summer truffle. This was followed by "posh" fish pie, packed with haddock, coley, salmon and sea trout topped with mash which was oozing with Gruyere cheese and grilled langoustine and king scallop. Comfort food triumphs.
My husband also devoured his potted chicken liver parfait with the inn's own chutney before tucking into braised belly of Lancashire Old Spot pork, black pudding bon bon, colcannon and candied apples.
With little room for air, let alone dessert, we crawled back to the Craven Heifer.
By the end of our second night it was time to head home but we had become so accustomed to our surroundings that I was making decor notes.
TRAVEL NOTES
Linzi Watson was a guest of the Craven Heifer in Addingham, West Yorkshire. B&B for two in the Crow's Nest starts at £150. Visit thecravenheifer.com or call 01943 830106.
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