At the heart of the historic village of Nun Monkton, North Yorkshire is The Alice Hawthorn, a classic country pub. The doors have now opened to 12 new bedrooms, allowing guests to linger a little longer, enjoying all that this award-winning pub has to offer from the kitchen and cellar whilst relaxing and enjoying the beautiful rural location.

The latest development at The Alice Hawthorn has combined sensitive alterations to the existing Grade II listed pub, with contemporary structures, reimagined as a group of agricultural outbuildings. There are four rooms above the pub: an oasis of calm; and eight garden rooms in the new buildings flanking the beer garden, which is planted with new perennials and old roses.

“Comfort has been central to the design of our rooms without compromising style,” explains owner Kate Harpin. “The pub rooms are restful and calm, whilst the garden rooms exude a different kind of contemporary ease. All are pared back and unfussy, giving a clean aesthetic - which has never been more important.”

All of the bedrooms are beautifully equipped with superking beds; crisp, white, high thread-count linen; freestanding bath tubs and/or walk-in rainfall showers and all the little luxuries you might need away from home.

Guests can choose from a range of rooms and rates and, to set them up for the day, a proper homemade breakfast is included, from a healthy-as-you-like mouth-watering menu.

It's a good idea for guests to make their lunch and dinner reservation at the time of the room booking, as this local pub's popular reputation is spreading far and wide. The kitchen serves flavoursome and imaginative dishes with a strong Yorkshire inflection, curated by John Topham and his team, with fish straight from the Yorkshire coast and game from local shoots.

“The pub is made up of various spaces”, adds Kate, “all with real fires: The Bar, where dogs are welcome; The Snug, a smaller cosy room; The Fishermen's, so called for the tickets and breakfasts bought by visiting anglers; and The Barn. Each room has a different feel, but our full kitchen and cellar menus are available throughout. The pub has also published a little book of local walks to help guests enjoy the surrounding area.”

Business partners Claire & John Topham are delighted with the project. “We look forward to offering the warmest of welcomes to all our guests. A focus on service and quality is at the heart of what we do and whether to eat, sleep or both, our guests can be sure of a true Yorkshire welcome.”

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NOTE TO EDITORS

Further information on rooms:

Prices for the rooms range from £120-£215 (Weds/Thurs) to £170 - £245 (Fri/Sat).

Rates are for two people including breakfast.

The rooms and pub will be closed on Monday and Tuesday each week and Sunday evenings.

NB Following current government guidelines, the pub will be shut from Thursday 5th November for 4 weeks. Bookings are still be taken for 3rd December onwards and there are special Christmas and New Year packages available. Please email for details. 

PR Contact: Emily Bennison; E: emilybennison@yahoo.co.uk; T: 07789 748970

For the full media pack please visit:

https://www.thealicehawthorn.com/press (password: alice)

Pub Website: www.thealicehawthorn.com

Address: The Green, Nun Monkton, York YO26 8EW; E: enquiries@thealicehawthorn.com

About the Alice Hawthorn:

The Alice Hawthorn, located in the idyllic North Yorkshire village of Nun Monkton, is an essential destination on the Yorkshire food trail. Featured in this year's Michelin Guide and the Good Food Guide 2020, it was also the 2017 winner of the Yorkshire Life Dining Pub of the Year. It retains its superb reputation for delicious, fresh, seasonal food and is thriving under the management of John and Claire Topham.

Albeit under a few different guises, this pub has been a landmark on the Nun Monkton green for 220 years. Alice Hawthorn was a racehorse, bred locally by John Plummer in 1838. Such was her illustrious career, winning 52 of the 71 races ran between 1841-45, that she was immortalised in art several times by leading painters of the time, including John Frederick Herring Senior. 1844 was her most successful year, winning the Doncaster Gold Cup, The Goodwood Cup and the Ascot Vase. On retirement, Alice became a brood mare, and in turn, many of her progeny became race horses.

Following a period of closure under Punch Taverns, 'The Alice', as it is colloquially known, was bought in 2013 by the Harpin family who have lived in the village for 20 years. Richard and Kate Harpin have been instrumental in redeveloping and revitalising the pub, helping to create a one-of-a-kind, country pub with a warm Yorkshire welcome whilst securing its future for the benefit of the local community.  When John and Claire Topham came on board in January 2017, they were able to create the perfect partnership.