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RECOVERING FROM THE BATTLE OF TOWTON Eating out with The ews: The Rockingham Arms, Towton Our guests had the trusty fish and chips - which was top notch Having taken a gastronomic respite due to the arrival of baby Ed, your loyal when accompanied by homemade tartare. Also sampled was the foodies decided we needed to get back Rockingham burger - good meat, staple fare. on the reviewing horse. I think that the Rockingham Arms is aiming at the right This month’s culinary hunt took your market - don’t try and turn the Rock into a gastro restaurant with intrepid explorers north of Hillam to the extensive world cuisine - two reasons for this - the passing punter (and it is in a great location) wants pub grub done really well; famous village of Towton. Site of the ‘bloodiest battle in English history’. and there is stiff competition in the top end market (Blacksmiths at Biggin for example). The prices are pretty good for modern The Rockingham or ‘The Rock’ has recently been taken over by Chris and pub food - under a tenner for the fish and chips and around £15 for the great steak. Callum and they are clearly trying to transform the inn into a quality pub fare So, would we go back? If you are looking for a mid range tasty establishment. It has had a good lick of dinner that does exactly what it says on the tin, the Rock is for paint and there are interesting local photos brightening up the you. And at this quality, this is a lesson that many a Yorkshire place. local could take a view from - not flashy, not bargain basement, but honest, well prepared meals - well done Callum and Chris. We had been recommended to try the Rock by some friends and, although we worried whether it would be quiet, there were a I think I’ll be taking the boys for beers and a cracking pie next fair few diners for Saturday lunch. week… The menu has good coverage without trying to do too much and Holmes and Watson, Great Food Detectives as such doesn’t stray from traditional pub fare but adds an upgraded twist on each dish. We reckon this is a smart move as the Rock tries to rebuild its reputation. On to the food - Watson went for the Goats Cheese Tart whilst Holmes decided to try the Rib-Eye with twice cooked chips. The steak was well cooked and jazzed up with a quality blue cheese sauce - and those chips tasted good! The tart was flavoursome and interesting on the palate without really blowing the socks off. As Watson hadn’t eaten goats cheese for 9 months there were high expectations of boldness from the cheese.
Hillam ,ews Rating: 4 out of 5. “Quality pub fare that deserves to do well” The Rockingham Arms 01937-530948, Towton. therockinghamarms.com
Editor’s note: The Rockingham, in a previous life, was renowned for its carefully worded A-Board, declaring ‘Probably The recent move into administration of Barrack Inns, the the best fish and chips in Yorkshire.’ The Towton Battlefield former leaseholders of the Cross Keys has resulted in confusion Society commemorates the Battle of Towton annually on Palm and disarray. The lease has now reverted to the owners, Sunday (this year April 1st ). Enterprise Inns. Members are soon to establish a Display Centre in an upper room The present manager ,icola herself expected to be replaced of the Rockingham Arms, complete with artifacts taken from the on the 5th March, but it didn’t happen . She is currently also battlefield and were recently spotted on Facebook enjoying the running the kitchen because the cook has already move to the Rockingham fare after time spent cleaning out the farmer’s barn White Swan in South Milford. prior to Palm Sunday. See http://www.towton.org.uk Beyond this information everything else is rumour and conjecture. We believe that the latest owner of the Rock is a member of a This is another worrying change in the ill fortunes of our vil- farming family with land at Hillam, Monk Fryston and Birkin as lage pub. We have only recently seen the closure and subsequent well as Towton, The family has generously allowed access to land West of the Rockingham Arms, which is the site of the largchange of use for housing of the Blue Bell in Monk Fryston. est and bloodiest battle fought on English soil. What does the future hold in store for the Cross Keys? Footnote: 28,000 died at Towton in 1461
All change again at the Cross Keys