Originally built in 1625 as part of the former Monastery of St Wilfred, this lovely old building opposite Ripon’s magnificent cathedral is now a well-established and personally run hotel. A fabulous 17th-century oak staircase is the building’s crowning glory, but also look for the moulded plaster cornices and other lovely features throughout the place. Lunch in the restaurant is a relatively uncomplicated crowd-pleasing line-up of slow-cooked ox cheek, salmon niçoise, macaroni with wild mushrooms and assorted sandwiches, but things get more serious in the evening. Starters of dressed crab with bisque jelly, radish, mizuna leaves and toasted brioche could give way to wild sea trout with sea vegetables, cucumber and caper butter sauce or pan-fried duck breast with braised duck rillette, sweetcorn purée, baby beets and Savoy cabbage. The food is supported by a very respectable wine list.