The Black Sheep Brewery

An appealing market town in scenic Wensleydale, Masham has the added attraction of being the home of the renowned Black Sheep Brewery: the visitor centre & bistro here are integral to the building, which is a handsome stone shrine to good food & ale. The guided tour round the process is fascinating, & you’re encouraged to whet your appetite with a glass or two of bitter before settling down to a hearty lunch in the airy, spacious, slightly 80s, Habitat-style restaurant. Expect honest fare such as pan-fried pork medallion tower with black pudding & tomato salsa glazed with cheese & bordelaise sauce, or braised lamb shank with root vegetables in Emmerdale beer. The cafe makes its own cakes, & the coffee & snacks are delicious. There’s a ‘pub’, of course, with old oak floors, wood-burning stove and Black Sheep beers on tap. On Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings, you can book a table in the restaurant on the mezzanine level & enjoy the far-reaching views over the stone rooftops to the hills beyond.