Set in the stunning Lake District National Park, Heft is a 17th century inn in High Newton run by local couple Kevin and Nicola Tickle. This warm and inviting bar and restaurant serves classic British dishes based around locally sourced ingredients, but with a focus on tasting menus only.
Head chef Kevin was born in Cumbria and grew up on the country's Irish Sea coast where he fell in love with the English countryside. His menus are underpinned by the environment and the incredible produce available in the surrounding area.
The main restaurant has been beautifully restored to reflect the aesthetic of a traditional British inn - expect white washed walls and rustic wooden furnishings. Here, guests can indulge in tasting menus only for both lunch and dinner, while in the bar, diners can enjoy quality beers, carefully selected wines and seasonal small plates and snacks. There are also five guest bedrooms for those who would like to stay the night and enjoy a gastronomic getaway.
A 10-course tasting menu is served for dinner, while for lunch a reduced four-course menu is on offer. Examples of the dishes you may find include oxtail and thyme custard with bone marrow enoki and tarragon, Shetland mussel kebab glazed in cucumber garum with savoury tzatziki, and apples (grown in its orchard) with sweet cheese, pine and French toast. The menu changes on a regular basis depending on local produce and seasonal supply.
If you’re visiting Heft on a Sunday you will find an indulgent menu of tempting sounding dishes including a dry aged 20oz beef rib for two and a whole monkfish roasted on the bone with charred pak choi, seaweed and apple salsa, with desserts like a strawberry and meadowsweet Chantilly tart. There is also a cheese course available that features some of the best local and national cheeses.