The latest addition to the Great Inns of Britain collection is the The Rose & Crown at Romaldkirk in Teesdale. This beautiful 18th century coaching inn enjoys a picture postcard setting overlooking Romaldkirk’s village greens, complete with medieval stocks, water pump, Saxon church and surrounding stone built cottages.
Period Features
Stepping inside, the Inn effortlessly blends contemporary fittings and furnishings with the period interiors of polished panelling, old beams and gleaming brasses. The public bar is a popular watering hole for locals and is completed with an oak settle, carriage lamps and open fireplace.
The twelve en-suite bedrooms are individually decorated and furnished with luxurious fabrics, Bose music systems and Molton Brown bathroom accessories. The seven bedrooms in the main house possess period features, exposed beams, antique furniture and a couple even contain private sitting rooms; while the five bedrooms in the courtyard offer a modern, contemporary décor.
Guests can dine in either the Brasserie or the Restaurant and enjoy dishes that use lots of local and regional produce. With oak panelling, white tablecloths, candlelight and sparkling silver, the Restaurant offers a fine dining experience, while the Brasserie provides a more intimate setting with its mixture of red walls, old prints and candles.
Award Winner
The Inn has won numerous accolades, most recently 2 AA Red Stars and 2 AA Rosettes (2009) Michelin ‘Pub of the Year’ (2006) and The Which? Guide to Good Hotels ‘Glorious Gastro Pub’ (2004). Owner, Chris Davy, is a life-long chef and hotelier; trained at the Westminster Hotel School in London, he later became Manager of the Chester Grosvenor Hotel, where he met his wife Alison. Together, they successfully ran the Black Swan at Ravenstonedale in the Eden Valley in Cumbria before settling at The Rose and Crown in 1993.
Chris, who is Vice Chair of the British Hospitality Association, is passionate about good food and great service and, commenting on joining the Great Inns of Britain, he says:
“'We are delighted to have been invited to join such a prestigious group. The Great Inns has a wonderful collection of historic inns and we are proud that the Rose and Crown is to be included.”
Chris is also passionate about his local area and is Chairman of the County Durham Area Tourism Partnership as well as being one of the ‘faces’ for North East England’s Passionate people, Passionate places campaign.
Sir Thomas Ingilby, Chair of the Great Inns of Britain, adds:
“The Rose & Crown is a wonderful addition to the Great Inns of Britain. This fabulous country Inn shares the essential characteristics of The Great Inns – a real historical charm, coupled with first class food, excellent wines, real ales and a warm welcome. I’m sure it’s going to become a firm favourite with our Great Inns’ customers.”