The Talbot

Style

Flavour of the North

Setting

Gateway to the moors

Cosy coaching inn The Talbot is the home of hospitality in Malton, the market town that's seen as the foodie capital of Yorkshire. Rovers bound for the North York Moors have been stopping by since the 17th century to charge their glasses, feast on local fare and revive chilled limbs by the fire. The chintz of yesteryear has now been ousted in favour of bold colours, pleasingly tactile fabrics and dressed-down furniture, but the blazing hearths and best-of-British hospitality are here to stay. Settle in the snug drawing room with a pint from the local brewery or experience Malton’s foodie revolution in the restaurant, where the chefs fly the banner for North Yorkshire produce. Right next door, the former coach yard has also got in on the action, hosting six foodie businesses that proudly bear the Made in Malton badge. Pack a healthy appetite…

Facilities

Rooms

26, including two suites.

Checkout

11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.

More Details

Rates do not include breakfast.

Also

There are no ramps or a lift, making the hotel unsuitable for wheelchair users.

Free Internet Access

Pet Friendly

On-Site Restaurant

At the Hotel

Gardens with lawns, a potager and lavender-scented terrace; cosy drawing room; free WiFi throughout. In rooms: flatscreen TV; Roberts radio; Nespresso coffee machine; tea and a kettle; 100 Acres bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

The Talbot’s refurbishment was masterminded by Sam and Georgie Pearman, the hoteliers behind fellow Smith stays No 131 and No 38 the Park. Their top-to-tail update is both bold and colourful – your bed might have a headboard wrapped in saffron velvet and be topped with teal cushions and a cerulean blue throw. Much of the furniture was sourced from flea markets, antique shops and vintage fairs across the country, adding a dressed down finish that stays faithful to the Talbot’s old-world soul. If you like to sprawl in your sleep, book one of the Big Rooms, which have super-king-size beds. Swing for one of the Excellent Rooms, and you’ll have bucolic views and a roll-top bath tub, too.

Packing Tips

Bring footwear for tackling muddy paths and trails. A walk in the surrounding fields and meadows is the best way to work up an appetite – a necessity if you’re to make the most of Malton.

Also

Malton’s market opens for business every Saturday morning, when you’ll find traders hawking everything from antiques to homemade jams. The larger, 35 stall-strong food market is on the second Saturday of every month, drawing foodies from far and wide.

Children

All ages are welcome. Let the hotel know in advance if you'll need a baby cot or an extra bed.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Ask for a table at the back of the room, where you'll have the best views of the fields that fringe the town.

Dress Code

Casual country garb – no one will bat an eyelid if you sit down to lunch in your wellies.

Hotel Restaurant

The restaurant is in a large, light-flooded dining room with a handsome wooden floor, charmingly mismatched furniture and views of the gardens and rolling fields. The sage-green walls are hung with botany-themed artwork and the tables are topped with local plants and herbs – sprigs of North Yorks heather, for example. The food is just as much a celebration of the region, showing off the bounty of Yorkshire’s fields and coasts. The cooking is precise but simple – you won’t find miniscule portions or overly fussy fare here. Start with the twice-baked Dale End cheddar souffle, follow with the chargrilled east coast mackerel, served off the bone with courgette and a chilli and fennel salad. The à la carte breakfast is chock full of hearty fare; expect fresh bread and pastries from Bluebird Bakery, homemade granola, Yorkshire rhubarb pots, fruit compote and more. Hot dishes are made to order – the devilled kidneys are fiendishly good.

Hotel Bar

The wood-panelled bar stands beneath a vast skylight that’s crossed with wooden beams, merging architecture, old and new. It’s an inherently cosy space with deep blue walls, an open fire, velvet sofas and supple leather armchairs. Kick back with a beer from local brewery Brasscastle or sip cocktails made with Rare Bird Gin, distilled right next door in Talbot Yard.

Last Orders

Breakfast is served in the Garden Room from 7am to 9.30am (8am to 10am on weekends). Dinner is from 6.30pm to 9.30pm and food from the bar menu is served from 10am to 6pm.

Planes

The closest airport is Leeds-Bradford, around an hour’s drive away. You can fly directly from London Heathrow in an hour flat.

Trains

Malton is served by TransPennine Express trains running between York and Scarborough. The station’s around seven minutes’ walk from the hotel.

Automobiles

There’s little need for a car in town as everything’s within walking distance. You will want one, though, if you’re going to explore the North Yorks Moors or the Yorkshire Wolds. There’s free parking at the hotel.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Generations of travellers have relied on the Talbot to slake their thirst and warm their bones. The cosiest place to hole up is the Snug, an inviting drawing room strewn with velvet armchairs and soft sofas – in winter, the grate will crackle and glow. If the sun’s doing the honours instead, settle on one of the lawns or pull up a pew on the lavender-lined terrace.

The inn’s old coach house and yard is now the Talbot Yard Food Court, home to a gelateria, coffee roastery, butcher, gin distillery, baker and macaron maker, all proudly carrying the Made in Malton stamp. Peruse them in your own time or join hotel owner Tom Naylor-Leyland on his Malton food tour, a three-hour journey punctuated by plenty of tasting stops. Tom’s also the director of Malton Cookery School, where you can hone your dinner-party repertoire with expert guidance and the help of North Yorkshire’s choicest produce. The Rare Bird Distillery also does a hands-on experience run by master distiller Matt. You’ll begin with a tour, learning about the gin-making process and getting acquainted with Florence, the distillery’s 300-litre copper pot still. Armed with your newfound knowledge (and fuelled by free G&Ts), you’ll then be turned loose on the distillery floor, creating your very own bottle of gin with botanicals of your choosing. If the free samples leave you feeling a little fuzzy-headed, hop in a cab to Scampston Hall, where you can stroll in head-clearing parkland and award-winning gardens by Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf. In summer, a plunge into the deep pool at wild swimming spot Stainforth Force will also do the trick.

Fans of Brideshead Revisited should make the most of Malton's proximity to Castle Howard, which has taken on the role of Brideshead twice – once for the TV adaptation and again for the film. Even if you’ve never seen them, go for the grandeur and 1,000-acre grounds. Toting a teddy bear is optional.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .