An Inn that has been central to Askwith village for over 150 years is once again welcoming guests to dine, drink and stay.
Formerly known as The Askwith Arms and The Black Horse, The Penny Bun takes its name from a delicious mushroom harvested by our chefs in the nearby woods.
The pub was purchased in late 2022 by Denton Reserve Holdings Ltd, the owners of the nearby Denton Park Estate and has been subject to a substantial construction works package. The pub has undergone a full refurbishment, including a deep sustainable retrofit to make sure it’s fit for the next 100 years and provides a comfortable and energy efficient place to stay, dine and work.
Scott Hessel, The Penny Bun’s Head Chef, won the Roux Scholarship in 1990 at the age of 19. He went on to learn his craft in some of the UK’s & Europe’s finest kitchens, before returning to his roots in Yorkshire.
He combines this experience with the freshest local produce & regional specialities to serve food which is refined, yet gently rustic with a real sense of place.
Scott said: “We are all about sustainability, local and seasonal menus with the emphasis on a pared back style of cookery. Over time as the Denton Reserve project is established we will use their regenerative farms to grow more and more of our produce directly – our ambition is to turn food miles into food meters. We can’t wait for customers to experience the excitement and immediacy of our farm to fork food straight from the land.”
Scott’s delicious food is complimented by the elegant new dining room inspired by local makers & modern craft. The menus are hyper-seasonal, change often & celebrate the best produce from Yorkshire.
As well as fantastic food, The Penny Bun also offers guests the chance to stay. Located above the inn are five restful, screen-free, bedrooms in a simple yet sophisticated style.
The fixtures, fittings, and furniture in each room has been sourced from independent craftspeople or purpose-led companies that value sustainability & quality, such as Chapter Organics, an award-winning Yorkshire maker of botanical aromatherapy blends.
General Manager (Hospitality), Denton Reserve, Andrew Creese, said: “When we acquired this pub it was to showcase the best of the produce from the estate and to provide a great food and beverage experience for the guests of the estate and the local community alike. We are excited to have added bedrooms to The Penny Bun allowing our guests to fully immerse themselves into every aspect of our ethos. Our rooms follow our sustainable mindset through every detail making them a wonderful and unique addition to the local accommodation offering.
Historically rural coaching inns were a destination for the traveller or explorer seeking comfort, conviviality & good food. For the surrounding community they were a friendly open house with a sense of place & pride.
The Penny Bun remains true to this history, whilst also focussing on innovative & sustainable ways of providing hospitality.
Bookings are now being taken for dining and introductory rates for accommodation via the website: Pennybunilkley.co.uk
The Penny Bun is part of Denton Reserve; a bold, purpose-led project, with an ambition to transform 2500 acres of land to combat climate change.