A must-visit for mini-breakers craving a taste of the countryside, Yorkshire’s food capital of Malton is a go-to for independent shops and a brilliant market. Planning a road trip? The North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds are within easy reach by car.
26 October, 2020
Malton, North Yorkshire
Hailed as Yorkshire's food capital, this historic market town has found the recipe for success over the last decade. Farmers, chefs, butchers, bakers (and the odd candlestick maker) have rallied together to dish up local produce alongside a hefty helping of independent spirit.
Despite its rapid resurgence, it's still packed with old-school charm. You'll likely see a flat-capped farmer picking up his morning coffee as you will a padded jockey post-ride picking up a sarnie for lunch. Plus the odd butcher hauling a hog halfway down the street. It's traditional, wholesome and unashamedly rural.
Carve out time to visit Talbot Yard. This stableyard-turned-food-court is where you'll find your pick of artisanal "Made in Malton" suppliers. Still hungry? Time your trip with the monthly food market which takes place every second Saturday of the month. More than 30 local stalls selling everything from salt and macarons to Yorkshire Dama (aka "squeaky cheese", the northern version of halloumi) fill the higgledy-piggledy alleyways.
The rest of the market town reads like a love letter to independent boutiques. Stop by Atom Retro to rummage through a mixture of modern and 60s clothing, Hare & Wilde for chic homewares and Cosy Cottage Soap if you're looking to pick up a gift.
Settle in at The Talbot, a repurposed coaching inn where furniture upholstered in jewel-toned velvet and colour-pop four-poster beds are transforming the once stuffy building into one that's effortlessly stylish.
Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, Chapter One Bistro - run by local Jackie Scott and her team of girls - will rustle up something fresh and utterly fabulous. Her chilli prawns have attracted something of a cult following.
Head to Roost, the family-run coffee roastery in Talbot Yard for your morning cup o'Joe and Maison Du Vin for something a little stronger.
That friend who can reel off the names of Michelin-starred chefs like their personal friends. The part-time, novice food critic will appreciate Malton's foodie scene and the new content for their Instagram.
We're repurposing our Loewe raffia tote from beach bag to market tote to stuff full of farmers' market finds. It can get pretty nippy on the nearby moors, so don't forget a pair of gloves. These timeless Johnstons of Elgin cashmere gloves come everywhere us when temperatures drop.
It's roughly a four-hour drive from London to Malton via the M1. Alternatively, catch the train from Kings Cross to York and change to the Transpennine Express for a 25-minute journey to Malton.
