The Cleveland Tontine, Staddlebridge – A Labour Of Love

One of North Yorkshire’s best-known coaching inns is to be relaunched this autumn following a £1 million upgrade. The Cleveland Tontine at Staddlebridge, near Northallerton, sits on the edge of the North York Moors and dates back to 1804. The listed building was acquired by the Yorkshire-based Provenance Inns and Hotels Group last summer and they have carried out a careful and sympathetic redevelopment.

The main entrance has been remodelled and the bistro bar has undergone extensive changes to relocate its entrance, bar and toilets. The dining room, reception and cocktail bar have all been refurbished, with air conditioning to all the function rooms, and behind-the-scenes work includes an extension and upgrade to the kitchen. Outside, a new sound-attenuating fence along the entire western boundary reduces traffic noise from the A19 and the car park has been increased by a further 40 spaces. The exterior of the building has been redecorated, the chimneys replaced and new signage incorporated.

The Provenance team has paid close attention to the new menus, maintaining the Cleveland Tontine’s tradition of French cuisine with a Yorkshire flavour and reintroducing some old Tontine favourites such as the Seafood Pancake to the Menu Du Jour, which will also now be available into the evening. A La Carte choices include Provençale Fish Soup, Chateaubriand, Estate Red Legged Partridge and Dales Rack of Lamb, all sourced following Provenance’s philosophy of selecting the best available local produce, while seasonal fruit and vegetables come from local farms and from the group’s own kitchen gardens at Felixkirk.

“The Tontine has been hugely popular over the decades so when the opportunity arose to acquire it, we felt it fitted exceptionally well with our other locations,” says Provenance Inns Chairman Chris Blundell. “Our programme of development has been designed to complement the inn’s history and enhance its iconic nature. It has been a labour of love. I have always had deep affection for the Tontine and my own passion for high-quality regional food and welcoming inns seemed to fit perfectly with its reputation.”