Willow Beck — Restaurant in England

My husband is coeliac so needs all his food to be gluten free to avoid being very ill for the following 24 hrs. On many occasions in the past, he has eaten at other venues and been assured that his food was gluten free but it wasn’t. These experiences have made eating out a stressful and fearful experience. However, we’ve been to the Willowbeck in Northallerton a few times in recent months and the standard of care is exemplary. The staff are not only welcoming, friendly and efficient but their appreciation of the needs of people with allergies and food intolerances is second to none. The moment I ask for the gluten free menu, the cutlery and napkins are removed, the table cleaned and fresh cutlery and napkins provided. 2 servers bring the food, one carrying his plate, the other carrying mine. His food has a wooden ALLERGY flag so all staff are aware. It’s very clear that the staff are extremely knowledgeable and appreciative of his needs and take as much care as we do at home. To say that we’re impressed is an understatement. I can only think that the instigator of these procedures is also allergic or intolerant of foodstuffs. That person, along with all the other staff, deserves the highest praise and thanks. Now my husband can eat out and be confident that he won’t become ill. Thank you for enabling us to enjoy eating out for the first time. Our servers at our most recent visit on 9 May (our Silver Wedding anniversary) were Nicky and Alisha. We will return on 6 July to celebrate our son’s birthday - a very special occasion as we’ll be meeting our 5 year old granddaughter for the first (and last) time. We know we’ll be able to enjoy a very happy meal. Thank you...

We were running late for our booking. 2 small grandchildren isn't good for timekeeping!! It was absolutely no problem. We made welcome as soon as we arrived. The children were provided with colouring cards, & given straws to drink with, & plastic cups as we'd requested. A bottle of tap water was provided to dilute the childrens fruit juice. A virtually non alcoholic beer was recommended for our driver, which I'm told was excellent. He actually took note of it to find some when he got home (London). The food was excellent, although the pie crust on one of the chicken pies was a little over done & quite hard, although not sufficient to complain about. It still got eaten!! One of the children's meals had mashed potato as she doesn't like chips. Again, absolutely no problem. We asked for 1 dessert for the children, but an extra bowl, so we could divide it up. We were asked if we'd like to have it divided up in the kitchen & served accordinly, which was very helpful & we happily accepted. The play area outside was also great as they were well occupied whilst waiting for the meal to be served, which arrived all together in good time. We felt we were being well looked after for the whole visit, which isn't often the case when arriving with 2 small children, who were, in fact, very well...

First of all the starter, I thought we were getting child’s portions, 7.00 for a bowl of soup, which tasted lovely but it was in a small bowl only half full, not what I’d call a bowl of soup. My husband got steak 22.00 steak was great cooked just how he likes, he got about 6 chips would have been 8 but the waitress dropped two as she brought the meals over, the plate was half empty and for the price an onion ring would have been nice not worth the money. I had Sunday dinner Pork, again pork was lovely, the veg though one teaspoon of red cabbage a few peas and 3 strips of carrot the Yorkshire pudding was flat and had a thick uncooked pancake bottom, why put mange tout on a Sunday dinner I’d rather have more cabbage, very disappointing the staff all jump to the door when you come in and then slowly traipse around like they have nothing to do. We used to go there a lot when it first opened won’t be back, we go out usually every Sunday there’s so much better out their. My husband paid 30.00 for his meal and starter, we went somewhere else last week everyone said it’s expensive it was 22.00 for starter and Sunday dinner packed to the rafters, the meal was great starter and main how can I return to you when I can get so much better. Not for me...