Helmsley is a picturesque market town in North Yorkshire, approximately 25 miles from York. I hadn’t visited since I was a child and was pleasantly surprised how pretty and quaint it was. Considering it was November the place was bustling with locals and visitors. There are plenty of places to eat and independent shops to explore. We quickly identified that the market was not our scene and so meandered around the streets in the autumn sunshine. We wandered up to the castle ruins and then stopped off for warm drinks and shared a slice of gluten free carrot cake at Number Twelve. Despite the time of the year the cafes were busy but as the weather was dry and bright we were able to sit outside. We spent way too long browsing the options in Helmsley Traditional Sweet Shop before heading back to our hotel , The Feversham Arms, a short walk away. Helmsley is well worth a visit if you are in North Yorkshire.
The Feversham Arms Hotel has been on our list for some time but celebrating twenty years since our first meeting was the perfect time to book a stay. The hotel has a number of accommodation options available from classic rooms to poolside suites. The hotel felt intimate but quiet, possibly due to the time of year. After check in we headed down to the Verbena spa, use of the facilities are included in the price of your stay. They also have a menu of treatments available and use Temple Spa products which I can recommend. The spa was much better than we expected for the size of the hotel. They have an aromatherapy room, steam room, sauna, monsoon shower, foot spas and outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi. Everywhere was immaculately clean and staff were friendly and offered to show us around. There was only one family in the spa and pool area when we visited it was such a luxury, and felt like we had the place to ourselves. The Temple Spa products in the room were also an added bonus for shower time.
After visiting a local restaurant for food we headed back to the hotel bar for drinks. The area was small, like a living room, and so felt busy with three other couples there. Unfortunately the service was poor. The staff member serving at the bar ignored us while mixing cocktails, then got our order wrong but was rude to us about it. The prices were extortionate, more than we have ever paid before for two drinks. Worryingly we overheard others complaining that their bill was not accurate and extra drinks had been added on, and the staff did not deal with this in a professional manner.
Breakfast is included in the price of the stay and served in the hotels Weathervane restaurant. The tables were set immaculately and the buffet options well stocked but unfortunately the service was poor again. Allergy queries were dealt with unprofessionally and used plates and bowls were not removed so we were squashed on our table for two and had to ask for assistance. Staff did not speak to us for the duration even when we were leaving. To be honest we have had much better at a Premier Inn.
It’s not always easy to find a suitable restaurant in an area you are not familiar with, especially when you have to consider allergies. It can be difficult to get the feel for a place from a website, especially if they don’t feature photographs of the inside or their menus. We spent a while looking at the options in Helmsley and nearby and decided to make a reservation for Coopers, and we were not disappointed.
Of course the autumn vibes and twinkly lights as we approached in the dark added to the experience, but the atmosphere in Coopers was definitely what we had been looking for. It was welcoming but professional. Staff were friendly and attentive from us entering. Nothing was a bother and the waiter talked me thru how the menu could be adapted to be gluten free.
For starters we both chose a traditional prawn cocktail with marie rose and sourdough/ gluten free bread. For main I opted for ‘breast of chicken, wrapped in bacon , stuffed with mozzarella, wilted spinach and mushroom cream sauce’. I wondered if it would need an accompanying side but glad I did not bother as the meal was filling. Gavin went for his favourite, reliable lasagne. Both meals were cooked to perfection and portions were generous. Annoyingly we couldn’t manage a dessert but there were plenty of options including a gluten free brownie. If you are in the Helmsley area we cannot recommend Coopers enough. They also have lunch time options.
