The Unicorn Hotel is situated on the Market Place in the heart of Ripon and was formerly coaching house and posting inn. You will be guaranteed you a warm and friendly welcome. The Unicorn Hotel can date it’s history back to 1379 when it is mentioned in the Poll Tax returns of that year.

There are thirty three spacious en-suite bedrooms, each decorated in comfortable and traditional styles. They are all equipped with colour televisions, telephones, and bedside radios. Children are welcome to stay and there are specially designed family rooms catering for all your needs.

The hotel Restaurant, Brigantes, takes its name from the ancient Celtic tribe that once occupied this part of Britain. There is always a wide selection of food available each evening for the hotel guests and non-resident diners. A selection of bar meals are also available on a lunch time and evening, with morning coffee and afternoon tea also available. The hotel lounge provides residents with a quite place to relax during the day or on an evening, opening late for hotel guests.

There is also the adjoining Tom Crudd’s bar for a more lively atmosphere Tom Crudd’s is also a popular venue for screening major sporting events on its large screen TV. Both bars serve a selection of traditional ales along with a range of lagers and ciders.

The Ripon Spa Hotel has been owned by the same family for eighty years and the emphasis for them has always been on quality, service and attention to detail. A friendly service is second nature to their staff and there are strong values of hospitality, providing any guest a comfortable stay.

The Edwardian hotel is situated in several acres of attractive gardens with well laid out grounds, and is only five minutes level walking distance from the centre of the ancient city of Ripon. Guests can relax and enjoy the comfort of the attractive surroundings throughout the hotel’s public areas overlooking the beauty of the gardens in the changing seasons.

There are 40 en-suite bedrooms which are well equipped and individually furnished with many overlooking the grounds. There are four rooms are on the ground floor and there is a lift to both floors.

Their main restaurant is very popular with local diners and offers traditional English cooking, and wherever possible, local produce is used. There is the option of the Table D’Hote menu and in addition there is an A La Carte menu. Equally popular is the surroundings of the Turf Tavern, where bar food and sandwiches are served. Morning Coffee or Afternoon Tea are also available and are served in the Lounge or Garden Room and on the Terrace on finer days.

The Ripon Spa Hotel also boast extensive banqueting and conference facilities and they have a maximum capacity of 240 guest that will suit any occasion.

Following a £1.4 million refurbishment, the Old Deanery Hotel and Restaurant has been transformed into a contemporary and luxurious place to stay and eat, offering 11 individually designed bedrooms and a 50 seat restaurant. It also boasts well equipped conference facilities.

The Old Deanery dates back to 1625 and is located directly across from the splendid Ripon Cathedral. The Old Deanery is steeped in history and is built on the site of a former monastery of St Wilfred. Famous visitors include Lewis Carroll who spent a lengthy time there during the early 19th century, and the army also occupied the premises during the Second World War.

The Grade II listed building and the interior has been completely revamped during 2002-3, accommodating a stylish new restaurant on the ground floor, with wooden floors, leather seating and a light and modern feel, providing a luxurious experience for all diners. The Old Deanery serves Breakfast, Morning Coffee, Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner. The award winning chefs offer an astronomical array of creations, from speciality fish dishes to local meat, poultry and game dishes, and their extensive collection of cellar wines are also available to complement your meal. The modern bar is well stocked with beers, wines and spirits offering any guest their favourite tipple. The bar is open to non-residents, with a cocktail happy hour to start any evening off.

The majestic, original 17th century oak staircase leads to the eleven individually designed and luxurious bedrooms. Every bedroom has a lavish en-suite bathroom each with individual character, and the rooms come equipped with modern conveniences including broadband internet access points and digital television. The bedrooms offer delightful Cathedral views or overlook the splendid gardens

The conference room can cater for 22 people and is centrally located within the main hotel. It comes complete with technologically advanced equipment and office support services. There are six well spaced internet, telecom and fax points and the facility can be arranged according to your needs, with your guests receiving excellent hospitality.

More Infomation: The Old Deanery, Ripon

One of the longest established family run restaurants in Ripon, Valentinos has been serving authentic Italian cuisine in Ripon for over twenty five years. Formerly a café, Valentinos was born when two brothers of  Italian descent opened Ripon’s second Pizzeria in the mid eighties. Both brothers had gained a lot of experience in Harrogate at the Number Six Restaurant which was the place to eat in Harrogate during the seventies and early eighties before going it alone.

Offering an extremely wide and varied men, Valentinos quickly became the perfect place to take the family for a bite to eat in Ripon whether you fancied a burger, steak, pizza, pasta or something a little more special such as veal scallops or Lobster Thermidor.

Very little has changed over the years and Valentios is still one of the best places to dine in Ripon no matter what your taste in food is. Large parties are also catered for and the last time we took a party of fifteen on a busy Saturday Evening, the service was friendly and first class.

The Golden Lion is a traditional family pub situated on Allhallowgate, 2 minutes walk from the town centre and 5 minutes from the Cathedral which offers you a warm welcome. During the last few years the Golden Lion has been redeveloped and this has made it into a popular choice for locals and tourists.

The Golden Lion has won many awards, with the most recent being “The Community Pub of the Year 2007″ by the Morning Advertiser for Yorkshire and the North East. Also we have won “The Best Development Pub 2005″ awarded by New Century Inns, and “Best Pub Food in Ripon 2006″ voted for by Ripon Internet.

The Golden Lion has an excellent lunch menu with a choice of several main courses such as fish and chips, burgers, steak sandwiches and steak pie available for £5.95 each or two main courses for £10. There is also a choice of salads as well and currently a credit crunch special on selected drinks.

The Golden Lion also has a large function room at the back which is available to hire.

The One Eyed Rat, Ripon is not technically a food pub but without doubt one of the best places to go in Ripon if you fancy a “liquid lunch” !

One of the most popular drinking houses in Ripon, and very much a “proper pub”, The One Eyed Rat prides itself on serving a wide range of Guest and Resident Beers from around the UK and the world and is very much a drinking persons’ pub whether you fancy some Black Sheep Bitter, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Scrumpy Jack Cider or something with a more European flavour such as Duvel from Belgium.

Originally known as the Lord Nelson, the One Eyed Rat was renamed in the mid eighties and is tailored for those who like to enjoy good beer without all the modern day theme pub distractions such as music, food and children.

The One Eyed Rat also boasts a large beer garden at the rear which is perfect for enjoying a pint in the sunshine on a Summer’s day and is also one of rare pubs where you can still enjoy a game of Bar Billiards in the bar area.

If you enjoy your pubs in the CAMRA style, The One Eyed Rat is the one to visit in Ripon