Running The Homestead Kitchen has always been about more than simply running a restaurant. From the beginning, we’ve tried to create a place that feels warm, relaxed and welcoming — somewhere people return to again and again, whether they live here in Goathland or are visiting the beautiful North York Moors.
Each year, The Good Food Guide runs its Best Local Restaurant awards, celebrating the kind of places that are truly part of their communities: relaxed restaurants with excellent cooking, strong local suppliers and a brilliantly warm welcome for whoever walks through the door.
We were incredibly proud to win the North East regional award in 2023, something that meant a huge amount to our small team. It felt like recognition not just for the food we cook, but for the kind of place we’re trying to build here.
Which brings us to the slightly awkward part…
Nominations for this year’s awards are now open, and they rely entirely on the public putting restaurants forward. It never feels entirely natural to ask for that kind of support, but we also know how lucky we are to have such wonderful regulars and visitors who understand what we’re trying to do here.
If you’ve enjoyed a meal with us, joined one of our social walks, or simply feel that The Homestead Kitchen represents the spirit of a true local restaurant, we would be incredibly grateful if you’d consider nominating us.
Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year. Just down the road from the restaurant we’re expanding our growing space into a small market garden, allowing us to grow more organic vegetables for the kitchen while creating opportunities for the community to get involved. There will be volunteering days, gardening workshops and chances for people to learn about growing food sustainably.
Alongside this, we’ll continue our social walks and begin hosting more gatherings — gardening sessions, art workshops, retreats and creative events — all centred around food, nature and community.
Because that’s what local restaurants really are. They’re not just places to eat. They’re places to connect. When you walk through our door, you’re not just a table number or a booking in the diary. You become part of our story — and over time, we hope to become a small part of yours too.
Times are not the easiest in hospitality right now, and running a small independent restaurant can sometimes feel uncertain. But what gives us confidence is the community around us. The conversations, the familiar faces, the support we feel every day. Together, we know we can ride the waves.
So if you feel we’re your kind of local restaurant, we’d be incredibly touched if you put our name forward.
And who knows… could we bring the title home again?
Thank you, as always, for being part of what makes this place what it is.
Cecily & Pete
Nominations close at 11:59pm on Thursday 16th April.
The nomination form will ask you for the following details:
Restaurant Name: Homestead Kitchen
Address: Prudom House, Goathland, North Yorkshire, YO22 5AN
Website: www.thehomesteadgoathland.com
We enjoy calling into The Homestead Kitchen Goathland regularly for the locally sourced ingredients, friendly professional service and tours of their kitchen garden. Perfect experience and always eco friendly