Britain’s best B&B revealed – with unique pick-your-own flower field and ‘best ever breakfast’
A B&B in North Yorkshire has been crowned the best in the UK.
Mallard Grange in Aldfield was given the accolade as part of the AA Hospitality Awards.
The awards, which take place annually, aim to recognise excellent hotels and restaurants across the UK.
Set on a working farm in a 700 year old Grade II Listed farmhouse, it has four cosy bedrooms, each with their own lounge area.
Its breakfasts are made up with a selection of locally produced and homemade goods, including homemade Seville orange marmalade made using an old family recipe, and jam made with fruit from the garden.
Fresh eggs are also on the menu, as well as honey from the farm’s bees.
People have raved about how good the breakfast is.
One guest who visited in April this year wrote on Tripadvisor it’s “the best breakfast you’ll find anywhere”.
And new this year is the farm’s pick your own (PYO) flower field.
The flower field, which grows wildflowers and sunflowers, opened at the beginning of July.
It was open daily before closing in September, but there are plans for it to reopen in Spring next year.
The Johnson family have lived at Mallard Grange since 1933 and today it’s the home of Charles and Maggie Johnson and their two sons, James and William.
As well as having a comfortable place for guests to stay, the family go about their daily lives working on the farm.
Maggie and James keep bees, free range hens roam about, and around 200 cows and calves and a flock of sheep call the farm home.
Positioned on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the B&B is ideally located for walks and cycling.
And historic castles and gardens and great restaurants and pubs are close by.
Fountains Abbey, an ancient abbey ruins which was voted joint-top British heritage attraction with Royal Yacht Britannia in 2022, is over a half an hour walk way and just four minutes by car.
And there are lots of other attractions nearby, including the North York Moors and the spa town of Harrogate, both 30 minutes away.
Pubs and restaurants are also a short drive away, many of which can be found in nearby Ripon – the third smallest city in England and the smallest in Yorkshire.
Mallard Grange guests have described their stay at the B&B as “perfect”.
One person who visited in September this year wrote on Tripadvisor: “We had an extremely comfortable stay at this lovely farmhouse B&B, Our host Maggie was very welcoming and had thought of everything that would make our stay thoroughly enjoyable. Home-made flapjacks were very much appreciated as well as quality toiletries in the bathroom.
“Maggie was the perfect hostess, warm, welcoming and suggesting places of interest locally. What can we say about the breakfasts, utterly delicious using the farm produce where she can and supporting other local businesses.”
Winners of AA Hospitality Awards 2024
Chefs’ Chef of the Year
- Tom Aikens, from Muse, London
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Adrian Ellis MI FIH, former General Manager of The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Restaurants of the Year
- England – The Greyhound, Buckinghamshire
- London – The Silver Birch, London
- Wales – Thomas by Tom Simmons, Cardiff
- Scotland – Loch Bay Restaurant, Isle of Skye
Hotels of the Year
- England – Down Hall Hotel & Spa, Hertfordshire
- London – The Dorchester
- Wales – The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff
- Scotland – Cromlix, Stirling
- Northern Ireland – The Ebrington Hotel, Londonderry
Group of the Year
- Red Carnation Hotel Group
Small Hotel Group of the Year
- Eden Hotel Collection, Stratford-Upon-Avon
Wine Award
- England – Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Lancashire
- Wales – Plas Dinas Country House, Gwynedd
- Scotland – The Balmoral, Edinburgh
Housekeeper of the Year
- Paula Seddon – Crow Wood Hotel and Spa Resort, Lancashire
Sustainable Award
- 1 Hotel Mayfair, London
Inn of the Year
- The Cartford Inn, Lancashire
B&B of the Year
- Mallard Grange, North Yorkshire
Restaurant with Rooms of the Year
- Mingary Casle, Highlands
Spa Hotel of the Year
- Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire
Food Service Award
- The Seafood Restaurant, Cornwall
College Restaurant of the Year
- Senara – Truro & Penwith College
A two night stay at Mallard Grange for two adults will set you back £270.
Minimum stays are two or three nights, depending on the time of year.