More than just a Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms
For us at The Black Swan, it’s much more than just Michelin Star food. The focus is all about where we are and who we are – a reflection of “Oldstead”- traditional Yorkshire with a swirling mix of creativity and eccentricity. We design and build most things ourselves. Whatever it is, it’s us, and as our guest, you’ll see it for yourself.
Chef, Tommy Banks’ talent is in itself truly remarkable. He was Britain’s youngest Michelin-starred chef in 2013 and won Great British Menu in 2016 and 2017. The Michelin-starred Black Swan was awarded The Best Restaurant in the UK 2018 by The Food and Travel Magazine and the ‘Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the World’ by TripAdvisor, in 2017.
Tommy, James and their parents Anne and Tom were joined by Matt Lockwood to establish a new restaurant, Roots York in the old building of The Bay Horse on Marygate in York. Roots opened in September 2018 and is sister to The Black Swan, carrying the field to fork ethos into its small sharing plates restaurant. Bringing a little bit of Oldstead into the city.
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Homegrown Creativity
“I see the Black Swan as a co-operative of minds. We have great people working here; some real characters with tremendous talent and it’s their coming together that creates something special. We want our guests to feel part of it and experience it with us. It’s not just a job for us, it’s a lifestyle”
– Tommy Banks
Informal Hospitality
During your stay you will meet many of our staff. Both the kitchen and front-of-house teams spend many hours working outside; they really understand what the food is and why it’s on the plate; they can tell you the whole story from start to finish.
“I like to think that we have brushed aside much of the formality normally associated with fine dining; for us it’s about our guests having fun; so it’s good food, good service and a good time” – Anne Banks
Something unique
“We’re lucky to have such a creative team. Growing and foraging so much ourselves really gives us an edge and a chance to do things differently. Guests get something unique to us; our personality, our place and our ideas.”
– James Banks
Yorkshire farmers
“As Yorkshire farmers, it’s great that our food is eaten right here where it’s been grown (with so few food miles) but before we take ourselves too seriously, let’s not forget the distance that you, our guests, might have travelled in order to eat it”
– Tom Banks
Designed and Made in Oldstead
Owned and run by The Banks Family, who have lived and farmed around Oldstead for many generations; The Black Swan is very much their creation, with Tommy Banks heading the kitchen and his brother James running the front-of-house. There’s an “Oldstead” style; plenty of tradition and culture, cut through with a modern earthy, exuberance.
It’s a melting pot of expertise that blossoms out into what is Made in Oldstead; it’s not just super-chefs and wine wizards, it’s agriculture, engineering, design, lots of washing up and a whole team of specialists in Yorkshire humour.
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We are delighted that our sister restaurant Roots York has been shortlisted for ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in the Food & Travel Reader Awards 2019, along with Tommy Banks being shortlisted for ‘Chef of the Year’.
The Black Swan Oldstead won ‘Best Restaurant Outside of London’ and ‘Restaurant of the Year’ overall in 2018, so any support for Roots York to follow in those footsteps would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Vote nowWe will now direct you to our online booking system TOCK
Before continuing, please read the following: Tock is a ‘ticketing’ system that requires the full payment to make a reservation. If you would like to purchase a gift voucher you can do so here
- All our live availability is shown on TOCK – we don’t use any other systems.
- We only take reservations up to 6 months in advance.
- If you have a gift voucher that you would like to use as part or full payment, please click here to make a request.
- All room bookings automatically include a reservation in the restaurant.
- We serve a ‘Tasting’ style menu and do not offer ‘A la Carte’.
Sorry, but we are unable to accommodate:
- Tables for more than 4 guests in the restaurant (However, our sister restaurant Roots York offers dining for up to 13 guests)
- Children under 18 in the bedrooms or under 10 in the restaurant
- Dogs or pets in the restaurant, bar or bedrooms.
Please read our FULL Cancellation Policy and our FAQS before confirming your booking
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