The owners of the Wild Swan, the historic 19th century inn at Minskip, near Boroughbridge, have hired one of Yorkshire’s most talented chefs.
Alex Bond and Stephen Lennox, who bought the Wild Swan last year, have heralded the arrival of chef Paul Murphy as the start of a new era for the popular inn.
Alex said:
Paul’s appointment is crucially important for the future of the Wild Swan. He has a superb reputation and we are in doubt that he will take the Wild Swan to a completely new level in terms of the quality and the presentation of our food.
Paul Murphy, whose previous experience includes building up the acclaimed Timble Inn near Otley into five-star hotel from scratch and working with legendary chef Frances Atkins at the Michelin-starred Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, said he been made to feel very much at home by the Minskip community.
Paul said:
I have had such a wonderful welcome from the village. I are determined to give Minskip and the surrounding district, an inn to be proud of. I have completely revamped the menu and am determined to create enjoyable and imaginative food at competitive prices. I haven’t been here long, but the reaction so far has been brilliant.
I am aiming to replicate the success I had at the Timble Inn, which my wife and I ran from 2009 to 2014. Like the Timble, the Wild Swan has immense potential.
This is a fabulous opportunity. Alex and Stephen have given us a blank canvas. They simply wants the Wild swan to be at the heart of the Minskip community and to be loved and treasured by villagers.
The global pandemic made life very difficult for country inns like the Wild Swan, but now Alex, Stephen and I we have the chance to restore the make the Swan one of the finest inns in the county – and we are going to seize that chance with both hands.
Alex Bond said:
We are determined to make the Wild Swan the beating heart of Minskip again, creating an award-winning inn where the residents can enjoy a quiet pint or two and the local community feels comfortable and at home. We are fully committed to helping the community, supporting both the Church and the Village Hall in their fund-raising activities.
At the same time, we are looking to establish the Wild Swan’s reputation for excellent food and drink in relaxed and informal surroundings, making it a destination location for food lovers across the county.
