The General Tarleton to reopen as debut project for Tommy Banks-led hospitality group

The General Tarleton, an 18^th-century coaching inn located in the village of Ferrensby near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is scheduled to reopen on 29^th August following extensive restoration work. The reopening marks the debut project of Jeopardy Hospitality, a newly formed group led by restaurateur Tommy Banks and partners Matthew Lockwood, James Banks and Neil Armstrong, which aims to revitalise historic pub sites across the UK, restoring them as community-focused venues with a strong emphasis on food and service.

Originally a well-known local establishment, the General Tarleton has been refurbished as an eight-bedroom pub with a private dining space, bar and beer garden. The interiors, created by Yorkshire-based designer Abi Hancock (whose previous work includes North London’s Perilla restaurant) preserves original features such as timber beams and stone floors, complemented by natural materials and warm tones intended to reflect the rural setting. Overseeing the new site is general manager Sam Orbaum, a Yorkshire native hailing from a senior role with the Woodhead Restaurant Group. Executive chef Aled Williams, who previously headed the Michelin-starred Northcote (as well as being Welsh representative on the BBC’s Great British Menu in 2010 and a recipient of the Gordon Ramsay Scholarship) will lead the kitchen.

The menu will focus on British pub classics made with seasonal and local ingredients. Dishes include Pork Crackling with Apple Butter, Smoked Haddock Chowder and a signature GT Burger made with Dexter beef from the Banks family farm. A Sunday roast will be on offer weekly, with meat and vegetarian options. To complement the food offering, Banks has curated a drinks list that features over 40 wines from both established and lesser-known producers, with more than 20 available by the glass. English wines from Wiston and Gusbourne are prominently featured, alongside a selection of classic cocktails and local ales. In addition, a new Gose-style beer has been created in collaboration with Turning Point Brewery in Knaresborough, using foraged botanicals and ingredients also from the Banks farm.

Jeopardy Hospitality describes its mission as aiming “to breathe new life into unique pub sites across the UK, each with its own story to tell”, combining culinary expertise with a focus on community engagement. The General Tarleton’s reopening represents the group’s first phase in what it calls an “ambitious vision” for the future.

Food Desk

The General Tarlton, Harrogate Road, Ferrensby, Knaresborough HG5 0QB reopens on 29^th August 2025. For further information or to book, visit the pub’s website here.