Riverside Dining

I love small, carefully planned surprises — especially when they involve the river. Over the years I’ve arranged several private riverside dinners along the Ouse, working with local caterers, florists, boat operators and licenced venues. Each event has taught me something useful: how to keep the moment intimate, how to make the logistics disappear, and how to let the river’s natural charm shine through. Below I share how I plan a surprise...

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I have a soft spot for afternoon tea — the small ceremony of it, the way a pot of tea can make a riverside bench feel like a holiday, and how a stack of warm scones can slow the clock down. In York, where the River Ouse threads through the city, there are several places that locals keep returning to, whether for the flawless clotted cream or the easy, unhurried service. Below I share the places I head back to again and again, plus how I choose...

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I have a soft spot for riverside dining in York — the way the light slips across the Ouse, the quiet clink of cutlery, and the hum of conversation that never quite reaches the volume of a city centre pub. Over years of testing menus, lingering at tables and asking kindly for that particular corner seat, I've learned a few practical rules for choosing the perfect riverside table in York’s smaller restaurants. Below I share what I look for,...

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I love arranging intimate, private dinners by the River Ouse — there’s something quietly theatrical about candlelight reflecting on the water and the hush of the city at night. If you’re planning a small celebration in York — an anniversary, a close-knit birthday or a proposal — I’ll walk you through how I put a private riverside dinner together from first idea to the last toast. I write from experience: I’ve organised evenings at...

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Why I chase quiet riverside breakfastsThere’s something restorative about the river in the early morning: the light soft on the water, gulls or swans moving in slow choreography, and the city’s loudest notes still tucked away. When I plan a slow morning in York, I look for a place where I can linger over tea, watch the tide of people thin, and let the first meal of the day be an invitation to slow travel rather than a rushed necessity. Over...

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When I think of a perfect riverside meal in York, I imagine simple plates that celebrate the seasons, a window seat where the Ouse drifts by, and prices that don’t make you sacrifice a second glass of wine. I’ve spent many evenings and breakfast hours scouting riverside spots for Fevershamlodge Co, testing menus and chatting with chefs so I can point you to reliably delicious meals for under £30. Below I share my favourite places, seasonal...

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