The Stone Trough Inn is nestled in an area of outstanding natural beauty, overlooking Kirkham Abbey, only 10 minutes from Malton and close to the A64.

The original building is pre-1900, with stone floors and open fireplaces; an exquisite glass terrace extension was recently added which has panoramic views of the Howardian Hills.

The history of The Stone Trough is intertwined with the history of Kirkham. In the 12th century, the area of Kirkham was controlled by a French Knight Walter L Espec.

In 1120, his son was killed in a riding accident at the corner of the road to Firby. In memory of his son, he erected a simple cross, which eventually became separated from its base. It is the base, now to be found in the entrance to the car park, which became mistaken for a crude trough.

After many years, in 1983 the building was converted from a cottage into “The Stone Trough Inn”.

The pub has many stories it could tell and its landlord, Abbie, says it’s hard to choose one in particular.

“We have the pleasure of meeting different people every day, who have travelled from all over to visit us,” said Abbie.

“We recently hosted a wedding which was simply magical. Matt and I were so excited to hear all their plans and bring those dreams to life. The whole day was perfect for them; what topped it off was the groom sitting with us at the end of the night for a drink. After lots of dancing, drinking, laughter, and great food we sent them on their merry way home and wished them all the best for the future.”

Over time, the pub has developed a reputation for serving fresh and locally sourced food, which is accompanied by their local beers and ales that change seasonally.

Abbie said: “We serve a superb range of Yorkshire beers and ales and we currently have Black Sheep Best and Yorkshire Blonde, and they are definitely a winner for this season.”

Abbie and Matt have many visions for the future of The Stone Trough, including live music in their beer garden.

She said: “ We have many hopes for the pub, including live music during the summer, BBQ days and many more events to make the best use of the glorious space we have. For now, Sunday lunch is the biggest event we have going on!”

Abbie and Matt also enjoy getting supporting their local community and have plans for community events soon.

They said: “We like to support local causes and fundraising events when we can. Most recently, we donated a voucher towards the Queen’s Jubilee Street Party which is taking place in Westow. We also host various sporting dinners for the local villages and hope to welcome more of these in the future.”

Abbie and Matt look forward to summertime when their pub is at its busiest and say that is the best thing about running it.

They are also dog lovers and created their pub into a very dog-friendly space, saying: “There is always a fresh water bowl and treat available for a four-legged friend – or two!”

They believe The Stone Trough Inn is a warm, friendly environment for their guests.

“It’s a home away from home for our locals and new guests and we can’t wait to welcome everyone!”