I've passed through the attractive village of Addingham many times, usually on the Dalesbus en-route to the Yorkshire Dales, but had never stopped to visit any of its five pubs.

Having heard good things about The Fleece, backed up by a recommendation from the lady in the village book-shop, we headed to this award-winning gastro pub for lunch.

The Yorkshire stone building dates from the late 1700s, and what looks like the former coach-house has been sympathetically converted into the pub's main restaurant area.

Absolutely packed when we arrived, we were lucky enough to snag a newly vacated table at the back of the restaurant, next to the fireplace.  Bookings aren't normally accepted, so it's first-come, first-served.  The Fleece is pleasantly decorated, with a flagged floor, a large collection of brass and copper utensils adorning the low-beamed ceiling, a turtle's shell by the fire, and tables just about everywhere.

The menu is pretty extensive, but isn't printed.  Instead it's written on blackboards, and (they must have run out of space) on one of the ceiling beams in the corner.  A small wine list consists mainly of French wines, with a few from the New World.

Many of the dishes use local produce, with fish and crustaceans from Whitby and meats from Stephen Crabtree's Bolton Park Farm.

Starters and lighter dishes range from soups and sandwiches or toasties, to a ploughman's platter or omelettes.  We chose from the 'light' range, but both my omelette with ham and my husband's minute-steak sandwich with fried onions were more than filling.

The main courses certainly aren't for wimps or dieters.  They're huge.  A man at the next table was brought the 'jumbo Whitby fish and chips', which to his credit, he managed to eat most of.  He told us he'd chosen this dish as the meat and potato pie was just too big to cope with!

One couple had enough room for desserts, and the waitress brought another blackboard to their table for them to choose from.

The Fleece is very much a 'foodie' pub, and we can see why it won an award from Yorkshire Life magazine for its cuisine - it won 'Dining Pub of the Year' in the 2005-2006 Food and Wine awards.

There are absolutely no excuses for using the car to visit The Fleece, as there's a bus stop literally outside the door. 

Which is just as well, as there's a good selection of real ales to choose from if you just want to stop by for a drink.  Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Black Sheep, Tetleys and Golden Pippin from the Copper Dragon Brewery at Skipton are all on offer.

Bus services X84 (Leeds-Skipton), 903 (Steeton and Silsden train station-Addingham) and Keighley & District's 762 from Ilkley station to Skipton (or vice-versa, and also passes close to Steeton & Silsden station) all stop here. 

For walkers, the Dalesway walk, which starts at Ilkley, passes through Addingham, and The Fleece is only a short (and well worth it) detour off the route.  Walk off lunch by following our walk back to Ilkley along this route.

Food is served daily, last orders 2.15pm for lunch and 9.15pm for dinner, but available all day on Sundays.

The Fleece, 154 Main Street, Addingham, West Yorkshire.   Tel:  01943 830491