In the centre of Thornton le Dale, opposite the market cross, The New Inn makes a pleasant alternative to the village's many tea rooms.

An old Georgian coaching house which dates back to the early 18th century, the "New Inn" is hardly new.  But it does have a couple of recent additions, innkeepers Terry Strange and Joanne Welbourn, and has recently undergone refurbishment.

The welcoming bar area has a range of beers on tap, including real ales from the Theakstons and Caledonian breweries.  I spotted Theakstons Best and Grouse Beater, and Caledonian's "Tattoo".  To the left of the entrance is a rustic-style restaurant, and to the rear of the pub, an enclosed beer garden.

I called in to the New Inn for a spot of lunch, arriving just in time to place my order (food is served between 12pm and 2pm, and again in the evening).  The menu offers a good selection, from light snacks and sandwiches to larger meals, plus a daily "specials" board.  I ordered a BLT sandwich, which turned out to be huge, and came with chips and salad on the side.

A wider range of meals is served in the evenings, and chef Peter Wishaw takes pride in using only the finest locally sourced ingredients. 

As well as food and drink, the New Inn also offers non-smoking guest accommodation, with six letting rooms available.  One of the rooms is a four-poster.

An additional benefit, both in the guest rooms and in the bar area, is free WiFi broadband.

For more details, visit the pub's website.