AS a Halifax-born lass, I have a soft spot for the town’s mighty Dean Clough complex.

Originally home to one of the world’s largest carpet factories, John Crossley and Son, the Victorian site today houses over 100 business and arts venues, including the Viaduct Theatre, home to Northern Broadsides.

Sarah and Jamie Horsley run hospitality at the theatre, as well as The Arches, a wedding venue at Dean Clough.

They’re also the owners of True North, in the site of the old Viaduct cafe. With multi award-winning executive chef Mark York at the helm in the kitchen, this hip urban restaurant offers an inspired menu, from breakfast brunches to pre-theatre dining.

My friend and I arrived on a Saturday lunchtime, to a warm welcome from Sarah. Blending original features of the historic mill with a contemporary urban rustic design, the restaurant has a relaxed vibe.

Sarah and Jamie opened True North in October 2019 and it has quickly become a hot spot for pre-theatre dining. “We take our menus one step further and have fun,” says Sarah. The much-anticipated tour of Northern Broadsides’ Quality Street has been on this week and Mark designed Quality Street themed desserts.”

Yorkshire is at the heart of the menu, with twists on northern classics. “All our suppliers are local,” says Sarah. “The benefit is knowing the makers. We have items especially made which lets us push our dishes further.”

Halifax has undergone quite a renaissance, with the Piece Hall restoration and Square Chapel Arts Centre creating a cultural hub. It is, says Sarah, an exciting time for the town: “I’m a Halifax girl, I’ve always known it’s ace and the rest of the world is catching up! The increased tourism is evident from things like Gentleman Jack and the Piece Hall and the impact of that is the need for more quality hospitality options.

“I don’t think there’s anywhere like Dean Clough. It’s a mix of commerce and culture that sit superbly together. The community it has created is open and vibrant.”

True North is a place to relax with friends, enjoy a family meal or dinner for two. As well as brunch, lunch and a la carte, there are Sunday lunch and children’s menus, a monthly steak night and the Chef Showdown; a six-course dining experience. The bar serves beers from local independent breweries

Among the main lunch courses are butterflied king prawns in fresh egg tagliatelle with roast pepper, chorizo, tomato and saffron sauce; salt and pepper sea bass with coconut and lemongrass rice; and rib-eye steak with handcut chips and roast Portobello mushroom. Lighter eats include teriyaki beef on a salad of little gem, rocket, soya beans, mange tout, and hot roast butternut squash salad with sweet potato, beetroot three ways, candied walnut, pomegranate and sweet orange.

We started by sharing a couple of side dishes; melt-in-the-mouth halloumi fries with a perky sweet chilli and sour cream mix, and tasty stir-fried broccoli, chilli and spring onion. Spoilt for choice with main courses, I went for fresh crab macaroni. I don’t often have crab, so it felt like a rare treat, and the pasta blend was appealing. Topped with a Lancashire cheese crust, served with sun-blushed tomato, rocket and pesto salad and a thick slice of warm seeded malt loaf, it was just the thing for a hearty winter lunch.

Suzanne enjoyed her “delicious” sweet and sour pork belly with stir-fried noodles, coriander shoots and toasted sesame.

We found room to share dessert - delicious ginger pud and ice-cream.

A truly memorable taste of the North.

* True North, Dean Clough Mills, Halifax. Call (01422) 849661. Visit truenorthrestaurant.co.uk