Beck Hall in Malham will become plant-based on December 1

Beck Hall, Malham, is already established as a dog-friendly hotel with its sprawling streamside location and some of Britain’s best walks starting and ending at its doorstep.

Owners Louise and Andy Macbeth acquired Beck Hall nearly a decade ago.

Louise and Andrew with their dog, Wookie (Image: Beck Hall)

They said a personal journey that started from a place of compassion for animals led their family to a plant-based diet and that they also recognised the potential positive impact eating more plants could have on the environment and health.

They said that the decision wasn’t profit-driven and admitted it was a “big step” for their family, but the time had come to align their business values with their own.

They added that plant-based food had been a “revelation” for them and they believed it would be for others.

A plant-based breakfast at the hotel (Image: Beck Hall)

Louise said: “Recently, we’ve been developing some of the most innovative, exciting, and delicious vegan dishes we’ve ever tried, anywhere. We believe our food, from breakfast through to dinner, is for everyone.”

The menus at Beck Hall are already around 50 per cent plant-based featuring items such as ‘sticky vegan ribs’, ‘mushroom stroganoff suet pudding’ and ‘battered banana blossom with salt and pepper chips’.

Upcoming dishes include lemon and thyme ballotine of herbed seitan with crispy polenta, roasted red pepper puree and a carrot bacon crisp, and for dessert, pomegranate and rose mess with vanilla meringue, rose and cardamom cream, seasonal fruit, and pistachio brittle.

A plant-based Sunday roast (Image: Beck Hall)

The couple acknowledged that some guests may be opposed to change and thanked them for their custom to date:

"We’re sure you’ll go on to find a new special place – there are so many meaty menus to choose from. But wouldn’t it be boring if we were all the same?" they said. 

A number of customers said the move was not for them but wished the hotel every success, while others felt that omnivores were entitled to have meat on the menu.

Louise and Andy said: “We’ve been blown away by the positivity and lovely comments around our move to plant-based.

"We were bracing ourselves for a sea of angry emojis and cancellations, but bookings have gone through the roof and the comments have been overwhelmingly positive.”

Louise will embark on a Diploma in Plant-based Culinary Arts at the esteemed Le Cordon Bleu London culinary school in January 2024.

The hotel will remain open for bookings throughout the transition to becoming fully plant-based on December 1.