Review

The Crooked Billet is a traditional country pub situated on a winding road between Lotherton and Towton. It sits proudly opposite the historic 14th Century Lead Church which is all that remains of the medieval village of Lead. The pub's location is also crisscrossed with public food paths and as such a great base to explore the local countryside, including the infamous Towton Battlefield Walk that follows the route of the 1461 battle, one of the bloodiest of the War of the Roses.

As to be expected from such a rural roadside pub The Crooked Billet focuses its attention on food and is well renowned in the local area for its Giant Yorkshire Puddings, served with a full roast dinner inside, or if you'd prefer something else inside your Pudding you can choose anything off the menu. So far Lasagne in a Yorkshire Pudding is the strangest thing our party has ordered on a visit.

Within the pub itself is a small reception bar area, brightly lit with a small selection of reasonably priced cask bitters, nothing much to keep a drinker entertained but good enough to accompany a meal. The main floorspace of the pub is within the dining and conservatory area but we much prefer the small cosy dog friendly snug to the side decorated with its War of the Roses memorabilia.

At the rear is a large beer garden partially covered by a wooden structure, plenty of space to find yourself somewhere to sit for those alfresco days. With ample parking to the side and a good swath of land attached to the pub you can always get parked and they have room to host several outdoor events a year. Just watch that fast road if you decide to go check out the Lead Church.

The Crooked Billet is a firm favourite for a good quality meal and a great spot to finish off a long walk to justify that Giant Yorkshire. We can overlook the beer offering in this case as the food is top notch. It's worth noting that you should book in advance if you wish to dine as it can be very busy, especially on a weekend.