Award-winning chef buys North Yorkshire inn

Award-winning chef Alistair Deans and his partner Karen Bilsborrow have bought the riverside Board Inn at Lealhom, near Whitby, in North Yorkshire.

A former coaching inn that dates back to the mid-18th century, the pub sits on the banks of the River Esk (next to the old stone packhorse bridge) within the North York Moors National Park.

Along with a bar that commands views of the stone bridge and village green, the inn offer a 40-seat dining room with a centre stone surround fireplace that opens onto a timber decked riverside terrace, four letting rooms to sleep nine guests, a self-catering cottage and double-bedroom owners' accommodation in the attic.

Deans, who started his career in a North London butcher's shop at the age of 11, went on to win numerous awards (including gold, silver and bronze medals in national and international competitions, along with three AA rosettes) after opening a corporate and hospitality business in London.

He also worked for three years in a three-Michelin star restaurant in Brittany.

Most recently, Deans bought the Lobster and Stables restaurant in Sheringham, Norfolk, which is run by his brother Graham.

The Leeds office of Colliers Robert Barry sold the freehold off a guide price of £450,000 on behalf of Matthew and Caroline France.

By Angela Frewin