A ‘river bank’ gem

So the Summer crowds have left Burnsall, and this time of the year is our favourite in which to head to this gorgeous village on the banks of the River Wharfe, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

We have previously featured the walk from here up to Appletreewick (see The Beauty of Burnsall in our Outings section) but are now reporting of another reason to head there…the wonderful,  lovingly restored and extended kiosk in the village car park now called Riverbank!

Rachel, who previously served her amazing homebaking from a Citroen H Van on the famous Masons Campsite,  in the next village bought the neglected and dated building two years ago and opened Riverbank this season.

With building work completed in May customers were offered indoor space for the first time – and then the UK basked in an exceptional heatwave for the rest of the summer! So instead of looking for shelter, people headed inside for cool and shade….

Now however, the log burner’s lit, in the cosy, simple but stylish space, incorporating some enviable upcycled vintage furniture and a pizza oven.

The way Rachel works hasn’t changed – still all home made food, quality ingredients and produce, changing daily menu, with offerings from thai chicken soup in a mug to the less exotic but equally delicious bacon sandwich, served from the kitchen window, Thursday to Sunday.  Riverbank is certainly not a traditional cafe and is about to become even less of one…..

There’s still a lot to do before the wood fired artisan pizza is fully deployed but the good news we’ve been told is that the oven works well, the ideas, passion and energy are all flowing and with the change of season allowing a little more time for planning, the wood fired food offer is getting closer…….

Open Thursday – Sunday 9am-4pm , make your way there!