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The Empress

British, Pub Food • Harrogate
Sugarvine
4.0/5
(01423) 567629 10 Church Square, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 4SP (01423)5…Show
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Grade II-listed pub surrounded by beautiful parkland overlooking The Stray in Harrogate.
+6

About The Empress

The Empress is a fine old Grade II-listed pub on The Stray in Harrogate. It’s surrounded by beautiful parkland with a beer garden to the rear and outside seating in front. Inside it combines modern décor with a traditional pub feel and has four large screens showing all sporting events, a pool table and darts. Food is served daily from 12 noon until 9pm (6pm Sundays) and you can expect traditional pub grub alongside Daily Specials and a ‘Magnificent 7’ offer for smaller appetites. The pies here are legendary, as is the Sunday Carvery, and for drinkers there are four cask ales plus a choice of wines and gins. The free function room is available for weddings, birthdays and all kinds of events with space for 50 seated or up to 100 standing. A quiz night too every Thursday.

Sugarvine
4.0
Food 3.8/5
Service 4.3/5
Atmosphere 3.7/5
Value for Money 4.0/5
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Opening Times
Mon 11:00 - 23:00 —
Tue 11:00 - 23:00 —
Wed 11:00 - 23:00 —
Thu 11:00 - 23:00 —
Fri 11:00 - 23:00 —
Sat 11:00 - 23:00 —
Sun 11:00 - 23:00 —
Food served 12pm-9pm (Mon-Sat), 12pm-6pm (Sun)
Sugarvine Restaurant Guide
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3 /5
3 /5
3 /5
3 /5
Lorna Rudd
We booked for a meal for 3 people before the fireworks on Sat 4th Nov at The Empress based on some local recommendations. There was no message or email to say the food menu would not be available on this day. We turned up for our booking (all parties between us having driven 90miles) to discover the only food available was an outside BBQ in the rain which only consisted of burgers, hot dog or chips!! We were also squished onto a table for 2 and had to grab another chair so we could all sit down. We were really looking forward to enjoying a nice pub meal before the fireworks and this was not what we expected. We should have been contacted to let us know the menu was not available so we could have chosen elsewhere. We didn’t have the option at 5pm on the day to go anywhere else. It’s safe to say we were pretty disappointed!!
Martin Hendy
Calm and friendly pub. The Sunday lunch, carvery style, very reasonably priced for the servings with an option of a few pounds extra for those with exceptional appetites.
5.0
Sally Burrows
We take my dad to the Empress when in Harrogate for the Sunday carvery, we were there on Sunday and as ever the food was great always a massive choice of meats, lovley large homemade yorkshire puds, plenty of roast potatoes and a massive selection of different veg to help your self to, hot tasty food and gravy, as much or as little as you want, great value for money we always leave happy and full, put this together with the service and great staff, can't recommend highly enough.
1.8
Colin Greenwood
The service was excellent, but unfortunately, the food was diabolical ! There were 8 of us having a family get together and in the newly refurbished premises, we were expecting great things. How wrong we were. The refurbished Empress is dark and dingy and not at all what we were expecting. Such a shame, as the it is a beautiful building in a lovely situation overlooking the Stray. The fish and chips were soggy and tasteless and the gammon and steak were like leather. Poor quality produce , cooked by somebody who hadn’t a clue what they were doing. The only saving grace was the service, which was excellent. I didn’t make a formal complaint, as It would have spoilt our evening out together. However, we will certainly not be returning or recommending this venue to anybody. Definitely a place to avoid!
3.0
Philip Hall
Good value food lovey staff looking forward to return thanks
3.3
Katharine
Surprisingly quiet on Easter weekend. Friendly staff. Hearty rather than gourmet cooking with generous portions and good chunky chips.
5.0
Elaine Noddings
Lunch with family, very good food, excellent service and generous portions
5.0
Jackie
Went for Sunday lunch with my family for my birthday. We weren’t disappointed , lovely meal and staff very friendly.
5.0
Sally Burrows
Love the Empress, so friendly and the Sunday carvery was amazing beautiful food, the Yorkshire pudding is to die for and such a massive choice, great idea to have different size plates for oap and kids at great prices, also popped in for lunch mid week, sandwich in choice of bead, chips and salad a meal in its self, its now our preferred pub to go to when we take our dad out, and as a bonus we can take our dog, what's not to like,
5.0
Trevor Broadbank
A really great Carvery. Excellent range of sides, and the vegetarian option is brilliant - it's simply a carvery but without meat, and obviously a good deal cheaper- tbh even as someone who misses meat, it was always the sides I was there for, so pile that plate high! They have a few sides that rotate and so there's usually a different option available, and everything is really delicious. The Empress is a lovely pub with a great traditional "local pub" vibe, their quiz nights and discos are really popular and I love visiting there with friends or my young family, and sometimes I even get to go there for grown up time!
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The Empress File

Fact File

Main dining room capacity 68
Booking policy Reservations preferred
Max group booking size 25
Function rooms available Yes
Function rooms details 50 seated or 100 standing
Outside dining space Yes
Outside dining details Seating out front and a beer garden to the rear
Average 3 course lunch price (excluding drinks) £15
Average 3 course evening meal price (excluding drinks) £15
House wine price £21.95
Wines available 8
Alcohol license Fully licensed

Special Dietary Requirements

Vegetarian catering Some vegetarian main course options
Vegan catering Vegan Main Course Options on Menu
Halal catering No Halal Food
Wheat/Gluten catering Wheat / Gluten Free options on menu

Family Friendly

Children's menu Yes
Play area Yes
Baby changing Yes
High chairs Yes
Children's dining restrictions Yes
Children's dining details No children after 9pm

Additional Information

Wifi Free
Payment by credit card Yes
Payment by debit card Yes
Dogs allowed Yes
Drink without food Yes
Takeaway services Yes