Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House

The story

Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House: Classic French Dining in York

The chef and the kitchen

Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House serves honest French cooking in York thanks to chef proprietor Michael Hjort. He learned his craft working as sous chef to Michel Roux Jr and now shares the space with his wife Lucy, who has shaped the city’s dining landscape for over three decades. Their kitchen sticks to classic techniques rather than chasing trends. A recent Good Food Guide commendation highlights how consistently they deliver reliable, well-executed plates.

Plates and preparations

Slow roasted beef arrives medium with confit carrots, mushroom duxelles and a truffle enriched jus. Tartiflette bakes with potatoes, bacon and Alpine cheese while moules marinières steam gently in white wine and cream. The tarragon stuffed chicken ballotine rests in a delicate sauce accompanied by braised baby gem and crispy new potatoes. Vegetable sides follow strict tradition, featuring a classic French ratatouille with cous cous or a twice cooked goat’s cheese soufflé finished with sorrel.

The room and the setting

The dining area occupies the first floor of a seventeenth century listed building that once housed a rope maker and saddler. Mismatched chairs and worn tables fill two separate rooms without trying too hard to impress guests. A characterful beamed attic provides extra space for larger groups gathering around long wooden boards. Below stairs, the traditional ale house pours local real ales from polished taps while blackboards list homemade bar snacks.