Twelve thousand years ago, the Earth was in transition. The cold, dry climate that allowed vast, inhospitable ice sheets to dominate the land was thawing, and sea levels were rising. As a result, some of the world’s most striking geological sights were formed. Among them was Malham Cove in the sprawling Yorkshire Dales National Park in northern England.
Today, the dramatic cove and its distinctive limestone pavement draw tens of thousands of visitors every year. Many stay in the small rural village beside it, which boasts just a handful of pubs, shops, bed and breakfasts, and Beck Hall. To some plant-based hikers, the latter may seem like a mirage. However, this charming, 100 percent vegan hotel is very much a reality.
Beck Hall is a charming vegan hotel nestled in the Yorkshire Dales. | Beck Hall
How Beck Hall evolved into paradise for vegans, hikers, and dog-lovers
For more than a decade, Beck Hall has been run with compassion at its core. Andrew and Louise Macbeth took over the historic Yorkshire building in 2014. It began life as a yeoman’s cottage in the 1700s before becoming a hostel in the early 1900s.
Initially, as dog lovers, the couple set out to make the property one of the most dog-friendly hotels in the UK. They then committed to sustainability, installing heat pumps and funding tree-planting initiatives. In 2023, they decided to go even further: Beck Hall became the first vegan hotel in England.
“Louise and I have always felt that what makes the hotel special is that it’s an authentic reflection of who we are,” Andrew Macbeth told VegNews. “Over time, we became vegan in our personal lives, and it began to feel impossible to separate our values from the business.”
At first, they worried their loyal customer base might disappear, but those concerns proved unfounded. “The plant-based community embraced us, and many of our long-standing non-vegan guests kept coming back, often telling us the food is better than ever,” Andrew Macbeth added.
Beck Hall’s Sunday roast is hearty, comforting, and plant-based. | Beck Hall
Hearty English classics meet global plant-based cooking
We visited Beck Hall in 2025, and can confirm that the food at this cozy spot in the rural north rivals what you might expect at one of London’s high-end restaurants—albeit with a Yorkshire twist. For hearty, stick-to-your-ribs fare, there’s vegan chicken, pancetta, leek suet pudding, and plant steak and Guinness pot pie served with hand-cut fries and gravy.
The Sunday roast is the most indulgent of all, featuring handmade seitan roasts or mushroom Wellington, served with all the trimmings, including a plant-based Yorkshire pudding, of course. “Our focus has always been on creating food that’s generous, comforting, and full of flavor,” Andrew Macbeth says. “Too often, plant-based food is misunderstood as being all about salads or ‘healthy options.’”
The menu also includes an array of globally inspired dishes, such as the aromatic Indian thali, Middle Eastern plant kofta, and a dhal bread bowl. There are English classics, too, including vegan fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding.
“While we do offer lighter dishes, we also know that after a day’s exploring the Dales, many people want a proper pie and a pint, or a hearty curry with a glass of wine. We make most of our dishes and sauces in-house, and we’re lucky to have our own organic vegetable garden behind the hotel, which we use whenever we can.”
Mornings begin with an impressive vegan breakfast menu, free for all guests, featuring avocado and carrot lox bagels alongside full English breakfasts. In the evenings, guests can unwind in the cozy den by a roaring fire during the winter months, or make the most of long, light evenings by the stream in the summer. It’s no surprise the hotel has ranked highly on Tripadvisor’s UK Best of the Best lists for small, boutique stays.
“Guests love sitting by the stream, watching the wildlife, including our resident kingfisher and heron, and heading out on long, light-filled walks,” Andrew Macbeth says. “In winter, the atmosphere becomes wonderfully cozy. Afternoons often drift by with books, board games, and fiercely competitive games of Scrabble.”
The day starts with a full English at Beck Hall. | Beck Hall
The kind of hotel guests return to, year after year
There is a certain magic to Beck Hall, says Andrew Macbeth, and we agree. That may come down to the fact that there are as many dogs as people staying in this little slice of the Yorkshire countryside (all of them welcome everywhere), or perhaps it’s the unpolluted, star-studded skies or the outstanding plant-based food. Either way, people always come back.
“Many people first visit because we’re plant-based, and are then delighted to discover that some of the Yorkshire Dales’ most breathtaking walks are right on our doorstep,” Andrew Macbeth says.
But the Beck Hall experience doesn’t stop when you check out. This is a hotel that stays with you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase. Most of the guests we spoke to were repeat visitors, drawn back year after year to experience that magic again.
Beck Hall offers a unique streamside dining experience. | Beck Hall
“Our ethos has always been simple: we serve delicious food that just happens to be plant-based,” Andrew Macbeth says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see skeptical guests, especially those who book without realizing we’re fully plant-based, completely won over. Many tell us they’ve since made small changes at home, like switching to oat milk, and they often recommend us to friends.”
More magic is coming. In early 2026, Beck Hall is set to expand. Keep up to date by following their social media channels or visiting their website.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
