Devour at will

One of Yorkshire’s most chic foodie hotspots– in a renovated former dyehouse – is an Italian-influenced dining destination you won’t want to tear yourself away from

- Emma Mayoh

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Liv Robinson is different. While many would look at a derelict dyehouse and run for the hills, the entrepreneurial 37-year-old spied an opportunity. She’s always longed to run her own restaurant and the former mill in Thongsbridge, near Holmfirth, was too much to resist.

‘I love old buildings and this one was special,’ beams Liv. ‘The mill was unloved but there was still an operating workshop in a building at the side of it. I spoke to the owners and we eventually bought it. We’d looked at one in Holmfirth which hadn’t worked out but we’re glad it didn’t, otherwise we wouldn’t have had the chance here.’

With the help of husband and cinematographer Paul, she has transformed the once dilapidated building into Devour, an homage to Italian food – a dining destination that would not look out of place in a city restaurant scene. The menu is filled with delicious morsels – it’s not just your usual parade of Italian dishes here. Small plates, sharing platters heaving with goodies, fresh pastas and slow-roasted sugos all feature as well as Devour’s trademark gelato and wood-fired pizzas.

She has developed the food with super chef Carl Frost who has created food that Liv – and all of the guests at Devour – love. Ironically, he was only ever supposed to tide them over after their first chef moved on. But a few weeks at Devour was all it took the former Wentbridge House talent to be hooked.

‘Carl has been a real find for us,’ says Liv. ‘He is excited to be here, isn’t afraid of hard work and really gets what we’re trying to do here. He really is fantastic.

‘All of the team are in fact – we’re so lucky to have some real stars who work for us, those people who love our ethos and are brilliant to have around.’