LAST year's foot and mouth outbreak left Beningbrough Hall with a disastrous season. But now the house and gardens are open to the public once more.

Taking advantage of the fine weather we paid a visit, making sure we had time to sample the caf.

This is a single storey building with large windows along one side and vintage photographs of the area displayed on another.

Self service is the order of the day with a range of hot and cold meals and snacks. A choice of Yorkshire stand pie, roasted vegetable flan, Yorkshire cheese and oatmeal flan or roasted Yorkshire ham with salad left no doubt as to which part of the country we were in! All were £5.75.

The local theme was continued with Yorkshire tea (£1.15 per person) and North Riding tart (£1.35). This was a tasty pastry base, almond centre and topped with flaked nuts. Ann had a fresh scone with blackcurrant jam (£1.15) and we shared a piece of kitchen garden cake (£1.35). We debated the flavour and hope we detected cinnamon, apple and carrot. If not it was still very good!

There were sandwiches and pastries, soup and the usual speciality teas and coffees and ice-cream.

We were provided with a generous jug of milk and were also impressed by the fresh flowers on each table.

Tables can accommodate four or six people. High chairs are available and children encouraged to investigate a play area at one end of the caf. In addition to a 'Trusty the Hedgehog' picnic box, children pay a reduced price for items off the main menu.

Picnic tables are situated on a terrace should you choose to sit outside.

The quality of food and service is what one expects of cafes associated with National Trust properties. One snag: I don't think it is possible to access the cafe unless you have paid an entry fee to the house and gardens.

Beware - the house and gardens are closed on Thursdays and Fridays.

Updated: 16:08 Friday, April 26, 2002