The Sidings Hotel and Restaurant at Shipton-by-Beningborough was founded in 1985 by railway enthusiast Bert Gemmell.
Bert was in charge of York Station and also the royal trains and on his retirement, he and his son Brian created a unique venue called the Sidings.
The railwayman had the power to have the royal train belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother delivered to the site on Station Lane, just off the A19.
As such, it is rumoured that Queen Elizabeth’s mother, King Charles III’s grandmother, once stayed at the Sidings.
The Sidings featured five restored Pullman-style railway carriages, some of which were converted to create a restaurant, allowing tables of four to overlook the track.
The rest became elegant bedrooms, featuring a combination of original and new features, whilst maintaining the original character of the carriages.
With its railway memorabilia, The Sidings became internationally famous for its uniqueness, attracting visitors from around the world.
A 1986 feature in the Los Angelese Times noted it offered a menu featuring homemade game pate, haggis, cullen skink (a Scottish soup with smoked haddock, potatoes, chives and cream), fresh salmon, lamb with mace and thyme, and steak grilled with rolled oats and tomatoes in claret sauce.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- The Sidings Hotel And Restaurant, Station Lane, Shipton-by-Beningbrough
- Sidings Hotel and restaurant, Shipton-by-Beningborough, York
- Sidings up for sale as owner moves on
- Scotsman steams past Sidings
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