We’re delighted to announce The Nettle as the winner of Restaurant of the Year at the My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire.

This award celebrates restaurants that combine quality, originality and genuine hospitality, and The Nettle is a truly deserving winner. As a small neighbourhood restaurant serving modern European small plates, The Nettle has quickly made a big impression since opening in December 2024. From breakfast, brunch and lunch to dinner, it offers something a little different for the Yorkshire Dales: thoughtful food, excellent wine and a relaxed atmosphere where quality always comes first.

What makes this win even more impressive is how much has been achieved in such a short space of time. In its first year, The Nettle has not only opened and established itself in a challenging climate, but has also been voted among Britain’s 100 Best Local Restaurants. That is a remarkable start for a first restaurant business, and this latest award is another sign that customers are recognising just how special it is.

A restaurant built on experience, passion and a clear idea

The Nettle was founded in December 2024 by owners who had worked in the industry for years and were ready to create a place of their own. Their goal was simple: to bring good food and wine to the Yorkshire Dales and create a restaurant that reflected the kind of dining experience they genuinely believe in.

This is their first restaurant business, and what makes the story even more impressive is that it is self-funded and self-designed. That means every detail has been shaped with care, from the atmosphere of the space to the way the menu works and the kind of welcome guests receive. It is the sort of place that feels personal because it is personal.

That hands-on journey is something the team is rightly proud of. In fact, when asked about their proudest moment, they said they are proud of the whole journey. That feels exactly right. Building a restaurant from the ground up is no small feat, especially in today’s climate, and The Nettle has done it with real character and confidence.

What makes The Nettle stand out

One of the clearest things that sets The Nettle apart is its commitment to quality, seasonality and sustainability. The restaurant uses local pasture-fed meats and works closely with its farmer and butcher, buying whole animals and using each cut carefully and thoughtfully. That kind of approach takes skill, planning and a real respect for ingredients.

Because the restaurant is small, it can stay adaptable. The menu changes regularly in line with seasonal produce availability, helping keep dishes fresh, interesting and closely tied to what is best at that particular time. That flexibility is one of the great strengths of an independent restaurant like this. It allows creativity to thrive while keeping the food grounded in the local landscape.

The Nettle also has an almost zero-waste food ethos, which says a lot about the care and attention behind the scenes. Nothing about the restaurant feels excessive or wasteful. Instead, there is a real sense of thoughtfulness in how ingredients are chosen, prepared and served. Add to that the small plates concept, which keeps the menu accessible to a wide range of budgets, and it becomes clear why so many diners have taken to it so quickly.

Great food without the fuss

The Nettle’s approach to service is another big part of its appeal. The team aims to be simple, friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, but never stuffy. That balance is so important. Great restaurants should make people feel welcome, not intimidated, and The Nettle clearly understands that.

Its small plates format also helps create a more relaxed and sociable experience. Guests can try different flavours, share dishes and explore combinations they might not normally order. That spirit of discovery seems to be one of the things customers love most.

The restaurant has already created some brilliant customer memories. One lovely story involved a couple from San Diego who stayed in Settle for a week and ended up eating at The Nettle for every meal. The team built a real connection with them and still remembers them fondly. Another regular enjoys sitting downstairs simply watching the team work together, saying it is amazing to see everyone operating in such synergy.

Perhaps most telling of all are the guests who arrive unsure about trying somewhere a bit different, only to leave amazed by how good the food is. The team shared that some customers cannot believe how much they enjoy dishes they might never normally choose, especially when it comes to vegetables. That ability to surprise and delight people is a real mark of a great restaurant.

Rooted in the local community

The Nettle may be ambitious in its food, but it is also very much a community restaurant. It acts as a café, bar and restaurant for locals and visitors alike, open every day and offering a place where people can meet, relax and connect over excellent food and drink.

That local role clearly matters to the owners. They had lived in the area for five years before starting the business, and their connection to the Yorkshire Dales is a genuine one. This is not a project dropped into a place from the outside. It is part of the community because the owners are part of it too.

They speak warmly about wanting to help shape and grow the community, which comes through not only in the atmosphere they have created but also in their support for local charities and businesses. Restaurants like The Nettle do more than feed people. They add character, create gathering spaces and help strengthen the places they call home.

Success in a challenging climate

One of the restaurant’s biggest milestones has simply been opening and staying afloat in a difficult climate. Anyone in hospitality knows that is no small achievement. Rising costs, staffing pressures and changing customer habits have made life tough for independent venues, and The Nettle is still facing one particular challenge that many restaurants will recognise: finding young chefs who want to come into the industry.

Even so, the momentum behind the restaurant is hard to ignore. To open in late 2024 and then be voted among Britain’s 100 Best Local Restaurants in the first year is an extraordinary achievement. It shows that customers are not just enjoying the food. They are actively championing the business and wanting others to know about it too.

What this award means

When The Nettle found out it had won Restaurant of the Year, the team said they were honestly very surprised. Given the strength of restaurants across Yorkshire, that reaction is understandable, but it also makes the win feel even more genuine.

For them, this award means so much because it shows that customers and supporters took the time to vote. That kind of recognition always carries extra weight. It is not just industry praise or passing attention. It is a direct sign that the people dining there feel invested in the restaurant’s success.

The team believes the award will strengthen its relationship with customers even further and create a real talking point as the news spreads. Heading into their second summer, now with more experience and more staff, they are excited to see what the year brings.

Congratulations to The Nettle

At My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire, we are proud to celebrate independent businesses that bring creativity, care and genuine hospitality to their communities. The Nettle is a fantastic example of all three.

From its seasonal small plates and sustainability ethos to its warm, unstuffy service and strong local roots, this is a restaurant that has already become something very special in the Yorkshire Dales. Its win reflects a brilliant first year, a loyal customer base and a team that has created a place people clearly love returning to.

Congratulations to The Nettle, a highly deserving winner of Restaurant of the Year 2026.

And finally, a message from the team: “We love you all and appreciate so much your support. We wouldn't be in business without you.”