I reckon most people would agree that when they eat out they are looking for more than just good grub.

A cracking night out comes as a package. The whole experience.

Along with tasty, no nonsense food, a tempting wine list, first class service and stylish surroundings. The Traveller's Rest at Sowerby seems to score on all these fronts judging by the number of awards it has won or been nominated for.

It narrowly missed out on being named Yorkshire Tourist Board pub of the year, last year, but it did win the Yorkshire Post restaurant of the year in 2002 and the following year was a finalist in Yorkshire Life dining pub of the year. Even posh paper The Times has heard of it.

Last April it was among the paper's top 10 countryside restaurants.

Something that really impressed Traveller's owner, the well spoken (some might say posh) Caroline Lumley who took over in October 2001 and after extensive renovations stamped her Jimmy Choos on the pub, which is miles from anywhere in the middle of the moors.

It's got stone walls, wooden floors, inviting coal fires, interesting art work, striking fresh flowers and vibrant pink walls mixed with tactile leopard skin seating. There's leopard skin everywhere, even on the bottles of house wine. It reeks of class and good taste. Which is probably why people call it Calderdale's most stylish pub.

There are always people eating in the bar area because the bar menu is tasty and good value. Take your pick from burger, salsa onion rings and handcut chips; liver with mash and onion gravy and steak and ale pie with puff top. All home made in the kitchen by head chef Michael Parkinson or second chef Vanessa Wright. But it's in the restaurant that they truly let their creative skills come to the fore.

On the menu the night we visited was pan fried plaice fillet with caper and herb butter and crushed potato with lemon; caramelised port fillet with baked apple mash and a creamy wholegrain mustard and slow braised lamb shank glazed in sticky orange marmalade with port gravy and roasted root vegetables. And there's always a couple of steaks on offer like 28 day hung English fillet or rolled rib-eye.

I had creamy garlic and herb mushrooms on toasted brioche for starters and my partner went for the mens' favourite grilled black pudding, bacon and Crib Farm (a local farm just down the road) fried egg with a little pot of HP.

Both looked the part and tasted equally delicious.

After his filling starter my other half had the fish which he said melted in the mouth and hit the right spot. I had a rib-eye with a feisty green peppercorn sauce which came pink, just as I like it and with lots of taste and texture. A handsome array of vegetables pleased us as did the puddings.

The chocolate brownie with boozy prunes is a definite winner and anyone who loves cheese (as I do) will be suitably impressed with the selection on offer. The house wine can be recommended too – Chilean chardonnay – but not as much as the Italian Prosecco which Caroline topped up with passion fruit liqueur.

Caroline is passionate about her pub and it shows. If you fancy a bit of style it's the place to head for. Bar meals cost from £8. Three courses with wine cost us £40 a head

Fact File
Name: The Traveller's Rest
Address: Steep Lane, Sowerby
Telephone: 01422 832124
Ratings:
Food: ****
Atmosphere: *****
Service: ****
Value: ****