Pignut restaurant in North Yorkshire scoops national sustainability award

Helmsley’s Pignut restaurant joins the ranks of the world’s most sustainable kitchens, as it’s named as a new entry in the globally respected, 360°  Eat Guide for 2025.

Pignut restaurant won the Sustainable Business award for the second year in a row at The Staff Canteen Awards in December, and owners Tom Heywood and Laurissa Cook are delighted to have been granted yet another accolade.

The new entry in the 2025 UK edition of the internationally recognised 360°Eat Guide, receiving two sustainability circles and scoring 81–85 points for gastronomy.

Praised for its “innovative, playful cooking entirely based on locally sourced, top-quality ingredients,” the guide described the experience at Pignut as one where “food becomes a narrative.” Pignut restaurant is also Michelin-recommended, so this another great achievement to add to their name.

Pignut’s intimate setting and ambitious tasting menu made a lasting impression on jury members, striking a perfect balance between refinement and warmth.

Pignut was awarded two sustainability circles, recognising its genuine commitment to ethical and responsible practice. Highlights include:

• Composting food waste and coffee grounds in their own garden
• Reusing wax from burnt candles to make new ones
• Sourcing ingredients exclusively from local suppliers to minimise food miles
• Donating quarterly to Helmsley Walled Garden in support of mental health initiatives

Chef owner’s Tom and Laurissa said: “We are absolutely over the moon to be included in this guide which we’ve been following for a while. To achieve the two circles for our sustainability is great recognition for us.

“It also makes us very happy to see so many new additions in the guide from the UK – especially from Yorkshire – which shows we are making a step in the right direction in regards to sustainability.”.

“This year has been great. We’ve won three AA rosettes, we’ve won this sustainability award again, have been super busy, had lots of good feedback, lots of returning customers. Everything is going great.”

Tom and Laurissa were given another accreditation last year, to show that the restaurant’s carbon footprint has been reduced and the remaining carbon footprint is offset through certified projects in Britain and around the world.

“We have always focused on sustainable practices such as having a zero-waste policy and ensuring we use hyper-local producers,” said Laurissa.

Ingredients at Pignut are exclusively sourced from hyper-local businesses and the menus are ingredient-led by what’s available from suppliers.

Herbs, fruit and vegetables are picked by Tom and Laurissa themselves at Helmsley Walled Garden – which is run entirely by volunteers with the focus of using gardening to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Pignut restaurant has also teamed up with Dunesforde Vinyard, based in Upper Dunsforth, Boroughbridge, which specialises in cold-climate wines. You can book your table here, but be quick – they’re bound to get even busier!

Hungry for more? Take a look at the best restaurants in Helmsley for more mouth-watering recommendations.