'Hospitality runs deep in our family' - New microbar and coffee venue Ryecroft in Hambleton is a big hit
A new microbar and coffee venue in Hambleton is already proving a hit with locals after opening over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The team behind Hambleton’s newly reopened Ryecroft say they have been overwhelmed by the support shown since opening their doors over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Owner Katie Jackson has shared the deeply personal story behind the venue, revealing how generations of family history in Lancashire hospitality inspired the project.
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The reopening marked the latest chapter in a journey that began more than six years ago with just three bottles of gin on a kitchen table.
Since then, Katie’s distillery business has grown to supply more than 300 businesses nationwide, while also leading to the opening of popular venues including Gin & Brews in Garstang and Bier & Vinyl.
But Ryecroft, she says, holds special significance.
Katie comes from a family well known in the Fylde coast hospitality trade. Her great-grandparents and grandparents owned the York House Hotel on Blackpool Promenade for almost 70 years, building it into one of the resort’s best-known hotels during its heyday.
Her father, Steve Jackson, later became the original owner of The Corn Mill in Poulton, where customers regularly queued for his cooking.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the new venue, Katie said: “Hospitality runs deep in our family. I suppose it was always meant to be.”
The venue itself also carries strong family connections, with both Katie’s father and grandfather, Bill Jackson, having spent time in the original Ryecroft building years ago.
“When we set up the distillery in 2021, I made a promise to my dad that I’d grow his legacy,” Katie said.
“Bringing this venue back to life wasn’t just about opening another bar - it was about keeping that family tradition alive and putting Hambleton back on the map.”
Ryecroft now offers artisan coffee, cocktails prepared on-site, craft spirits, wines and ales from independent breweries, alongside artisan pizzas, tapas, live music and community events.
Katie added: “Thank you for letting us bring our dream back to the village. It really does feel like it was meant to be.”