Seeking somewhere a little different to enjoy a celebratory meal or family evening? One of these fantastic themed restaurants in Yorkshire could be just what you’re looking for!
Yorkshire is home to a number of dining establishments designed and decorated around a particular theme or concept. Particularly popular with families, these restaurants provide customers with a unique and immersive dining experience. The ambience, decor, music, and menus all combine to create a particular atmosphere so that eating out is so much more than just a meal cooked by someone else.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the most creatively designed and immersive themed restaurants in Yorkshire. On our brief but varied list, you’ll find all manner of fun and quirky eateries offering dining experiences you’ll unlikely forget in a hurry…
6 Themed Restaurants in Yorkshire You Need To Visit
Calico Jack
36 Water Street, Skipton BD23 1PB
Named after the famous pirate who operated in the Caribbean during the early 18th century, Calico Jack Restaurant & Bar in Skipton is a brilliant, family-friendly venue bursting with character. Take a seat beneath the sails and journey through a menu of delicious Tex-Mex starters and mains plus an extensive selection of colourful cocktails.
The pirate ship-style interiors will ignite the imaginations of your little swashbucklers as they tuck into tasty treasures such as mini burgers and fish fingers. Adults can choose from an extensive menu of Tex-Mex favourites such as nachos, fajitas, quesadillas, slow-cooked ribs and pulled pork plus a number of burgers, pizzas, pasta dishes and chef specials. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is almost always lively and fun—a superb themed restaurant in Yorkshire loved by both kids and adults.
Evolution Experience Restaurant
Hurst Lane, Auckley, Doncaster DN9 3HQ
This is a new kid on the block when it comes to themed restaurants in Yorkshire. You’ll find Evolution Experience Restaurant at The Yorkshire Hive – a free admission shopping, dining and entertainment venue next to Yorkshire Wildlife Park (one of the best family-friendly attractions in Yorkshire).
Join the crew of Charles Darwin’s HMS Beagle on an epic journey of discovery as you venture into worlds unknown and eat in one of two awe-inspiring areas. Dine with dinosaurs, party with pirates and soak up the incredible atmosphere created by the team behind Evolution Experience Restaurant. The food menus are typical of family-friendly restaurants and feature burgers, pizzas, salads and sharers plus a number of classic mains such as steak, roast chicken, BBQ ribs and scampi with fries. The kids’ menu includes all the usual and most requested offerings such as chicken nuggets, fish goujons, cheeseburgers and pasta plus a few fun cocktails for an extra special treat.
The Arnage
New Lennerton Lane, Sherburn in Elmet, Leeds LS25 6JE
This unique motor-themed restaurant at garage and events space, The Motorist, was founded by Yorkshire entrepreneur Simon Spinks. One of the more ‘grown-up’ themed restaurants in Yorkshire, it boasts contemporary, themed interiors which pay homage to the world of motoring. Stitched leather seating, car memorabilia and carefully curated menus of British classics combine to make it a quirky yet sophisticated dining establishment.
Named after the iconic corner on the famous Le Mans circuit, The Arnage offers superb all-day dining and the vast majority of dishes are made using locally sourced ingredients. Many of the dishes at The Arnage are named after motoring icons or using terminologies associated with the industry, such as The Hamilton burger and The Full Tank breakfast. The menus are varied and feature a stunning array of starters, mains and light bites so there’s something to suit most tastes, preferences and dietary requirements.
Sunday lunch at The Arnage is incredibly popular and widely considered to be one of the best in the area. For £20, you can enjoy three different types of meat with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy.
For a truly immersive experience, book a table when one of The Motorist’s many motoring events or car shows are taking place and watch the activity from the restaurant’s balcony area.
Karen’s Diner
4 Suffolk Road, Sheffield S2 4AF
Don’t be fooled by the fun decor and colourful staff uniforms; Karen’s diner in Sheffield serves menus of American classics with generous side servings of personal insults and utterly atrocious customer service. It’s the only eatery where bad manners and inappropriate comments from the staff are encouraged so it’s certainly a themed restaurant in Yorkshire for those with a good sense of humour and an appetite for fun.
If you’re thick-skinned and love a bit of banter, then book a table at Karen’s Diner in Sheffield. We haven’t been brave enough to do so yet but numerous sources suggest the food is substantially better than the service and you’re unlikely to forget the experience in a hurry. Karen’s Diner serves typical American diner-style grub so delightfully comforting and calorific treats like burgers and fried chicken can be devoured as you cry into a colourful cocktail or test out your wittiest comebacks. It’s all a bit of light-hearted fun and the company has strict rules around what can and cannot be joked about. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Jurassica
71 Monteney Crescent, Ecclesfield, Sheffield S5 9DP
Jurassica is a prehistoric-themed pub, restaurant and events venue in Sheffield with fun decor and dinosaur animatronics. The first of its kind to open in the UK, Jurassica is a popular spot for family dining and children’s birthday parties as the little ones simply adore the lifelike dinosaur characters that roar and roam around the establishment.
The food menu comprises burgers and hotdogs with all manner of tasty toppings and sides plus a varied selection of classic mains like Toad in The Hole, Liver & Onions and Surf n Turf. Vegans and vegetarians are also well catered for with numerous plant-based options available. If you’re like us and find it difficult to choose one dish, then order one of their enormous sharing platters and feast upon burgers, hotdogs, scampi, calamari, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, chips, onion rings and salad for just £29.95.
This is very much a family-orientated restaurant and the staff do their utmost to ensure kiddies have an enjoyable time!
The Steel Cauldron
3 Spooner Road, Sheffield S10 5BL
Okay, so this isn’t a restaurant as such but it is a fantastic themed venue serving food and well worthy of a mention. By day, The Steel Cauldron in Sheffield is an atmospheric wizard-themed tearoom adored by Harry Potter fans. In addition to providing a creatively designed space which transports imaginations to a wonderful world of wizardry, this fantastic themed venue also offers affordable crafting activities during the day. It’s an excellent little spot to visit during the school holidays. There’s also a brilliant shop stocking all kinds of magical and mystical trinkets and treasures, including official Harry Potter merchandise.
This themed cafe in Yorkshire is more about the experience than the food so you won’t find an extensive menu of homecooked grub at The Steel Cauldron. However, they do serve some superb breakfasts up until midday and then some incredibly quirky afternoon teas until the evening.
During the evening (Weds to Sat), The Steel Cauldron transforms into a lively tavern with regular live acts, interactive events, magical potion cocktails and mocktails plus a menu of street food favourites sourced from a neighbouring business, such as pizzas, burgers and kebabs.
As with all our articles of this nature, we will update this list as and when we discover new businesses. To make a recommendation or discuss advertising opportunities, email business@theyorkshirepress.co.uk
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