Visitor to Yorkshire village named UK's coolest sums up experience in 3 words - Yorkshire Live

The tiny village in North Yorkshire was named one of the coolest UK postcodes, but one visitors left feeling confused

A visitor has been left baffled following a trip to a village named among the coolest places in the UK.

Potto in North Yorkshire is probably not the first place you'd think of when you think of cool places. With a population of 324 and a name that derives from the Old English word for 'pot', its primary attractions are a Victorian-built village hall and the first branch (of eight) of Tomahawk Steakhouse.

The village did have a train line that opened in the 19th century, but its remoteness from the village and the introduction of buses that could take roads directly to Middlesbrough led to its closure in 1954. It has no shop and the primary school closed when pupil numbers fell to just 14.

In the 1950s, the Dog & Gun’s landlord became notorious for his habit of checking on customers from his window before deciding to let them in if they looked ‘respectable’ – giving the inn the nickname ‘The Pub That Never Opens’. All of this - or more accurately, a lack of much else - won Potto a surprise place on the Times' '11 coolest postcodes to move to in 2023'.

The publication wrote: "Looking for more from life? And by that we mean “moor”. The beautiful, blustering plains of the North York Moors are the perfect place for burnt-out city folk to disconnect from the world. It’s no wonder the quaint village of Potto, on the edge of the national park, is such a well-kept secret. It has just 120 houses, no shop, not even a main pathway, so it feels as if you can properly hide away here. Take a walk to Whorlton Castle on the edge of the moors, or if you want a longer adventure head out to the Cleveland Hills, which can be seen from Potto. Have a meal at Tomahawk Steakhouse, the only restaurant for miles (luckily it has great reviews, with locals raving about its Himalayan-salt dry-aged steaks)."

ExaminerLive's Megan Banner decided to give Potto a visit, having grown up in nearby Darlington and as an "admirer of all the picturesque spots in Yorkshire." After visiting the village, her view can be summed up with three words 'is this it?'

"This diminutive Yorkshire village, hailed as the perfect retreat for those 'seeking to truly escape the hustle and bustle', is home to the inaugural branch of Tomahawk Steakhouse and numerous attractive glamping pods and camping sites. However, given its lack of a shop or main walkway, I found myself pondering, 'is this all there is?'," she wrote.

"The homes were idyllic, but beyond the 120 residences and a single pub, there wasn't much else. The Tomahawk Steakhouse, a renowned steakhouse restaurant and bar, is known for its exceptional Himalayan salt dry-aged beef. It's a hit across the North East, but I anticipated more from this coveted postcode.

"Despite boasting only one pub, no shops, and a church, the breathtaking views are worth noting. The sweeping, picturesque vistas that envelop this quaint village make it a sanctuary for countryside strolls. However, in my view, an appealing postcode should offer more than just scenic walks.

"Its proximity to the North York Moors enhances its allure for outdoor enthusiasts, and it's certainly a hotspot for Instagram aficionados. But for me, a village needs to provide more."

She added: "I can see why people might be drawn to relocate here; it's a charming little village, but I believe it doesn't offer much beyond its natural beauty."