The Homestead Kitchen Goathland | The Brand Edit | North Yorkshire Branding Photographer

THE BRAND EDIT: CECILY & PETE AT THE HOMESTEAD KITCHEN, GOATHLAND

Cecily and Pete decided to follow their dreams in 2021, selling everything and taking the plunge to buy The Homestead Kitchen in Goathland… with a toddler and a 4-week-old baby in arms.

They had just two months to turn the place around, fit a commercial kitchen and get it up and running. Safe to say, they clearly like a challenge.

A DREAM BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP IN GOATHLAND

By November 2021, they’d opened the doors to their dream Goathland restaurant.

For Cecily and Pete, it’s never just been about the food. It’s about the experience they create for the people who walk through their doors. The kind that brings people back time and time again. The kind that builds relationships, and slowly, a real sense of community.

They want people to enjoy incredible food without the airs and graces. No pressure, no pretence. Just really, really good food that feels accessible to everyone.

Yes, they offer experiences like The Chef’s Tasting Menu… but they’re just as proud of a proper bowl of soup and a roll, or their much-loved Sunday dinners. Something for everyone, without the fuss.

And it doesn’t stop at what’s on the plate.

For Cecily, it’s about knowing exactly where that food has come from. A huge amount of their produce is grown right there on site, in the garden, greenhouse and no-dig beds. Then in January this year, they took things even further, taking on a 5-acre field to expand their growing space, alongside bringing in a full-time head gardener to support their grower.

Pete’s dream is to one day be fully sustainable. To grow everything they serve.

In 2025, they were awarded a Michelin Green Star. A huge milestone, and one that feels like a perfect reflection of everything they’ve been quietly building behind the scenes. Sustainability, community, and seriously good food, all working hand in hand.

Alongside the restaurant, they’ve also created a self-contained cottage on site. A space that’s been thoughtfully and lovingly put together to feel like a true home from home. It sleeps up to six and gives guests the chance to slow down, stay a little longer, and really take in everything the moors have to offer.

Whether it’s a one-night Dinner & Stay experience or a longer break exploring the surrounding countryside, it feels like a natural extension of what Cecily and Pete have built here. Not just somewhere to eat, but somewhere to properly experience.

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As a North Yorkshire branding photographer, visiting Cecily and Pete at The Homestead Kitchen was such an experience. It’s left me already planning my return, this time to properly sit down and enjoy everything they have to offer.

From the moment I pulled into the car park, I was welcomed by Sarah and Rosie, the two growers, busy away in the greenhouse and gardens, planting out celeriac and tending to everything else coming through.

FROM GARDEN TO PLATE: A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH

I got to see the food at the very beginning of its journey.

From garden to plate.

Rosie was telling me all about an experiment she’s been trying, using natural sheep’s wool as a thermal layer to protect seedlings, but also as a deterrent for slugs and anything else that might fancy helping themselves. It’s that level of care and curiosity that really sticks with you.

While Pete was preparing dishes ready to be photographed, Cecily showed me around the restaurant and their beautifully secluded gardens.

We's already spoke about what they wanted from their photos on our Discovery Call.

The food is a huge part of what they do, but this wasn’t about creating a gallery full of “just dishes”. It was about capturing the atmosphere, the feeling, the experience of being there. Something I talk about more here.

The kind of images that make you feel something, not just see something.

A BRAND EDIT SESSION AT THE HOMESTEAD KITCHEN

And that’s exactly why I created The Brand Edit. Caroline from Hot Toddi was the first business I worked with through this, and her session was a brilliant example of how powerful this kind of storytelling can be (you can read more about that here).

I love doing branding photography for small businesses, their stories, goals are so unique and inspiring, they often begin with a pain point or a single idea.

It gives me the space to meet people like Cecily and Pete, to properly understand what they’ve built, and to tell that story in a way that feels real through natural branding photography. No forced poses, no overthinking, just honest moments that reflect who they are and what they do.

As a North Yorkshire branding photographer, the added bonus is getting to discover places like this, and in turn helping more people find them too. Supporting local businesses, building awareness, and sharing the stories behind them. I talk more about this here.

The next town will be announced on Thursday 30th April, with applications opening on Friday.

If you’re a local business and feel like this could be a good fit, you’ll find all the details to apply here. Just make sure you’re based in the chosen town before putting your name forward.

I have a feeling The Homestead Kitchen won’t stay a hidden gem for long.