The couple have bought the 12th-century inn located in the heart of the north Yorkshire moors from Paul and Liz Jackson and will reopen it as restaurant with rooms Pignut & The Hare in July.
As well as enabling the couple to provide accommodation for the first time with four guest rooms, the new venue will give them the chance to become more self-sufficient by growing produce on the surrounding land.
The move is the culmination of a long-held ambition for Tom, who once phoned The Hare looking for a job early in his culinary career.
“About eight or nine years ago I remember ringing the hare asking for a job as I loved everything about the restaurant, and after meeting Paul and Liz I really wanted to work there but they said they had no jobs available and I had to find somewhere else,” he says.
“Now I have been given the opportunity to own the Hare and it will be our restaurant.
“It’s a full circle moment and a huge achievement to have such an amazing restaurant and building behind me and Laurissa. We can’t wait to get started and see where we can take it.”
Pignut opened in June 2023 serving a menu that celebrates hyper-local, foraged ingredients, and a zero-waste philosophy. Ingredients are sourced from nearby producers while herbs, vegetables and flowers come from Helmsley Walled Garden – a project run by volunteers to promote mental health through gardening.
It has earned a number of accolades, including three AA Rosettes and a recommendation in the Michelin Guide.
“I am so excited to get started with the Hare,” adds Laurissa.
“Liz and Paul have been so helpful from the moment they found out we were opening Pignut in Helmsley. Now they have given us this opportunity to own The Hare, it’s a really special place and we can’t wait to see where it takes us. It really is a dream come true.”
The Jacksons have restored The Hare over more than a decade, with it being named AA Restaurant with Rooms of the Year for England in 2021.
“While we are still on a high, we have decided to hand over the reins to a younger, hungry, dynamic couple,” they say.
“We have loved every minute of our time here. We have met some great people, many of which we have served countless times.
“It wasn’t necessarily a planned time to move on, but having met Tom and Laurissa a few years ago we instantly thought they would be a great successor to us.
“After their success at Pignut over the past couple of years we thought the time was right. We’ve been to their restaurant and enjoyed their hospitality many times, and we’re 100% sure we have made the right decision in supporting two future giants of the industry to get to where they want to be and at the same time ensure The Hare goes from strength to strength.”