Best restaurants in Northumberland: where to eat, drink and stay
Discover the best restaurants in Northumberland, from Michelin-starred dining to cosy pubs and unmissable ice cream
England’s northernmost county is a culinary treasure trove, from Michelin-starred restaurants to remote and cosy inns. Discover our picks of the best places to eat in Northumberland, plus fun foodie activities in the region and the ultimate foodie town to explore. For more like this, check out our guides to the best restaurants in the Cotswolds, best restaurants in Newcastle, best restaurants in Perthshire or the best UK pubs with rooms. Best restaurants in Northumberland Hjem, Wall Dream destination One Michelin star restaurant with rooms where Swedish chef Alex Nietosvuori and Northumberland-born Ally Thompson skilfully blend Scandinavian and Northumbrian influences in design, food and even Hjem’s name. Pronounced ‘yem’, this Scandi word for home is also used colloquially in the north-east. High-end local produce underpins a tasting menu in which resonant flavours are handled with precision and flair, in dishes such as BBQ North Sea squid, rostï, parsley gremolata and razor clam sauce, or waffles with brown butter ice cream, coffee caramel and a hazelnut milk and crumb. restauranthjem.co.uk The Rat Inn, Anick Epic country pub This 18th-century drover’s inn ticks all the boxes. In winter, hunker down by open fires amid exposed stone, oak beams and antique curiosities. In summer, drink in the Tyne Valley views from its gardens. Throughout, chalkboard menus display seasonal, local produce (and harvests from the inn’s kitchen garden) in winning dishes such as breaded lamb, Gem lettuce and sriracha mayo, or pork loin, cider apple sauce and honey mustard glazed Hispi. Cracking roasts, too. theratinn.com The Old Boat House, Amble Seafood catch This attractive harbour restaurant makes deft use of the ocean’s bounty, including Lindisfarne oysters and lobsters, langoustines and haddock landed in Amble itself. Dishes range from fish and chips, and hot dressed North Shields crab, served under a parmesan crust with garlic butter and focaccia, to a blow-out sharing seafood platter. Nearby sister venue, Fish Shack, was constructed using sections of Sea Quest, an old boat once used as a training vessel in Amble. boathousefoodgroup.co.uk Audela, Berwick-upon-Tweed Fab fine dining A smart, comfortable restaurant offering consistently accomplished cooking, Audela has many fans among locals and visitors alike. Its menus mix crisp, modish plates of, for example, Borders’ venison, pearl barley, beetroot and pickled walnut, or North Sea halibut, nori, Delica pumpkin and citrus beurre blanc, with irresistible classics such as Audela’s twice-baked cheese and leek soufflé. audela.co.uk Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland Rural retreat Originally a guest house for a 12th-century abbey, this handsome pub, restaurant and hotel oozes historic character. It sits within amazing walking country. So much so that guests can pick up maps and Lord Crewe fudge before heading out to Pow Hill Country Park or Kielder Forest. Ravenous ramblers will find chef Paul Johnson’s venison cottage pie or roast lamb, jerusalem artichoke, Roscoff onion and chimichurri just the ticket on their return. lordcrewearmsblanchland.co.uk The Feathers Inn, Hedley on the Hill Chef favourite Quiz chefs or local foodies about the Northumbria scene and this gorgeous pub will soon come up. A cosy redoubt of log burners, warm welcomes and on-point cooking, its gutsier dishes (black pudding with poached egg and devilled gravy; beef slow-cooked in ale with shallots, carrots and creamy mash) are precisely what is needed over winter. But it shines in summer, too, when a pizza kitchen also opens to serve those enjoying the rays in its cute outdoor areas. thefeathers.net Morwick Dairy, Acklington Unmissable ice cream From Doddington Dairy’s retro Milk Bar at Wooler or Amble parlour, Spurreli, to Pilgrim’s Gelato and its vegan oat milk ‘geloato’, you’re never far from interesting ice cream in Northumberland. At Morwick Dairy’s farm shop you can choose from 20 of its award-winning gelato flavours, including Italian black cherry, fior di latte and its take on Scottish dessert cranachan: a raspberry rippled, whisky based scoop made with local distillery Ad Gefrin’s Tácnbora whisky, finished with honey toasted oats. morwickdairy.co.uk Pine, East Wallhouses Hot seat Stylish barn conversion restaurant where chefs Cal Byerley and Ian Waller design Michelin-starred tasting menus from ultra-local ingredients, with a firm focus on sustainability. Whole-animal butchery, foraging, preserving and Pine’s kitchen garden are key to its dishes of cured beef and nasturtium, or mallard, blueberry and woodruff. Pine’s garden is nourished with compost created from waste coffee grounds and such, and pollinated by Pine’s own bee colony. restaurantpine.co.uk The Ship Inn, Low Newton-by-the-Sea Much loved coastal inn From film to folk nights, this beach-side village pub is a hive of activity, and includes its own on-site microbrewery. The lunch menu features acclaimed Jarvis Pickle pies and sandwiches on the northeast’s beloved stottie cake, a type of large, round bread loaf. By night, plates range from hand-picked local crab, herb salad and sourdough, to lamb koftas with couscous, ezme salad, sumac onions, feta and flatbreads. shipinnnewton.co.uk The Kirkstyle Inn, Slaggyford Rising star Given a spruce makeover in 2023, this pub with rooms on the CumbriaNorthumberland border is gaining a stellar reputation for chef Connor Wilson’s ambitious cooking. Moorland game and seasonal produce from surrounding farms is central to that work. Dishes might range from North Sea halibut, mussel, leek and kohlrabi to partridge with parsnip, trompette and pear. theksi.co.uk Foodie activities to do in Northumberland Cheviot Brewery Tap, Slainsfield Located in Till Valley’s Ford and Etal Estates, in the shadow of the Cheviot Hills, this brewery, bar and glamping site sits in a peach of a location. Brewery tours are available for those who want to dig into how beers, such as citrussy session ale, Sea Stack, are made. From spring onwards, a wood-fired pizza kitchen and fire pits (with s’mores for the kids) are another attraction. As are the resident alpacas, Malt, Porter and Hops. cheviotbrewery.co.uk Northumberland Cheese Company, Blagdon Whether bagging traditionally smoked Craster kippers at L Robson & Sons, tasting Lindisfarne mead or observing Northumberland Seafood Centre’s lobster hatchery, this region has many fascinating foodie diversions. Those keen to know more about the cheesemaking process can book tours at Northumberland Cheese Company to explore its brine baths and maturing rooms, and taste award-winning cheeses such as the smoked goats’ cheese, Chesterwood. Includes afternoon tea in the Cheese Loft Café. northumberlandcheese.co.uk Turnbull’s Food Hall, Alnwick The Turnbull family has had a butchery in Alnwick since 1880 but, in 2019, radically expanded its work with this large food hall at Willowburn Retail Park. A butcher’s counter and busy bakery (it produces thousands of handmade pies each week) are complemented by Northumbrian products, from cheeses to gins. Look out for fascinating collabs, including the Turnbull’s smoked bacon old fashioned, created with Amble cocktail maker, Hummingbird Drinks. turnbullsfood.co.uk Foodie town in Northumberland Hexham and surrounding area Pretty, historic Hexham is both a jumping off point to reach many of Northumberland’s best restaurants (and attractions like Northumberland National Park and Hadrian’s Wall) and a hub of good flavours in itself. Shop at artisan bakery The Grateful Bread, Robson & Sons butcher (established 1894), The Natural Grocer Market & Social and, on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, Hexham Farmers’ Market, which draws in makers of anything from kimchi to honey. Just a few miles down the road, the handsome village of Corbridge is also home to the highly rated Corbridge Larder (a deli including 100-plus cheeses, downstairs, with The Heron Café up top), Grant’s Bakery, chocolate truffle makers Coffuffle, and Corbridge Cookshop, a treasure trove for kitchen kit. In season, you can take the kids fruit picking at nearby Brocksbushes, too – which is also home to a swish new farm shop. Back in Hexham and looking for dinner? Bouchon Bistrot has you covered for all the French classics; and there are good things happening on the Josper grill and across contemporary dishes of tuna ceviche or mint and nettle risotto at The Beaumont Hotel restaurant. For something more casual, check out Fire & Dough’s wood-fired pizza truck in Hexham Abbey car park on Saturday nights. More UK travel guides Best restaurants in Glasgow Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in Broadstairs Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge Best restaurants in Margate
Get your burger fix courtesy of Britain’s finest patty purveyors, from Korean brisket burgers in the North West, to beef short rib cheeseburgers in the capital
Looking for the best burger restaurants across the UK? Want to know where to find the best gourmet burgers? Read on for our restaurant guide, or check out our burger recipes here... Best burger restaurants in London… Buster's, Brixton A stone’s throw from Brixton station is potentially the best new burger in London. You’ll find it at Buster’s, effectively a hole in the wall joint, bar a few small tables, serving up delicious wagyu beef and fried chicken burgers. The London restaurant scene is full of spots trying to claim they do ‘simple things, executed perfectly’ but Buster’s is a spot that is actually nailing it. The wagyu cheeseburger is made up of tender meat, seasoned perfectly and cooked to a juicy medium. The green peppercorn dijonaise adds a welcome acidity, and the potato roll it is all sandwiched between is soft and bouncy. The chicken burger is equally excellent, crispy, juicy and served with plenty of pickles. The IPA cheese sauce is aerated and rich, perfect for dipping lots of hot, crispy fries in. We finished off the meal with a chocolate mousse, which was light but decadent. If you’re looking for a great burger south of the river, Buster’s is where it’s at. busterslondon.co.uk Supra Burger, Queen's Park Housed as a permanent pop-up in the cosy rotisserie restaurant Cocotte, Supra does smashed burgers and it does them well. The burger menu is short and the five burgers on offer are a variation on double stacked smashed cheeseburger, to which you can add bacon or salad, or change up the sauce to make it a Supra, truffle or barbecue burger. The burgers are generously portioned but without being too big to eat. There’s attention to detail in the preparation, along with the use of high-quality ingredients, resulting in burgers that are juicy, flavourful and smashed to perfection. The fries are crisp, golden and fresh from the fryer, and a side of chicken tenders were succulent from what we guessed must have been a wet brine. As well as a choice of six sauces (the burnt chilli was our favourite), there’s a short list of desserts. We tried the Mont Blanc, which was a tall sundae of sweetened chestnut purée, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and almonds. There’s a fair few eateries on this stretch of leafy Queen's Park and Supra is now the go-to for burgers. supra-burger.com MEATLiquor, Clapham November marks 10 years since the first MEATliquor restaurant launched. Their origins from a burger van in Peckham, to a pop-up above an abandoned pub in New Cross, couldn' be further from the latest venture — and biggest yet — in Clapham's Old Town. The huge space has two bars, a heated outdoor dining area with TVs and a large projector and photo booth inside. Everything about MEATliquor is full-on — from the graffiti-led design and the music played, to the flavours on the menu, a mix of American diner specials, all with a MEATliquor twist. Burger aficionados will point to the Dead Hippie: a French's-mustard-fried double patty with onions, cheese, lettuce and pickles all within a soft bun that soaks up the good stuff. Buffalo chicken wings are a match for any of those found in the US and the loaded fries on offer are a meal within themselves. There are a range of vegetarian and vegan options — from the Tempeh Tantrum patty to the Black Bean Chilli Dog. The drinks list is a mix of craft beers and cocktails, and that's before you hit the 'Poke For Jäger' button on your table. meatliquor.com Tucka Burger, Shoreditch Andy Gardener and Lachy Brown met at school in Australia, and both moved to London to pursue careers in accountancy and consulting. Lachy says: “We quickly realised our passion lay elsewhere, and so in July 2018 we turned to our burger truck dream.” The beef is a high-fat blend of chuck, brisket and bone marrow, which has been dry-aged for 35 days. Try the signature Tom Tucka American cheeseburger, or the vegetarian What the Tuck (beef is substituted for grilled halloumi). “Our burgers are incredibly juicy and messy,” says Lachy. tuckaburger.co.uk Hawksmoor, London This upmarket steakhouse chain also serves a mean burger – notably the £17.50 beef short rib cheeseburger with kimchi, which was launched in 2010 when the Seven Dials restaurant opened. Inspired by a trip to Seoul, it features Hawksmoor’s own kimchi, the recipe for which you can find in the Hawksmoor at Home cookbook. thehawksmoor.com Bleecker, London What started as a street-food truck by former corporate lawyer Zan Kaufman now has three sites in Bloomberg, Victoria and Old Spitalfields Market. Bleecker serves six burgers with a range of fries, including the “angry” version with hot sauce and blue cheese sauce. The patties are made with native-breed beef, and brand director Liam O’Keefe says the secret blend they’ve created helps the butcher use the whole animal. “We believe we have the best-tasting beef burger possible,” he says. bleecker.co.uk Black Bear Burger, E1 (Shoreditch) This Box Park Shoreditch operation keeps things simple with three classic burger options. Stew Down, who opened Black Bear alongside his wife Liz, says: “We don’t mess around with gimmicks – everything in our burgers is there for one reason: flavour.” Beef comes from grass-fed South West native breeds (Stew’s family are beef farmers in Devon), and the most popular burger is the Black Bear: dry-aged beef, American cheese, bacon, onion jam and garlic mayo in a super-light seeded bun. It’s the balance of flavours that sets these burgers apart – Stew says that they’re keen to avoid overpowering sauces, incorrect seasoning and unnecessary ingredients. blackbearburger.com The Wigmore, W1 (Oxford Cirus) An upmarket pub just off Regent Street and Oxford Circus, The Wigmore serves a mean cheeseburger with grilled ox tongue. It was created by head chef James Hawley, who says the idea came from enjoying ox tongue and English mustard rolls when he was a kid. The Wigmore burger also features a caramelised onion brioche bun, crispy shallots and the same melted three-cheese mix used in the pub’s signature toasties. the-wigmore.co.uk Best burger restaurants across the UK… Bunsen, Belfast Keeping it simple and using high-quality ingredients (such as Black Aberdeen Angus beef minced on site every morning, and homemade soft Amish dinner rolls) is what sets Belfast’s Bunsen apart from competitors. It’s a straightforward choice between classic hamburger or cheeseburger, the latter of which includes a special blend of comté and monterey jack. bunsen.ie Steak & Honour, Cambridge Steak & Honour (which also has mobile burger vans across Cambridge) serves three types of burger: classic, cheese and a veggie shroom. The meat patties are made with 100% hand-minced chuck beef from cattle that graze East Anglian pastures and water meadows. Nothing is added except Maldon salt as they sizzle, and Dovecote Bakery created the brioche bun recipe for them. Order a side of three-cheese mac ’n’ cheese, too, which comes sliced and grilled. steakandhonour.co.uk Patty & Bun, Brighton Eight Patty & Bun branches have opened in London and Brighton over the past seven years. It’s known for impeccable sourcing – beef from HG Walter, bespoke buns from Bread Ahead, cheese from Neal’s Yard and Kupros Dairy – and bestsellers include the Lambshank Redemption: a lamb patty with coriander and chilli, buttermilk baby courgettes, pickled aubergine, cumin aïoli and feta. pattyandbun.co.uk Hills, Brecon A mile outside the town and overlooking the Brecon Beacons, the glass-fronted Hills restaurant is a destination that attracts thousands of diners every month. Owain and Emily Hill showcase Welsh produce in their burgers, with signature options including a chips and gravy cheeseburger, sweet and sour chicken burger, and pulled pork with hoisin and soy sauce burger. Hills uses aged PGI Welsh beef from local butcher Paddy Sweeney, and cooks its burgers using the ‘smashed’ method, creating an incredible crust and flavour. Each burger comes with two 3.5oz smashed patties and a blend of monterey jack and American cheese as standard. hillsbrecon.co.uk Blas Burgerworks, St Ives, Cornwall “Not fast, just fabulous” is the motto at Blas Burgerworks, the tiny restaurant and takeaway close to St Ives harbour. Now into its 14th year, it has become something of a local institution thanks to an unwavering commitment to provenance and sourcing. Beef comes from nearby Trevaskis Farm, Cornish potatoes are used for the hand-cut chips, and all the sauces are made on the premises. Blas Burgerworks also makes a mean vegetarian organic black bean burger, and occasionally serves a special mackerel burger using fish landed in the bay around the corner. blasburgerworks.co.uk Libertine Burger, Leamington Spa Charles Harris of Libertine Burger says that the main reason his patties stand out is the quality of the meat. It’s a mix of double-ground chuck, brisket and flank from 35-day dry-aged Angus beef, supplied by renowned butcher, Aubrey Allen. Hand-smashing the patties to order on a really hot grill lends a great crust. The Warwickshire punters also love the buttermilk fried chicken burger. libertineburger.com Squeezed, Bristol He might be cooking in a tiny shipping container on Bristol’s harbourside but Squeezed founder Alex Hayes was still crowned burger chef of the year at the National Burger Awards 2019. Signatures include the Beetlejuice (double beef patty, smoked bacon, cheese, black garlic, squid-ink aïoli and gochujang ketchup) and the Reverse Cowgirl (beef patty, smoked bacon, peanut chipotle BBQ and charred scallion soured cream). Alex says: “You can taste every element, as well as the overall flavour profile.” bristolsqueezed.co.uk Fat Hippo, Newcastle, Durham and Sheffield “Get ready to sink your teeth into something juicy,” is one tagline at the Fat Hippo, which started life in Newcastle and has since added Durham, Jesmond and Sheffield branches to its empire. The idea is indulgence, messy fingers and a full belly. The Bubba Gump burger, for example, includes a double patty, cheese, popcorn shrimp, smoked bacon and pickleback slaw. fathippo.co.uk The Beefy Boys, Hereford The Beefy Boys are four childhood friends who have always loved cooking burgers at garden BBQs. They’re regular competitors at worldwide burger championships (their next challenge in October takes them to Dallas, Texas) but, following a series of pop-ups across Hereford, the crew now has a restaurant in the city. Co-founder Murf says: “The Beefy Boys are the definition of a drunken BBQ that’s got seriously out of hand... so much so that we now own a restaurant, a food truck and an events business.” Murf puts their success down to local Hereford beef (100% chuck and brisket), toasting the bun with bacon fat, butter or aged beef fat, and seasoning. “We also steam our burgers, a tip we picked up from American diners. You spray water onto the hot plate, then steam the burgers under a cloche – it heats the bun up and melts the cheese, making the whole thing come together in a cacophony of cheesy, meaty goodness.” thebeefyboys.com Free State Kitchen, Liverpool “We serve straightforward American classics,” says Kate Hughes of Liverpool’s Free State Kitchen, whose bestseller after six years of business is still the cheeseburger (served in a locally baked brioche bun). The core menu may stay the same, but Free State Kitchen likes to use its specials board to mix things up on a regular basis. Expect treats such as the Korean brisket burger, made with locally produced kimchi, bulgogi-style beef and a crispy fried egg. freestatekitchen.co.uk Slap & Pickle, Leeds James Tabor and Zoe Perret run Slap & Pickle at Assembly Underground, a street-food hub located in the basement of a Grade-II building in Leeds city centre. The burgers are made from 100% grass-fed Yorkshire beef, and showcase a signature blend of chuck, short rib and clod. James says: “We can serve every item on our menu in meaty, veggie or vegan incarnations, and we make all of it ourselves. We don’t buy ‘science-lab fake meats’, because they’re all horrible.” slapandpickle.co.uk Big Boys, Folkestone Brothers Gareth Attwell and Guy Meurice launched Big Boys in 2014, and have made it to the finals of the National Burger Awards twice since then. Chef Gareth worked in top-end restaurants for 16 years, including spells with Marcus Wareing. The burgers are made with local rare-breed beef (matured for 28 days) and French brioche buns (or even mac ’n’ cheese ‘buns’, pictured). Big Boys are well known for their specials – try the Fat Elvis for its peanut butter, raspberry jelly and bacon jam. bigboysburgers.co.uk El Perro Negro, Glasgow Nick Watkins started El Perro Negro as a kitchen takeover pop-up, but it became such a hit with Glasgow burger fans that it was a permanent restaurant by 2018 (and winner at the National Burger Awards 2019). Using beef from small local farms, specials include the Top Dog, with bone marrow and roquefort butter, bacon and black truffle mayo, and the Black Dog, which adds black pudding to the mix. Nick says: “We don’t attempt to reinvent the wheel, we just use great beef, great bread and great ingredients. Our short rib and marrow patty gives a super juicy burger, with a really intense bovine flavour. The beef should be the star of the show. Anything that goes on the patty is there to complement the beef, not drown it out.” @ElPerroNegroGLA Magu, Bath Magu founder Leon Dunnett makes his own sauces and serves fantastic smashed beef patties in bespoke buns. But his Bath diner has also gained a formidable reputation for the veggie burger with Somerset-made halloumi, roasted Mediterranean vegetables, pickled red onion and mint yogurt. magudiner.com Meat:Stack, Newcastle Following pop-ups around Newcastle, Meat:Stack found a permanent home in the city’s Grainger Market. Its American cheeseburgers are the stuff of legend, especially the Cease and Desist (made with rare-breed dry-aged beef, smoked bacon, mascarpone and black garlic honey). “We are obsessive about simplicity and clarity of flavour,” says co-founder Tom Westman. The beef is cooked on a searing hot grill, then steamed, and you should order a portion of beef dripping fries on the side. meat-stack.com Honest Burgers, across the UK With more than 30 sites across the UK, Honest Burgers has a point of difference from other chains – it’s heavily invested in its own butchery, with each restaurant making burgers from scratch. Co-founder Tom Barton says: “From day one we’ve made the majority of our menu in-house, starting with chips, relish, pickles and sauces. By having our own butchery, we now know exactly where our beef comes from. We also love working with nearby suppliers, whether it’s for a local burger (every branch of Honest has one) or a local brewery.” honestburgers.co.uk Hoof, Cardiff Sibling business to Cardiff’s Dusty Knuckle Pizza, Hoof has a permanent residency at the city’s Sticky Fingers street-food market in the Brewery Quarter. It serves a 100% Welsh beef featherblade patty with Teifi cheese, pickles, cultured cream and sweet chilli herb sauce. One of the secrets of their success, according to owner Phil Lewis, is the fact award-winning Hay-on-Wye baker Alex Gooch provides the buns. “Alex’s organic challah buns are slightly spongy and a bit crusty. They hold together perfectly and are a great marriage with our beef patties, especially when grilled with dripping.” @hoofcdf Original Patty Men, Birmingham “Our tag line is ‘Purveyors of Filth’ and we do our best to live up to that,” says Thomas Maher, director of Birmingham’s Original Patty Men. Five burgers are on the menu, including the Pineapple Express (aged longhorn beef patty, maple-coated bacon, lettuce, roquito chilli pepper, fresh tomato, cheddar and pineapple hot sauce). Thomas says: “Our suppliers list is something we’re incredibly proud of, and the majority supply Michelin-starred restaurants across the country. Our style of cooking is just a bit different to theirs!” originalpattymen.com Words by Mark Taylor Photographs by Justin D Esouza, David Griffen, Ed Sowerby
Tour de Yorkshire: where to eat and drink along the route
We've found the best places to eat and drink along the Tour de Yorkshire 2018 route – sunny beer gardens, hip coffee shops and proper country pubs
Watching Tour de Yorkshire 2018? Here's where to eat along the Tour de Yorkshire route to watch the cyclists. Find out the best restaurants, pubs and cafés along the route and where to watch the cycling race, from Beverley to Doncaster, Barnsley to Ilkley, Richmond to Scarborough, and finally Halifax to Leeds. Click here for plenty more tips for a foodie road trip in Yorkshire... Tour de Yorkshire stage 1: Beverley to Doncaster (Via Hornsea, Catwick, Beverley, SKidby, Holme on the Wolds, Pocklington, Howden, Fishlake, Auckley) The Westwood, Beverley Housed in a Grade-2 listed Georgian courthouse, this restaurant focuses on modern British cuisine. Local produce is a big focus, from local Waterford Farm's grass-fed beef to wild sea bass from the shores of Skipsea. Hearty dishes of pan-roasted Yorkshire lamb and duck breast are served with wild garlic buttered new potatoes and creamed spinach. Puddings are equally comforting, from chocolate fondants with peanut brittle to chocolate caramel tart served with milk ice cream from Cherry View dairy farm, just three miles down the road. thewestwood.co.uk The Pipe and Glass, South Dalton Set on the Dalton Estate, this Michelin-starred country gastropub serves British dishes. Pop into the bar area for a bottle of Two Chefs (an ale that was developed by head chef James and produced by the Great Yorkshire Brewery) and a ham sarnie with piccalilli, or settle into the elegant restaurant for a dinner of braised onion with wild mushrooms and cheddar rarebit or a plate of the first-of-the-season English asparagus with crisp hen egg. Be sure to explore the lush gardens and herbarium where you’ll find rosemary, lovage, violas and myrtle growing. pipeandglass.co.uk The Wellington, Lund The Wellington, or ‘The Welly’ as locals call it, overlooks the village green and is the place to stop off for pub classics. Serving both a pub menu and a restaurant-style dishes, there’s something to serve everyone. Cosy up by the roaring fire for hearty dishes of beer battered haddock and chips as well as roast pork, stuffing and apple sandwiches. There’s always a Timothy Taylors cask ale available, as well as craft beers from other local microbreweries. thewellingtoninn.co.uk The Kings Head, Barmby on the Marsh Dating back to the 1800s, this traditional village pub focuses on British pub classics from sausage, mash and onion gravy to chicken pies and scampi. The dinner menu offers slightly lighter dishes including sweet pickled asparagus with serrano ham as well as a brie and chutney tart. Nestle into the bar and order one of the four real ales on offer. thekingsheadbarmby.co.uk Want to find out more information about the Tour de Yorkshire 2018 route? Check out this article from our friends over at Cycling News, including route information and a lowdown on the contestants... Tour de Yorkshire stage 2: Barnsley to Ilkley (Via Penistone, Swinton, South Elmsall, Pontefract, Castleford, Harewood, Otley) The Wentbridge House Hotel, Wentbridge Set in the picturesque village of Wentbridge, The Wentbridge House Hotel is a perfect stop off to enjoy both traditional bistro and fine-dining food. After a stroll around the gardens, settle down in the brasserie for plates of brill served with buttered courgettes and new potato fondant, or a Dovecote Park steak burger topped with smoked applewood and aioli. Make sure you leave room for a portion of sticky toffee pudding served with roasted banana ice cream or a slice of white chocolate and ginger cheesecake. If you're in the mood for a tipple, their gin menu features over 20 options, including four from Yorkshire. wentbridgehouse.co.uk The Chequers, Ledsham Dating back to the early 1600s, this traditional British pub is true to its character with low beams and roaring open fires. Dishes are pub classics, from steak and mushrooms pies to gammon steak served with egg and chips. For dessert, order a plate of three Yorkshire cheeses or a bowl of jam sponge with custard. If the weather is good, make the most of the lovely beer garden and order a pint of bitter from Leeds Best. thechequersinn.com Hidden Harewood dinners at Harewood House Head to the Harewood estate in Yorkshire and enjoy a tasting menu, eaten in various hidden corners not usually accessible to the public. Executive chef Josh Whitehead has created a menu that makes the most of the Harewood produce to be enjoyed in the grounds over four nights this May. The ingredients used will be grown, foraged and reared at the estate, including lamb from a flock of Hebridean black sheep. harewoodfoodanddrink.com The White Hart, Pool Bank From hearty pies to dinnertime sharing platters, The White Hart serves modern food in upmarket surroundings. Sink into one of the velvet seats and order Mediterranean mezze plates of falafel, harissa hummus, roasted peppers and flatbread or chargrilled lamb and balsamic koftas. If you’re there on a Sunday, be sure to try the roast pork loin with Bramley apple butter and crackling, and a side of smoked beef dripping roasted potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, Yorkshire puddings and bottomless gravy. thewhitehartpool.co.uk The Box Tree, Ilkley The handsome sandstone building dates back to the 18th century, but The Box Tree has only been a restaurant for a mere 56 years. Simon Gueller and his wife Rena became custodians of this West Yorkshire institution in 2004, following in the footsteps of several chefs including Marco Pierre White, who worked in the kitchen when he was 17. The Michelin-starred food may be rooted in the classics, but it’s light and contemporary, backed up by service that’s staunchly oldschool. “I take that description as a real compliment,” says Rena. “At a time when everything is being stripped back and simplified, we enjoy training young people in the old values. Someone has to, or it will die out. Giving good service doesn’t cost a thing.” theboxtree.co.uk Tour de Yorkshire stage 3: Richmond to Scarborough (Via Wensleydale, Leyburn, Bedale, Northallerton, Thirsk, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Pickering, Scarborough, Filey and Cayton) Wensleydale Heifer, West Witton A gastro pub with rooms on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the Wensleydale Heifer serves everything from tapas and snacks to lobster and steak. Seafood is a real focus, with starters including chilli salt squid with fennel and red onion salad; turbot pakora with cucumber riata and a classic prawn cocktail. Fish-focused mains are kept classic too, so order a fish pie topped with potato and cheddar crust, grilled sea bass served with truffle and parmesan risotto or Black Sheep beer battered haddock goujons and chips. wensleydaleheifer.co.uk Black Swan at Oldstead A 2.5-acre allotment in picturesque Oldstead provides The Black Swan with the ultimate kitchen garden. Everyone from the chefs to the owners of this Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms mucks in to tend Minnesota midget melons, oyster leaves that taste of the sea and myriad other fruit and vegetables. Nestle in to a booth in the cosy bar area and enjoy sherbet-y rhubarb schnapps with meadowsweet, lemon balm and rhubarb vinegar along with intricate amuse-bouches – razor clams with broad beans, peas and pea flowers; tiny crisp potato skins filled with goats cheese, wood mushrooms and lemon verbena; and diced veg with herb oil and lemon mayo topped with charred beetroot leaf. Move in to the dining room and bag a table by the window overlooking the vast kitchen garden while Tommy and his team work away in the open kitchen preparing ingredients picked that same morning. The highlight of our tasting menu was a beetroot steak that had been roasting in beef fat on the grill since 8am that morning. And a scallop tartare with celeriac crisp and apple was fun: served on a bespoke plate made by a potter in York, when you’ve finished you lift the plate to reveal a second scallop dish, this time roasted in citrussy butter with olive-textured spruce tips and celeriac puree. blackswanoldstead.co.uk Mannion & Co, Helmsley Owner Andrew Burton used to cook in the Michelin-starred kitchen of the Star at Harome, not far from here. At Mannion the menu is more relaxed and Mediterranean, inspired by Andrew’s regular charcuterie– and wine-sourcing trips to Italy and Spain. We tried wild mushrooms on sourdough with kale, duck egg and mushroom ketchup for lunch. mannionandco.co.uk Vine House Café, Helmsley Set on the outskirts of Helmsley Walled Garden, a five-acre idyll blooming with fruit trees, peonies, clematis, cornflowers and much more, The Vine House Café is a lovely way to enjoy the gardens and its wildlife. The menu focuses on simple, homemade dishes such as seasonal soups (spring veg, feta and mint), open sandwiches (chicken with a spicy peanut sauce or ham with homemade pickles), and beautiful salad boards (the Yorkshire salad includes local pork pie, ham, cheese and pickles). For dessert, order a pot of Yorkshire tea, or coffee roasted in York, and a freshly baked cake and take in the peaceful scenery. helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk Hunters of Helmsley Set in a prime location on Helmsley’s Market Place, this corner shop is so much more than a deli. Punters queue at a hole in the wall to wait for scoops of locally made Brymor ice cream (or, in winter, to enjoy hot, deep-filled topside of beef sandwiches, made to order). If you’re into your craft beer, this is the place to indulge in a spending spree, with over 40 locally brewed bottled beers in stock (we liked Riggwelter and Scarborough Fair). huntersofhelmsley.com The Star Inn Harome At this 14th-century thatched inn it’s a tough choice of tables between huge oak benches overlooking the kitchen garden and a snug little nook in the low-ceilinged bar. Either spot is ideal for a gin and tonic made from Whittaker’s Gin, distilled in Nidderdale using local bilberries, hawthorn and thyme. In the kitchen garden the team grows broad beans (used, among other things, for a delicious lovage-buttered pea, broad bean and asparagus soup), baby leeks (served alongside elderflower-scented Norfolk quail ‘osso bucco’), and lavender (just a dash of which is added to sheep’s milk and strawberry eton mess). thestaratharome.co.uk Willowgate Bistro, Pickering Husband and wife team, Matthew and Gemma Bird, opened this tiny bistro at the top of the hill in Pickering just two weeks after their son was born, and their passion and dedication really shows. Choose an aperitif from the tiny wooden bar in the corner of the room and listen to soft jazz as you peruse the short and well thought-out menu. Matt runs his kitchen just as you would do at home – he buys meat every morning from Horseley’s butchers next door but one, and pops across the road to Taylor’s greengrocers to gather his fruit and veg. The menu focuses on simple but imaginative home cooking with clever twists. Locally shot pigeon breast is served on parsnip puree with air-dried bacon popcorn. Pan-fried sea bream and crunchy sautéed vegetables are spiced up with a fragrant, homemade Thai green curry sauce. Chicken comes as a mini chicken kiev with creamy celeriac puree and more crunchy greens. willowgatebistro.co.uk Magpie Café, Whitby Overlooking Whitby harbour, this North Yorkshire restaurant is the place to go for fish and chips, and it’s hard to miss with queues going down the road. Choose between locally sourced cod, haddock, hake or skate and be sure to get a box of chips and a side of mushy peas, too. Either sit in or get a portion to takeaway to the beach with you. magpiecafe.co.uk Tour de Yorkshire stage 4: Halifax to Leeds (Via Hebden Bridge, Laycock, Skipton, Middleham, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Otley, Leeds) The Tempest Arms, Elslack Set in rolling countryside close to the Yorkshire Dales, the Tempest Arms is a village pub serving excellent food. Order the Elslack plough, a platter of pork pie, homemade scotch eggs, Lancashire cheese and roasted ham all served with Angela’s farm bread and butter, or the cheese and pâté plate that comes with homemade chutney, pickles and fruit cake for a lunchtime snack. tempestarms.co.uk The Red Lion, Burnsall Originally a 16th century Ferryman’s Inn, the Red Lion bar and restaurant boasts an idyllic location on the River Wharfe. A traditional dining area decked out with oak floors and log burning stoves is the place to cosy up with a bowl of honey and shallot lamb stew or a pork loin steak with black pudding and apple sauce. If you fancy something lighter, order a ploughman’s platter of pork pies, ham hock terrine, cheese, apple, pickled beetroot and a scotch egg. redlion.co.uk The Blue Lion, East Witton Nestled in the heart of Wensleydale, the Blue Lion has been open in the Yorkshire Dales for over 20 years. There’s a real ale bar stocking local beers including Black Sheep Brewery as well as a cosy dining area. Pub classics are taken to the next level, from slow-cooked pork belly with sarladaise potato and black pudding to pan fried seabass with braised fennel, beetroot and orange salad. Leave space for a portion of apple and raspberry crumble served with vanilla custard, or a sticky toffee pudding with rich clotted cream ice cream. thebluelion.co.uk The Black Sheep Brewery, Masham Paul Theakstons family had been in the brewing game for five generations when he opened Black Sheep brewery in 1992. Built on traditional values and using rescued equipment to brew their ales, the focus was, and still is, on taking time to create the best beer possible. The range includes kegs of pale ales and larger as well as bottles of dark stout and cans of dark IPA. blacksheepbrewery.com We've found the best British beers to try. Click here to find our favourite British beers... The Timble Inn, Timble Hidden away in the village of Timble, this country pub with rooms, housed in a 18th century coaching inn, is a cosy place to settle for the night. Start with a pint of Dark Horse bitter in the bar area before a dinner of pan-fried Yorkshire chicken breast with butternut squash and chorizo risotto, venison loin with fondant potato or roast cod served with mussels and cabbage. thetimbleinn.co.uk Leeds The Tour de Yorkshire 2018 finishes in Leeds, providing the perfect excuse to explore Leeds' independent restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Click here to find our favourite places to eat and drink in Leeds Has the Tour de Yorkshire inspired you to take up cycling? Our friends over at Bike Radar give us 30 benefits of getting out on a bike... Written by Ellie Edwards, with contributions from Alex Crossley and Lucy Gillmore
Castle Howard, North Yorkshire: afternoon tea review
We review afternoon tea at Castle Howard, a picturesque stately home 15 miles north of York. Expect fantastic coronation chicken, plenty of savoury bites, and an unforgettable strawberry tart
There’s a lot to explore at Castle Howard: an impressive stately home, 1,000 acres of land, and fragrant gardens filled with roses and rhododendrons, among other delights. So it’s worth arriving a couple of hours early before settling down to afternoon tea in the Grecian Hall. Built in the 1750s, the hall was originally household staff quarters, but is now home to much grander affairs. Roaring fires, tables laid with crisp white linen and vases of fresh flowers created a welcoming environment. There was a quiet hum of music playing in the background when we arrived, but the room felt a little still. Slightly louder music might have been nice, and maybe a little colour in the furnishings. The tea menu offered plenty of variety, including a few loose leaf options. Organic white tea (although not loose leaf) was refreshingly subtle in flavour, with slightly floral notes. Sandwiches were cut symmetrically and the bread was soft. Classics such as cream cheese and cucumber were pleasing, but the stand out had to be the coronation chicken: creamy and spicy, with a freshness from the added grated carrot and coriander. We’d have welcomed seconds. Afternoon tea is often heavy on the sweet treats, but the second tier of our stand was a variety of savoury bites, including a light cheese scone topped with chive crème fraiche (clean and velvety), wild sea trout and pickled cucumber. The lentil and beetroot wellington was a veggie-friendly twist on the classic beef version, with crisp pastry and a slightly sweet filling from the roasted beetroot. Scones make or break an afternoon tea, and the selection of one plain, one sultana didn’t disappoint – they were well risen and golden on top, with a crisp outside and light centre. Their sweet flavour was made even better with rich clotted cream and a simple strawberry jam. Although the jam wasn’t homemade, it was at least local, produced around 40 miles west of Castle Howard in Masham. The top tier of cakes was delicate and enticing. A strawberry tart with dried strawberry meringue had crisp buttery pastry, a rich smooth custard filling and a meringue topping that added crunchy texture and gave the whole tart a perky peak. As predicted, the Belgian chocolate and raspberry layered cake was rich and indulgent, but also managed to be light, with its delicate crunchy hazelnut base. Each one was topped with a raspberry and a piece of gold leaf for extra luxury. Another highlight was a glass of almond crumble, vanilla custard and Castle Howard Estate rhubarb that you can see growing in the gardens. The rhubarb was soft and slightly sweet, and candied pistachios added a splash of colour. The food at Castle Howard is delicately presented, with a focus on using simple ingredients in creative ways. We took our tea at 3pm and the staff were polite and welcoming, talking you through the food and offering free tea top-ups throughout the sitting. What’s more, the cakes that defeated us were packaged up into a box for us to take home. Star of the show: English strawberry tart topped with dried strawberry meringue Scone rating: 9/10 Perfect for: A day out in the country with friends Traditional afternoon tea with visit to house and gardens: £43.95 per person Afternoon tea with gardens only: £36.95 per person Castle Howard York YO60 7DA Written by Ellie Edwards Images: Victoria Harley and Mike Kipling This week we celebrate Yorkshire Day with web editor Alex Crossley (who also happens to be from Yorkshire!). Alex returns to her home county to explore the independent food scene in Leeds including a lesson in British charcuterie from Friends of Ham as well as matching speciality coffee with Yorkshire-made sweet treats at North Star. olive magazine podcast ep63 - Leeds independent food scene special View oEmbed on the source website
St Mary's Inn, Northumberland: pub review
Read our review of St Mary's Inn, Northumberland; a cosy country pub with rooms, set up by the people behind Newcastle’s well-loved Jesmond Dene House Hotel. Expect warm hospitality, a great selection of local ales and a menu driven by local producers.
Secluded in the Northumberland countryside on the site of an old hospital, St Mary's Inn is a cosy pub and restaurant with rooms. Set up by the people behind Newcastle’s well-loved Jesmond Dene House Hotel, the Inn’s focus is on simple but well-prepared pub food and luxuriously fitted, spacious rooms. The long main bar is separated into cosy snug rooms, each with a wood burning stove. The whole pub area is dog and family friendly, and even in it’s slightly out-of-the-way location feels more populated by friendly regulars than one-off visitors. The same menu is available in both the bar and dining area and is peppered with some nice North-eastern touches such as the braised ham hock and pease pudding stotties (from the sandwich menu), or wild watercress soup with Northumberland goat’s curd on the all day menu. Suppliers such as Latimer’s seafood and Ken Holland’s organic veg are also name-checked and there’s a definite sense that the kitchen is committed to using local produce as well as fruit and veg from their small kitchen garden. The bar stocks a great selection of local ales - including its own St Mary’s Ale brewed specially by nearby Wylam Brewery - and there’s a great value wine list with bottles starting at £16 for the house wine. You’ll need to book ahead for the extremely popular 3 course Sunday lunch and the kitchen has recently started serving a bargain afternoon tea at £14.95 (£22.50 with a small bottle of Prosecco). The first floor bedrooms are airy and uncluttered with wrought iron bedsteads, top notch beds and beautifully fitted white tile and marble bathrooms. Guests can also make use of the a courtyard roof terrace for lounging on sunnier days. All stays include a hearty cooked breakfast which ranges from a traditional full English to an expertly cooked eggs benedict or avocado and poached eggs on toast. Rooms from £80 per night on a B&B basis. stmarysinn.co.uk You might also like: Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle; restaurant review Cook House, Newcastle: restaurant review Where is the best pub pie in Britain?
Jesmond Dene House Hotel, Newcastle: restaurant review
We review the food at Jesmond Dene House, a restaurant and hotel right next to the beautiful Jesmond Dene public park in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne. Expect bold, delicately cooked seasonal ingredients such as North Sea monkfish cheeks.
Secluded at the bottom of a long curving driveway on the edge of Jesmond Dene (a narrow wooded valley on the outskirts of Newcastle), Jesmond Dene House feels more like a country hotel than one which is a short hop away from the city centre. The always-busy restaurant offers all-day dining with brunch, set lunch and dinner menus, as well as a blowout multi-course tasting menu. You’ll need to book ahead in the restaurant, although anyone can eat in the bar area without booking if there is room available. There are two rooms: the relaxed, warm music room and the light and airy garden room whose glass windows open out onto the terrace in good weather. We arrived for a late lunch on a Saturday and the restaurant was full and buzzy. It’s obviously a place that people book for special occasions – one large table looked like they were celebrating a landmark birthday and there was a very dressed-up group enjoying the afternoon tea that starts at 2pm. Other tables were filled with couples and families enjoying an informal lunch. It’s one of Jesmond Dene House’s strengths that they are able to accommodate all of this with a warm and relaxed service style, which is never overbearing or fussy - it may look like a posh country house hotel but the vibe is very friendly and inclusive. The great-value set lunch menu (£22 for 2 courses, £25 for 3) showcases some great cooking, with bold seasonal flavours given a very delicate touch. Starters include melt-in the mouth North Sea monkfish cheeks in a cute little bowl of parsley spelt risotto and roasted spiced chunks of butternut squash with light-as-air whipped ricotta and crisp sage leaves. Mains of confit duck and hake in a creamy but light seafood broth were both perfectly put together. Puddings are not an afterthought either – the apple tarte fin with vanilla cream and cider sorbet was a lovely combination of sweet and tart. We didn’t try the cheese trolley (too full!) but watched longingly as it was wheeled past us to the next table – a really impressive selection which was being expertly explained by the waiter. The wine list is pretty extensive and there is also a great selection of wines by the glass or carafe (wines start at a very reasonable £21 a bottle). jesmonddenehouse.co.uk You might also like Afternoon tea review: Alexander McQueen tea at The Town House restaurant, Kensington Hotel Porridge cafe, Shoreditch: quick restaurant review Shackfuyu, Bone Daddies pop-up: restaurant review and meet chef Mark Edwards Tapas Revolution, Shoreditch: quick restaurant review