Best Sunday lunches in Northumberland 2025

It is widely believed that the people’s love of beef began during the reign of King Henry the VII in 1485. His Yeomen Warders – the royal guard – would dine on fresh roasted beef every Sunday after church, and this became such a ritual that the guards were affectionately referred to as “beefeaters”.

Sunday roasts have remained a much loved tradition to this very day, and although we no longer cook meat in front of a fire, we still use the term ‘roast’. Nowadays, pubs, restaurants, and homes are all filled with families eating roasts on Sundays and often weekdays too! It is my favourite culinary highlight of the week so here are some of my Northumberland favourites starting in the charming coastal village of Beadnell, Northumberland.

Beadnell Towers Beadnell NE67 5AY

Well you may need couple of hours sleep after enjoying a wonderful leisurely Sunday lunch at Beadnell Towers. If you’re looking for Sunday lunch in a beautiful coastal village a stones throw from the beach that not only looks well presented but also offers generous portions, good quality local produce, seasonally inspired desserts and of course wonderful hospitality then check out the Beadnell Towers In Beadnell.

Consistently good having eaten Sunday lunch here many times recently, it was again cooked to perfection by Chef Chris Dodds and the Beadnell Kitchen team. Chris has a highly distinguished and varied culinary history, working in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the UK.

Starters include plates such as Hot Smoked Craster Salmon, Prawn & Crayfish Cocktail and Goats Cheese Fritter which was the choice of Mr CC which looked and tasted good I had to try it for research right! A hunk of sourdough bread topped generously with freshly roasted balsamic tomatoes and goats cheese fritters dressed with basil oil and pine nuts a really comforting yet refreshing start to the meal

For me, the success of the Sunday roast is as much down to the experience as it is the quality. Sundays are meant for relaxing, and that should be reflected in the food. I want to feel indulged, and relaxed whilst looking like a seal resting on the Farnes Islands! Using these measures I can say the experience was a definite success. The warmed plates (always a good start) were brought to the table with three thick slices of roast sirloin of Northumbrian beef , rich gravy, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside roast potatoes and a towering Yorkshire pudding followed promptly by generous vegetable side dishes including mashed swede, mixed greens and red cabbage which worked well with the rich gravy. The beef was tender and melt in the mouth and the pork soft with crisp crunchy crackling

As I have been lucky enough to have dined here on previous occasions I was sure to leave room for dessert, as the sticky pudding is truly delicious and like a ‘hug in a bowl’ intense and rich with nuggets of honeycombed like pieces running through it an absolute delight. A two course lunch at Beadnell Towers is from £29.50 and at the higher end in price but as I mentioned earlier it’s also about the experience too, with professional, friendly and attentive staff no wonder they are proud to be included in the Sunday Times top 100 hotels. Walk-ins are welcome but to be honest I would advise booking especially in the busier months if you don’t want to be disappointed

🐶dog friendly

🅿️ Car parking available

🪴outdoor seating area

🍸cocktail menu & local ales

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Childrens menu

💻 free WiFi

To book or for more details check here www.beadnelltowers.co.uk Also check out their sister venue The Beach House, Seahouses www.thebeachhouse.co.uk

The Northumberland Arms Felton NE65 9EE

The Northumberland Arms in the picturesque village of Felton overlooking the River Coquet has over the years become one of our go to places, and is consistently good. Only minutes drive from A1 it is well located and easy to get to yet feels like you are in the countryside.

As soon as we walked in we were greeted by friendly staff and seated at our table which was in a cosy room perfect for a crisp clear January Sunday in Northumberland. The hotel has a number of dining areas a restaurant/lounge area which are dog friendly, a further dining area and also a light and airy spacious conservatory perfect for private dining or celebrations and in the warmer months an outdoor patio area and bistro tables

We opted for the traditional Sunday lunch which is served between 12-3pm and priced from £16.95 which I think represents good value, it was very well presented, good portions with a good variety of vegetables and homemade Yorkshire pudding (extra points for the perfect pork crackling and stuffing ) There were GF, vegetarian and children's options available too, check out their website or Facebook page for more details.

Our Sunday lunch was served piping hot with roast potatoes, mash, mashed swede, parsnips, carrot, cavalo nero and mixed greens along with lashings of thick gravy, it was delicious and we both cleared our plates though we had left just sufficient room to share a pudding, Plum and Apple crumble which was to our delight was served with both custard and ice cream. Top tip add the extra cabbage with bacon one of the best I’ve tasted.

I must add here too that their Doggie Delights menu is one of the best I have seen with the pups having their very own choice of starters including a ham & pease pudding bowl, mains such as fish, broccoli & rice and desserts of beef dripping ice cream! Pawesome!

If you are looking for Sunday lunch in cosy and stylish Northumberland surroundings with friendly, welcoming and attentive service with creative food using locally sourced produce whenever possible at reasonable prices then The Northumberland Arms is a must visit.

The Northumberland Arms offers a range of other dining options too as well as having bedrooms and the hotel is only a short distance to coastal locations with golden sandy beaches such as historic Warkworth and Amble with its maritime history. for more details check out their website below.

🐶dog friendly

🅿️ Car parking available

🍻local ales

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Childrens menu/play park close by

💻 free WiFi

For more details visit their website www.northumberlandarms-felton.co.uk

The Tempus at Charlton Hall NE67 5DZ

Sunday Lunch… is not just a meal its an experience for me and a perfect way to

end the weekend is Sunday lunch at The Tempus Charlton Hall it doesn’t disappoint…

As always an exceptional experience. From the warm friendly service, stylish surroundings to the most delicious food, every aspect of our visit for Sunday lunch was wonderful.

The cosy and welcoming atmosphere and elegant décor, creates a perfect backdrop for pre lunch cocktails, Espresso Martinis anyone?

The service throughout as always is impeccable. The staff attentive, friendly, and lots of attention for 🐶🐶 who were given lots of treats, the genuine hospitality truly enhanced our Sunday dining experience.

The menu offers a wide range of options in addition to Sunday lunch catering to various dietary preferences and tastes. Though when it comes to Sunday I’m a traditionalist and it’s always going to be a roast. To start we both enjoyed one of the most delicious cheese soufflés made with local Doddington cheese an absolute triumph.

The main event the Sunday roasts; a Roast Belly Pork & Stuffing and thick cut sliced Sirloin of Beef both served with dripping roasties, roasted and seasonal vegetables, creamy mash, an added side of Cauliflower Cheese which was amazing and the biggest homemade Yorkshire pudding with a rich intense gravy 👌. The presentation was impressive and each mouthful flavourful. The portion size was generous, leaving me feeling very satisfied.

In addition to the mains we indulged in dessert. A warm Treacle Tart which when it arrived looked like a wedge of heavenly golden nugget served with seasonal Ginger Ice Cream & Spiced Apple Compote whilst the Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla ice cream came topped with a dulcey disc which melted away to reveal a rich sticky toffee pudding underneath both decadent treats and a perfect end to a Sunday lunch.

Consistently good yet again our Sunday lunch experience at The Tempus was fabulous. The combination of the relaxed ambiance, attentive service, and delicious food made for another memorable visit. Whether you're looking for a place to enjoy a leisurely meal with family or friends, or simply seeking a cosy spot to unwind on a Sunday afternoon, I highly recommend adding a Sunday lunch visit to your list.

The Tempus offers some of the best Northumbrian cuisine with emphasis on local produce and ingredients and is a dining experience nestled in the heart of the Charlton Estate, a perfect way to spend a Sunday by the coast.

🐶dog friendly, advise when booking

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Childrens menu

💻 free WiFi

🌱GF, Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy Free

options available

📆 walks in welcome but booking advisable

To book or for more information visit http://www.charltonhall.co.uk/thetempus/

The Courtyard Pegswood NE61 6XF

The Courtyard in Pegswood, Morpeth is a hidden gem that offers a delightful Sunday lunch experience in a relaxed setting. With a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, their menu features a range of mouthwatering roasts, including beef, chicken, and vegetarian options. The Courtyard also offers a selection of homemade sides and sauces that perfectly complement your meal. The inviting ambiance and friendly staff make it a great place to unwind and enjoy a leisurely lunch with loved ones. Plus, the charming town of Morpeth is perfect for a post-lunch stroll!

The roast beef and pork were absolutely spot-on — tender, full of flavour, and accompanied by all the classic trimmings. The generous portions and top-quality meat made it a real stand out Sunday lunch.

The desserts stole the show! The sticky toffee pudding, and chocolate dessert are total must-tries — rich, indulgent, and beautifully presented. Each dessert was bursting with flavour and the perfect sweet finish to our meal.

The service was excellent from beginning to end. Our waitress was so friendly and attentive as were the whole team, who made sure we had everything we needed with efficiency and warmth. We were lucky to sit by the front window, where natural light filled the space, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.

We’ll definitely be back — a fantastic spot for a laid-back family meal or celebration with delicious food and great service.

🐶dog friendly area

🍽 varied choice of menu and drinks

🅿️ Parking

🍽 indoor & outdoor dining

💙 family friendly

🍸 good for cocktails

www.thecourtyardpegswood.com

The Dunstanburgh Castle Hotel NE66 3UN

The Dunstanburgh Castle Hotel is located in the beautiful coastal village of Embleton and is only minutes from the most stunning beach with it sweeping golden sands and turquoise waters as well as a the 14th century Dunstanburgh Castle on its doorstep too. As you enter the restaurant it is fresh and welcoming retaining its period charm whilst also feeling modern at the same time. There is also a alovely modern bar area and spacious beer garden outside great for friends and family catch ups as well as a dog friendly lounge area next to a cosy wood burning fire in the cooler months.

The staff were warm and welcoming, engaging but not intrusive. The menu is varied and along with their great value Sunday lunch which ranges from 1 course at £15.00, 2 courses £20.00 and 3 courses £24.00 offering lots of different options including vegan, gluten free and a childrens menu. The drinks menus are worth a mention too as they have an extensive beer, wine and cocktails list and alcohol free section too.

Our Sunday lunch a choice of beef and belly pork arrived with an array of vegetables m homemade Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes and a huge jug of gravy, the portions and choice were incredible value. Even though we were both pleasantly comfortable after our main course we couldn’t resist the dessert menu and opted for sticky toffee pudding which was drenched in toffee sauce and served with a silky vanilla ice cream, a real sweet treat and up there with the best we have eaten!

I was really impressed by our lunch and also the friendly relaxed atmosphere too. Looking forward to another visit soon as they do a varied lunch and dinner menu too.

🐶dog friendly area (not in main restaurant)

🍽 varied choice of menu and drinks

🅿️ Parking

🍽 indoor & outdoor dining

💙 family friendly

http://www.dunstanburghcastlehotel.co.uk/

The Bosk Alnwick

Branton NE66 4LW

If you are looking for a fabulous Sunday lunch in the heart of the Northumberland countryside ... let me introduce to you The Bosk. If you are craving a well presented and hearty Sunday lunch with views of the countryside then this is your sign to book The Bosk now! Located in the village of Branton not far from Wooler and Alnwick is this hidden gem and it sure makes for a cosy, relaxing venue for Sunday lunch and a great place for family and friends to gather together and catch up or to celebrate.

We enjoyed a real culinary experience showcasing some of the freshest and seasonal produce available in Northumberland. Think Golden crisp Yorkshire puddings, tender melt in the mouth meat and one of the best cauliflower cheeses and your guaranteed to have the best meal.

The Sunday lunch menu here offers 1/2/3 courses at a very reasonable £17, £23, £27 prices for fantastic quality and first class service

Starters included:

Pan Fried Garlic and Chilli King Prawns, Toasted Sourdough

Handcrafted Stornoway Black Pudding Scotch

Egg, Red Onion Chutney

Mains:

Striploin of Northumbrian Beef Roast loin of Pork with stuffing

Served with mouth watering trimmings;

Yorkshire Pudding, Roast Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes & Swede, Honey Roast Parsnips, Cauliflower Cheese, Seasoned vegetables, delicious Rich Gravy

Desserts:

Apple Crumble

Handmade Vanilla Cheesecake

Both served with local Doddington Vanilla Ice Cream

Cure your Sunday lunch cravings now and book The Bosk you won't be disappointed. Reservations can be made at The Bosk

01665 660129 Booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Let me know if it's on your list or if you've been already and enjoyed

The Lord Crewe Bamburgh NE69 7BL

Sunday Lunch The Lord Crewe, Bamburgh offers 2 course/3 course £28.95/£32.95 served between 12-4pm

If you enjoy a starter before you settle in to the main course on a Sunday then must trys at the Lord Crewe Bamburgh are the Twice Baked Cuddy’s Cave Soufflé and the Prawn Cocktail as starters both shoe stoppers and really set the tone for the rest of lunch!

Main Courses today:

Roast Sirloin of Beef

Yorkshire Pudding, Duck Fat Roast Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables & Gravy

Roast Loin of Pork

Yorkshire Pudding, Duck Fat Roast Potatoes, Crackling, Stuffing, Seasonal Vegetables, Gravy & Apple Sauce

And having already spotted deserts earlier on the menu easy choice today

Poached Pear & Almond Tart

Crème Anglaise

Sticky Toffee Pudding (V)

Butterscotch Sauce & Vanilla Ice Cream

Nice visit in lovely surroundings in the beautiful village of Bamburgh … be back soon for the cheese soufflé 😋again.

Book at https://www.lord-crewe.co.uk/

The Horseshoes Inn, Rennington NE66 3RS

On a rather breezy Sunday and battling the North winds, the warm welcome and wood burning stove on entering the The Horseshoes Inn in the charming village of Rennington were most welcome. We were promptly shown to our table by the window overlooking the village and settled in with menus and drinks. There is also a snug/bar area which is another dog friendly area at the front of the pub with it’s own log burning fire and dining area separate from the bar area. Though a good offering of starters available we were both ready for the mains and went straight to Sunday lunch. The Horseshoes Inn prides itself on its local produce with much of its menu being sourced from local farms and suppliers. After a short while our main courses arrived and we weren’t disappointed. Amazing thick slices of quality locally sourced Beef for myself and Pork Loin with crackling and stuffing for Mr CC, homemade Yorkshire Puddings, some of the best Roast potatoes and accompanied by roast parsnips, carrots and mixed greens, with a copper pan of rich intense gravy which had a great consistency. I have to say I had seen neighbouring desserts earlier when we arrived so I was determined to make room and in fact I had already decided before even seeing next doors arrive that I would be ordering something sweet. If there’s one piece of advice I would give here is to make sure that you leave room for pudding you won’t be disappointed. Due to the generous plate of food in the end we could only find room to share a dessert. The Toffee Sundae was a perfect way to end a delicious and satisfying meal, scoops of velvety vanilla local ice cream layered with golden nuggets of sticky toffee pudding and cream drizzled with toffee sauce a delightful end to a wonderful meal.

All of the staff throughout our visit were so friendly, engaging and attentive, whilst being knowledgeable about the menu and the foods The Horseshoes, Rennington whilst being a lovely country styled village pub with good quality food also has a real community feel about it too and whilst we left feeling very satiated from such a lovely lunch we also left in high spirits due to the wonderful hospitality from both the staff and locals. If you’re looking for Sunday lunch that promotes use of local produce, generous portions, and a well balanced menu along with friendly staff then this one’s for you.

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦childrens menu

🐶dog friendly

🍺local ales

🍽dietary requirements catered for

For more details check https://www.thehorseshoesinnrennington.co.uk/

The Ad Gefrin Distillery Wooler NE71 6NJ

Ad Gefrin Northumberland’s first ever Whisky Distillery located in Wooler and home to Tácnbora and Thirlings Gin and Bistro - has a fantastic selection of all day dining options available including everything from brunch, afternoon tea, and now Sunday lunch. If you are looking for a unique venue and a distillery in the heart of the Northumberland countryside then try out their Sunday lunch too. After a lovely warm welcome, we settled into our table enjoying the contemporary stylish surroundings and the relaxed atmosphere along with a roaring open fire perfect for a damp misling Northumberland Autumnal day.

Due to such a wide variety of other dining options available their Sunday lunch menu currently consists of a set menu where you can choose the main for £19, 2 courses £25 or 3 courses £30

We skipped the starter which was chef’s homemade Tomato & Basil soup served with locally sourced Bread & Roses Foccacia and went straight to mains the Roast Striploin of Beef. I know not everyone is a fan of pink beef and chef can accommodate your own personal preferences, but personally that’s how I enjoy it, and wow no exaggeration the beef was stunning, locally sourced from Butterworths it was so tender, melt in the mouth and accompanied by one of the most delicious ‘jus’ I’ve tasted. Now I don’t usually do jus preferring gravy when it comes to a traditional Sunday lunch but you know what in this case the flavours were so intense and rich I would definitely make an exception, the flavour was totally moreish, and in fact I did ask for more which the lovely staff were more than happy to accommodate me with. The main came served with roasted Charlotte Potatoes, Seasonal vegetables and of course Yorkshire Pudding which I used to mop up every last bit of the jus! We added Cauliflower Cheese as an extra when we spotted it was made with local Doddington cheese which is another favourite of ours.

Having spotted Sticky Toffee pudding on the menu earlier we were sure to leave room for dessert and I couldn’t help indulge in a slice of their Pear & Ginger cake too. Desserts come with a choice of pouring cream or vanilla ice cream and perhaps an addition of custard would be good especially for the oncoming winter months, but the ginger from the cake had a lovely warmth and was more than enough to keep me happy.

If you are looking for a great dining experience with warm friendly service in a unique setting using good quality local ingredients and supporting other local businesses then Ad Gefrin is a must to add to your list.

As well as a bistro, distillery, and Anglo Saxon museum, be sure to check out their gift shop where you will find not only their very own Tácnbora Whisky and Thirlings Gin but also a range of items showcasing local talents such as pottery from Ravn Clay in Ford

The Bistro is open from 10am-6pm every day except Tuesdays.

Brunch Menu from Thur ~ Sun between 10am until 12pm &

Sunday Lunch served from 12 noon

Afternoon Tea is available from Fri ~ Sun from 2pm - 4pm and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.

For more info visit www.adgefrin.co.uk

The Jolly Fisherman Craster NE66 3TR

Set in the picturesque fishing village of Craster and in walking distance of the dramatic Dunstanburgh Castle, The Jolly Fisherman is a tastefully refurbished village pub with tradition and character at its heart, along with delicious home cooking and beautifully kept local ales. As soon as you enter the bar area (which is dog friendly along with the Captain’s Cabin) you feel that warm cosy Northumbrian welcome which you would expect from a Northumberland village pub, real ale, a good selection of drinks and both ‘sea and land’ dishes available on the menus.

As you may know I’m quite ritualistic about my Sunday lunch and always hope it to be a feast of a meal loaded with trimmings that leads to a lazier afternoon. Well I wasn’t disappointed. As well as their extensive daytime menu which serves up small plates such as kipper scotch eggs with truffle mayo and devilled crab rarebit (which I can personally recommend too along with the homemade chips which are fabulous) there is also a daily specials boards which on Sundays includes a traditional choice of Sunday roasts.

Today we opted for the Sirloin of Beef (£20.95) and the Pork Belly at (£20.95) which for the quality and portions I think is very reasonable especially when combined with amazing castle and sea views from across the restaurant. The Sunday roast meats were accompanied by creamy mash potato (refreshingly at no extra charge) huge, crisp and fluffy in the centre roast potatoes, roast parsnips, carrots, mixed greens and delicious home made Yorkshire pudding topped off with thick delicious gravy, I also asked for extra gravy too which was no problem at all. The pork was served with crackling and stuffing too. We also added a side of unctuous cauliflower cheese as an extra which went down a treat.

Though we were both bursting at the seams by the end of our mains and probably ready to capsize, after a short break, we decided to ‘drop anchor’ and plumped for the sticky toffee pudding which was drenched in sticky toffee sauce served with vanilla ice cream and a very seasonal tarte tatin again served with vanilla ice cream and Chantilly cream.

In addition to delicious food well done kitchen team, I feel a special mention should also be given to all of the waiting staff , every single one of them polite, engaging, welcoming, informative and full of Northumbrian spirit throughout our visit so well done Team JF.

🐶❤️Dog Friendly in bar/Captains Cabin

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family friendly

🅿️ Limited parking at the pub but a pay

car park about a five minute walk away

♿️ Access in bar and beer garden

🌱 GF, Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy Free

options available

📆 Whilst walk ins are welcome to avoid

disappointment it’s best to book in

advance http://www.thejollyfishermancraster.co.uk/

The Oaks Alnwick NE66 2PN

Its been a little while since we last visited The Oaks in Alnwick, a cosy traditional Northumberland pub with restaurant ideally located for exploring historic town centre of Alnwick with Alnwick Castle, Alnwick Gardens and the recently opened children's playground Lildorei just minutes away, for no reason other than being super busy and having other commitments on. So on a rather wet February Sunday we were glad to have already booked in to their bar area where it is dog friendly, they do accept walk ins but let me say this venue is popular both with locals and visitors to the area so to avoid disappointment I would advise booking as after arriving shortly after 12.00 noon both the bar and restaurant areas were bustling and almost full

As always we were greeted with a warm welcome and promptly settled into our table, drinks orders taken and menus given. In addition to the Sunday lunch menu there are extensive daily menus too, everything from burgers, to steaks and sharing plates of food, perfect for both friends and family gatherings.

On Sundays lunch is a carvery so I headed over to the pass to see Chef Neil, a very friendly and jovial Chef where he and his team had prepared a trio of meats including beef, pork and turkey, along with a wide selection of fresh vegetables including swede, cabbage and roast parsnips, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, the crispiest pork crackling ever, stuffing and the hugest Yorkshire puddings, with as much ‘proper’ gravy as you like. Great value and also a children's menu available and dietary requirements catered for.

On this occasion we didn’t have any room left for desserts but there were plenty of choices available with one of our favourites on the menu, sticky toffee pudding along with an interesting sounding Geordie Lemon Frangipane Tart and a Milk Chocolate Cheesecake enough to satisfy any sweet tooths

The staff I feel deserve a special mention at the Oaks Hotel too (did I mention they also have 12 bedrooms) From the moment we arrived during a very busy service today every single member of staff we came in to contact with were friendly, engaging, efficient, helpful and enthusiastic throughout our visit, well done to you all Team Oaks.

In addition to great value food and hospitality the Oaks is also dog friendly both inside and out. Outside also offers an extensive seating area perfect for summer dining.

If I were to sum up our visit again to The Oaks, Alnwick today I would say what a friendly, traditional and welcoming pub/hotel it is, offering a good range of drinks and eating options, perfect for families, friends and couples, great value with friendly, efficient and enthusiastic staff. If you’re in Alnwick then check out The Oaks.

www.oakshotelalnwick.co.uk

🐶dog friendly

🍽 Sunday carvery

🅿️ Available

🌱dietary requirements catered for

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family friendly

💙 Friendly, traditional, value

Central location

Lord Crewe Arms Blanchland

Well I’m so pleased that the Lord Crewe Arms in Blanchland is on the borders of Northumberland as it’s a must try Sunday lunch. It’s a little different but different in a good way. Sunday lunch at the Lord Crewe Arms is a sharing experience and I must admit when I first heard this I was little worried as I’m not good at sharing when it comes to food with the rest of the table. However perfect for an indecisive foodie like me, especially when presented with three starters followed by a platter of three meats and finishing with three desserts - all shared between two of us. If all sharing experiences were like the Lord Crewe then this is definitely my kind of dining!

We arrived for our lunch at 12:30pm and were shown to our upstairs table, overlooking their beautiful garden where they also grow their own produce and perfect for outside dining in the summer months. There are so many hidden corners and rooms at the Lord Crewe Arms and with so many local beautiful walks close by it’s perfect for your pooch too, there is a dog friendly area downstairs by the huge open fire, in a snug corner of the bar.

The Crewe Sharing Lunch menu can vary depending on seasonality and is different every week so I was excited to see what delights were on the lunch menu; Starters (Parmesan & Sunblush Tomato Arancini; Ham Hock Terrine and Blue Cheese & Pear Salad) were a perfect way to begin and really set the tone for what was to come.

After a slight pause before the mains we were presented with The Sharing Platter of the day Strip loin Beef; Pork Loin with crackling and though Chicken was an option as we don’t eat chicken we were given extra beef and pork, the platter was served with Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Puddings and Seasonal Vegetables and when the old styled school dinner tray appeared in front of us it was hard not to gasp with delight. What a generous chef, the portions were plentiful. I really enjoyed having the choice of different meats which were so tender and packed with flavour. The vegetables, a special nod to the Hispi cabbage were perfectly cooked whilst the roast potatoes crisp and mashed potatoes fluffy and creamy. The Yorkshire Pudding almost required a plate of its own whilst the gravy was rich and stocky and our server quite happily brought me more on request.

I really didn’t think we would make it to dessert or at least without a little nap in between but then I caught sight of next doors Sticky Toffee Pudding and knew it was a done deal.

The sharing desserts were Sticky Toffee Pudding, White Chocolate Brownie and Spiced Apple Crumble. Now this is where the sharing option really came into its own as often we always have ‘dessert dilemmas’ on who is having what but this allowed us to try both of our favourites and an extra, perfect! The apple in the crumble was soft with warming autumnal spices, whilst the sticky toffee pudding was luxurious and indulgent drenched in toffee sauce.

I can highly recommend Sunday lunch at the Lord Crewe Arms which costs £28.00 for two courses or £36.00 per person for three courses. It has to be one of the finest Sunday lunch experiences in Northumberland and possibly the North East we will definitely return soon.

Lord Crewe Arms Blanchland

DH8 9SP

http://www.lordcrewearmsblanchland.co.uk/

The Fishing Boat Inn, Boulmer

NE66 3BP

Well what a treat Sunday lunch turned out to be at the FBI and I’m taking all the credit 😙.. well for choosing the venue at least! The Fishing Boat Inn, in Boulmer had just reopened following a short closure for a winter refresh and I have to say I love it. The bar as always was so cosy with its open fire glowing as you enter, but the restaurant now transformed into a much more open planned dining space showcasing its stunning sea views. We booked our table ahead but I noticed a couple of walk ins during our visit, though I have to say by the time we left it was already almost full (note no dogs allowed)

On arrival there was a lovely warm welcome from owner Lisa and her team, and a relaxed and cosy atmosphere both in the bar and restaurant, oh and did I mention the stunning sea views already! Seriously I could sit all day and watch the sea and the the wildlife from here, so many sea birds such as redshanks, cormorants and eiders resting and refuelling along the shoreline. Anyway with talk of refuelling let’s get to Sunday lunch.

There were some delicious sounding starters including Craster Kipper Pate and the FBI Prawn Cocktail but I was in the mood for pudding today so we skipped starters and went straight to the mains.

I ordered Topside of Beef, whilst Mr CC must have worked up an appetite on our earlier coastal walk deciding on the trio of meats (pork, beef & gammon) It wasn’t long before our food arrived, the Beef two thickly cut slices locally sourced from Greens Butchers of Longframlington, was cooked well but still with enough bite and was delicious whilst Mr CC hardly said a word enjoying his trio and polished off the lot, though I did manage to get a bit of the crispy crackling before everything else disappeared from his plate! Both lunches were accompanied by roast potatoes which were soft and fluffy in the middle along with mashed potatoes, mashed swede, baby carrots, red cabbage, roast parsnips and the biggest fluffiest homemade Yorkshire Pudding which were really tasty and melt in the mouth whilst the gravy obviously made with the meat juices was just delicious, I was so tempted to drink the last of the gravy, but showing sone decorum I used a soup spoon instead! There were GF and Vegetarian options available and a mushroom, brie & cranberry Wellington on the Sunday lunch menu.

The dinner was nicely presented and I wasn’t disappointed with the portion size it was more than sufficient, as you might have guessed I needed to leave room for pudding. I’m glad I did as there were two of my favourites on the dessert menu. Orchard Crumble a combination of Apple, Pears & Plums with a hint of cinnamon and an old school favourite, Ginger Pudding which was moist and drenched in sticky ginger sauce, and not overpowering just the right amount of heat and it was a real trip down old school memory lane. Again both good portions and served with jugs of deliciously creamy custard.

Sunday lunches start from £17 to £21for the trio, with desserts reasonably priced too. It had been a while since our last visit to the Fishing Boat Inn but not for any other reason than lack of time. However based on this visit having enjoyed great food, local produce, a wonderfully warm and friendly welcome from the whole team and of course the stunning sea views I cannot wait to return to enjoy food from their lunch/evening menu and as they have rooms available for holiday rental right next door I may just have to stay over too! Have you visited the Fishing Boat Inn or will you be adding it to your list next visit let me know

Check here for more details on https://www.thefishingboatinn.com/eat-drink

Please check individual venues for serving times, up to date menus and pricing information

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