Hexham, British, Traditional Restaurant Guide

“Delightful old inn” with a “blackboard menu of uncomplicated, unchallenging, proper food done well” (“good local produce; noted for steak”) and “a lovely garden with views over the Tyne Valley”. Chef Phil Mason and his wife Karen have been at the helm for almost two decades, impressing both Hexham locals and visitors including the likes of Michael Palin and Brenda Blethyn. Top Tip – “the bar area with open fire is lovely and cosy; the second dining room down a couple of steps perhaps less so, although it’s much brighter if you’re the sort of person who likes to photograph their lunch”.

“The warmest of Northern hospitality” from chef-owner Rhian Craddock and his team has “for the last 18 years guaranteed food that is fresh, home-cooked and tasty”’ – “the charcuterie is made in the kitchen from local ingredients”, there’s “game in season” and “the Saturday morning bakery is a welcome addition”. The “cute” pub also hosts the unique Hedley Barrel Race every Easter Monday: teams of three carry an empty 9-gallon beer barrel over a 1.5-mile course which includes a steep hill, for the prize of a full barrel.

2022 Review: A “super-friendly and efficient” stone-fronted country boozer, where chef Paul Johnson (a Nathan Outlaw alum) delivers a “great menu selection” that saw it walk off with a CAMRA Pub of the Year accolade not too long ago.