2011, our launch year and looking to the future...

It was in June 2011 that the idea for Your Northumberland Guide appeared in my mind. At the beginning of the year I bought a Cottage in rural Northumberland as an investment for our future, a pension of sorts. Through setting up the Cottage I realised that there simply wasn't the information available online that I wanted to point prospective guests to. A detailed guide to the area, things to do, where to go and visit, the best places to eat and drink and all the local knowledge that I (and my family and friends) have built up over the years. I started putting all this information down on paper (of the digital kind) and before long I had quite a comprehensive guide to the immediate area surrounding the Cottage. From here the idea of Your Northumberland Guide was born, a free resource for anyone living or visiting the area, a way to promote all the things I love about the County and a way to share information.

It's been a long slog since then, writing each area guide page by page in what little spare time I could grab. Undoubtedly there is still a huge amount of work to be done before the whole County is covered to the depth that I am determined that it will be covered. The site has grown organically with many businesses contacting me and the level of support and the feeling of 'need' for such a site has just been huge. I've been overwhelmed by the response and how quickly the site has grown from being a simple idea to a site visited by thousands each month and a social network fast approaching 4,000 wonderful people. All in such a short space of time as well, since writing the first words in early July the sheer size of the task in hand has become extremely apparent!

Looking forward I will continue to work hard on the site through 2012 and develop the huge number of ideas I have to move things forward. New features and guides coming early in 2012 include:

• A completely revamped 'Events and What's On' Section
• A monthly newsletter covering the major events in the coming month (including cost effective advertising opportunities for local businesses)
• Complete area guides for all the County's main Towns and Villages
• Develop fully the 'Things To Do' section of the site
• Continue to promote and push Northumberland as an amazing place to live and visit

Lastly I would really like to thank everyone who has contacted me and got involved with the site so far, I always welcome feedback and ideas so please do get in touch if there's something you'd like to be included! It's been quite the unexpected journey so far, here's to 2012 continuing this exciting trend and to building new contacts and making new friends in this great County.

Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year!

Andrew
Your Northumberland Guide Creator

Number 19 at The Close House Hotel, Heddon on the Wall - Best Sunday Lunch Campaign Review

Number 19 at The Close House Hotel, Heddon on the Wall
As we approached the entrance to the Close House Hotel, the location of Number 19, it was late afternoon and the low winter sun was just above tree level with a gentle mist starting to form. The beautiful half mile tree-lined driveway certainly gives an air of exclusivity to your arrival for Sunday Lunch. We parked in a car park full of very expensive cars and suddenly wondered if we had come under dressed for the occasion! As it happens we hadn't, the venue was relaxed and friendly, and without exageration absolutely stunning.

The approach to Number 19, which is a separate building entirely to the Close House Hotel, opens out to reveal an uninterupted view of the Tyne Valley. The low afternoon sun highlighted the forming mist in the Valley, giving it an ethereal glow. We stood and took in the glory of this view for a while and as we were a few minutes early had a walk around to the front of the building. You really couldn't ask for a better location, the flocks of starlings were in their pre-roost dance of murmuration above the surrounding fields which provided a magical natural spectacle. It was almost a shame to go inside, however one of the main strengths of Number 19 came in to play when we were seated at our table by the huge wall of glass - the glory of the valley was still perfectly on display from the inside, too.

Inside Number 19 the bar area and restaurant are split into two by the bar itself, with the restaurant area large enough to be used as a function room. The decor is modern and the chair covers gave the feel of an evening wedding function, if anything it felt a little on the corporate side. Perhaps the interior was left this way to provide a more plain backdrop to the amazing view, my gaze was continually drawn outside. We almost forgot we were there to eat! For our starters we chose the twice baked cheese souffle and the smooth chicken liver pate with a pear chutney. Both were of a very high standard although for the very generous portion of pate there wasn't quite enough bread for me. The pate itself was incredibly smooth and the pear chutney beautifully spiced, the mix of flavours were considered and well balanced, this is clearly a chef with a delicate hand. My dining partner enquired as the plates were cleared as to which cheeses had been used in the souffle, the waitress returned from the kitchen to let us know it was a Northumbrian Cheddar and a parmesan.

For our main course I chose the roast leg of Ingram Valley lamb and my dining partner the red onion tarte tatin. The dishes quickly arrived on extremely hot plates, so hot that the waitress couldn't pick up the dish from the tray she brought it out on. She fetched a serviette and quickly placed my main course in front of me.

There was again a very generous portion of lamb which included a large dark piece from the outside of the joint which didn't improve the presentation of the dish. It did however provide a good kick of flavour. The vegetables came in a bowl of their own, carrots, peas, boiled potatoes and braised red cabbage all simply cooked to allow the full flavour to shine. I don't think that my Yorkshire pudding was reflective of the standard that the restaurant usually delivers as we saw so many towering puddings go by. Mine was unfortunately smaller and still a little doughy in the middle, a real shame. I would also have liked a little more gravy but there were no staff around and I didn't want to leave my meal to go cold so I tucked in. The red onion tarte tatin was presented beautifully and was a light and welcome alternative to the standard roast.

After finishing our main courses we decided to end the meal there so that we could more easily compare the dining experience with the other three finalists. We eventually got a member of staff's attention to let them know we had finished and asked for the bill, which we paid at the bar. Two courses at Number 19 cost £15.95 and three courses £18.95, which was slightly more expensive than the published price on the website. A pint of lager cost £4.50.

Summary
A stunning location for a meal, simply breathtaking. An excellent use of local produce throughout the menu celebrated the best ingredients that Northumberland has to offer.

Highlight: You simply won't dine with a better view anywhere.
Lowlight: Service throughout the dining experience was a little sparse.


Contact Details
Close House Hotel
Heddon on the Wall
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE15 0HT
Sat Nav – NE41 8BL

TEL      01661 852255
WEB     www.closehouse.co.uk/golf/the-clubhouse/
EMAIL events@closehouse.co.uk

The Running Fox, Felton - Best Sunday Lunch Campaign Review

The Running Fox, Felton

Located in the lovely Village of Felton, fairly central in Northumberland between Alnwick and Morpeth, The Running Fox occupies an enviable position overlooking the River Coquet. It is a small and chic country-style cafe that also has an on-site artisan bakery making a wide range of artisan breads, pies, cakes and scones. All of which are beautifully displayed in the window and behind the main counter and entice you into the cafe with their aroma and appearance. The nomination process revealed an amazing passion amongst the local villages for the Running Fox, many saying that it had 'transformed the Village' since it was taken over by the current proprietors at the start of the year. 

Having booked well ahead, we were shown to our table which had our name and time of booking written on a small chalk board. A very efficient idea for a venue that's on the smaller side compared to our other finalists, as it allowed the table to be used prior to our arrival, whilst still letting people know the table was booked. The Cafe was buzzing with energy with a lot of the tables chatting amongst each other, it was obvious that a lot of clients were regulars and knew each other and the staff very well, there wasn't a free seat in the house. The menu had a good choice for each course and we were very plesantly surprised with the value for money the lunch menu offered, just £10.50 if you wanted to have the full three courses! We also really liked the idea of being able to have a 'trio of meats' for a main course, giving the flexibility and choice akin to a carvery, with just a 50p supplement on the price (and at no extra cost if taken with two, or three courses).

We chose our starters which included the Leek and Potato Soup and the Smoked Salmon and Brown Bread Platter, both of which were delicious and came with a large portion of home-made bread. After a short while our main courses were ready, I had ordered the lamb and my eating partners the beef and the chicken breast with sage and onion. The meat and Yorkshire puddings were brought out on each plate surrounded by a dark, thick gravy. The vegetables were next, a mixture of roasted veg served in a lovely Le Creuset style pot, a bowl of sugar snap peas and french beans and finally a large oval dish of cauliflower cheese which had been nicely browned on top. It was good to know all the meat and veg on the plate had been locally sourced.

All were beautifully presented and the portion sizes were more than enough for our group to have a good second helping of veg. The lamb I had was wonderful, a really nice strong flavour which was enhanced by a rich, thick gravy and a good lashing of mint sauce. The other members of the group also reported tender and flavourful meat with one remarking that 'I couldn't have made it better myself', high praise indeed! The only possible piece of constructive criticism we could think of was that the plates the main course were served on could have been hotter, to help keep the food warmer for the slow eaters amongst us. This was not an issue for me personally, the food didn't stay on the plate long enough to go cold!

The staff were incredibly friendly throughout, checking everything was OK and if we needed more drinks, you certainly got the feeling that they cared and nothing would have been too much trouble for them. While we sat contentedly letting our main course settle the chef came out into the shop and gave a toddler a bag of stale bread to go and feed the ducks with by the river. It's little things like this that give you that warm feeling inside about an establishment and make you want to come back. As was the trend throughout our visits to the four finalists we didn't have room for dessert! I can however attest to the quality and excellence of the cakes (and artisan breads) from subsequent visits.

The price for their Sunday Lunch is £6.50 for a main course, £8.50 for two courses and £10.50 for three courses. They also offer a small portion of each main course for just £4. The Running Fox does not serve alcoholic drinks, but has a nice range of unusual soft drinks, teas and coffees and is also a newsagent.

Summary

This Sunday Lunch was the cheapest of our four finalists, in one case almost half the price another. We are thrilled to say that this was in no way reflected in the quality or quantity of the meal. We now understand perfectly why the locals are so ecstatic to have The Running Fox in their Village.

Highlight: The excellent value for money and friendly atmosphere.

Lowlight: Not being able to take the entire cake and bread counter home with me!

Contact Details
The Running Fox
2-4 Riverside
Felton
Northumberland
NE65 9EA

TEL 01670 787 090
WEB www.facebook.com/therunningfox
EMAIL runningfoxcafe@gmail.com

Battlesteads Hotel, Wark, Nr Hexham - Best Sunday Lunch Campaign Review

The Battlesteads Hotel, Wark, Nr Hexham
A beautifully clear and sunny Autumn day was perfect weather to enjoy the scenic drive out to the Village of Wark, the location of The Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant. It's just a short drive from Hexham, a few miles North along the country lanes where we found The Battlesteads on the outskirts of an idyllic rural Village. The welcome we received from the staff behind the bar was just as warm and comfortable as the atmosphere inside, the bar area itself is full of character and very nicely presented.



We ordered drinks and then were given the option of sitting in the restaurant or the conservatory to dine. As it was such a fantastic day we opted for the bright and comfortable conservatory that looked out onto a lovely walled garden area. We watched the many birds fluttering about the garden, on and off the numerous feeders and commented on how wonderful the outside space would be in summer. We were given our menus by a very personable member of staff that we had a chat with for a few minutes. We talked about lack of mobile signal in the Village and how the Hotel has wireless broadband in the bar area, but the signal won't go through the thick stone walls and reach where we were sitting.

We knew from the large number of nominations we received that The Battlesteads grow their own vegetables, but it wasn't until we were there talking to the staff that we realised just how deep this commitment goes. All the salad, fruit and vegetables are grown on site and their care for the environment is literally second to none. Two days prior to our visit the Hotel had won a prestigious Responsible Tourism Award for being 'Best Accommodation for the Environment' beating competition from such giants of the industry as the Savoy in London and other major hotels around the world.

We chose from the extensive menu and ordered our starters which were the Roasted Garlic and Potato Soup and a Salad of Baked Squash, Prosciutto and Pecorino Cheese with a Balsamic Dressing. The starters arrived with a mixture of home-made bread presented on a slate with pieces of butter that were a little on the hard side. The presentation of the Salad of Baked Squash in particular was fantastic, the beautiful colours of the dish were matched by the delicate balance of flavours perfectly. My soup was piping hot, plentiful and full of hearty garlic flavour which went perfectly with the variety of bread.

There were plenty of choices for the main course other than the option of carvery which was nice to see, but we had to sample the traditional Sunday lunch. When we approached the carvery area we were greeted by a cheerful chef and four of the largest joints of meat you will ever see. Two of the joints were local beef, one cooked beautifully to medium, perfectly evenly pink throughout and the other was cooked 'well done'. What a brilliant idea this is, beef is usually only served well cooked through at a carvery and I've certainly never seen this option anywhere else before. The other joints on offer were a delicious looking turkey and roast pork with crackling and stuffing.

We both opted for the medium beef which was expertly carved, I had a mixture of this and the roast pork. The chef then talked us through the vegetables on offer which included duck fat roast potatoes, carrot and swede, broccoli and cauliflower cheese and pan fried sprouts with bacon. You could also help yourself to the giant Yorkshire puddings (or rather Geordie puddings, as I was corrected!) and were invited to come back and help ourselves to more should we wish to. There was then a member of staff by the gravy and sauces to explain what was available, I had some of the wonderful horseradish sauce to go with the beef.

There were plenty of staff in the restaurant, more than you would expect from an establishment of this size which made the service a joy to behold. We returned to our table and eagerly demolished the fantastic lunch that was before us. The meat was as tender as could be with a fullness of flavour to match, and the freshness of the vegetables shone through. This is precision cooking of the highest order and I honestly couldn't fault anything on the plate. After we had finished our main course we decided that we wouldn't be able to manage a dessert, we had seen several go by us and they did look lovely. We asked for the bill and with it came two small chocolates which we were told had been made by the owners wife, Dee. They were small chocolate cups covered in caramel and tiny edible gold stars, with an alcohol soaked cherry inside. They were so good that we asked if we would be able to buy half a dozen to take away with us. If the desserts are of the same standard as these chocolates then we really did miss out on a treat. We even overheard the table next to us discussing how fantastic the puddings are before they'd even ordered a starter! Our strange request for chocolates to take home was no problem at all and within minutes they were delivered in a beautiful wrapping to our table by Dee herself, who just asked that we make a donation to Children In Need rather than pay for them.

The price for this meal was £12.50 for two courses or £14.50 for three courses, with drinks being reasonably priced, particularly the Peroni.

Summary
An absolutely outstanding lunch in a restaurant that has an amazing ethos and commitment to local sourcing that goes well beyond the call of duty. Extremely friendly, knowledgeable and attentive staff made the whole meal a pleasurable experience.

Highlight: The stunningly tender beef and the freshness and flavour of the home-grown vegetables.
Lowlight: Not being able to fit in a dessert.

Contact Details
Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant
Wark on Tyne
nr Hexham
Northumberland
NE48 3LS

TEL (0)1434 230 209
WEB www.battlesteads.com
EMAIL info@battlesteads.com

The Wellwood, Amble - Best Sunday Lunch Campaign Review

That's it, we've visited and experienced a lunch at each of the four finalists in our Campaign to find Northumberland's Best Sunday Lunch. The finalists came top in our nomination process that consisted of well over a thousand votes and recommendations from Your Northumberland Guide visitors. I won't be scoring the finalists in the usual style of my reviews as I wouldn't like to give away the winner until the big announcement on Saturday 26th November. All four finalists offer a spectacular lunch and come extremely highly recommended. Lets get the reviews underway with:

The Wellwood in Amble
Located in the Harbour Town of Amble, famous for being 'The Friendliest Port' The Wellwood, sister restaurant to the award winning Zecca, is a relatively new addition to Northumberland's eating establishments. It's just a short distance from the harbour area, with it's wonderful views of the Coquet Estuary and out to sea towards the Coquet Island. This makes a lovely pre or post lunch walk and the beaches of Amble Links and Warkworth are easily within striking distance. It's a stunning part of Northumberland's heritage coastline, so The Wellwood has a big job on it's hands if it is going to live up to it's fantastic location. The nomination process revealed just how much community support The Wellwood has already managed to gather and we arrived to a buzzing restaurant and bar area.

We received a warm welcome from the staff behind the bar and were shown to our reserved table in the restaurant area. The lady who seated us was extremely friendly and gave us our menus, what a lovely introduction to the Wellwood it was. The Sunday lunch menu is diverse and we were pleased to see that the provenance of the meats were clearly marked and there is an obvious commitment to sourcing ingredients locally. The starters that our group went for included the home-made mushroom soup and a smoked salmon roulade, both of which were excellent. The salmon roulade in particular was a highlight of the meal with generous portion sizes and a beautiful, plentiful dressing.

Moving on to the main event, it's what we have come for, the roast itself. We chose to sample both the beef and the pork from the main menu and were frankly gob-smacked when it arrived. One of the largest Yorkshire Puddings I have ever seen adorned a huge amount of meat, which was itself sat on potatoes and crushed carrot and swede. Roast potatoes surrounded the tower in the centre of the plate and a shard of crispy crackling stood proudly in the centre of the pork dish. Then the vegetables arrived, served in three separate bowls along with a jug of gravy. There was barely enough room on the table for everything and I can honestly say I have never seen as much food served for a single course in a restaurant! It was very nice to see extra gravy brought out as a matter of course, getting these little things right means you can just get on with your meal and not have to keep asking for things. This goes for the service as well, which was discrete, friendly and efficient throughout our meal.

The beef was plentiful and tender and the pork was a sliced tenderloin, which is rather unusual for a Sunday roast. The vegetables were cooked well and extremely tasty, the only slight disappointment for me were the parsnips which had an unusual herby perfume that I couldn't quite identify. I'd love to know what it was as I certainly haven't tasted that flavour combination before. The amount of food provided was just a little too much for this rather large appetite, there were a tiny few vegetables left over after we had all had our fill. What an experience this main course was, an assault on both the senses and the appetite in equal measures. There is just no way that any of us could have eaten a dessert after such a generous main course so we are unable to comment on them. I didn't actually see another dessert brought out to any of the tables around us, so maybe we weren't the only ones that were full to bursting point! The cost for this two course Sunday lunch was £12.95 and had we dared to brave a pudding it would have been £15.95, with extremely reasonably priced drinks.

Highlight: The wonderful smoked salmon roulade starter and the magnificent portion sizes throughout.
Lowlight: My dad moaning that he was too full to do up his coat when we left!

Summary
It is clear that The Wellwood has quickly become established as the place to go for a great meal in the area. The staff seemed to know almost of all of the people that came through the door, a sure sign of popularity and a good, regular, and most importantly loyal customer base. This restaurant is just what Amble has been waiting for!

Contact Details
The Wellwood
High Street
Amble
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE65 0LD

TEL 01665 714646
WEB www.thewellwood.co.uk
EMAIL info@thewellwood.co.uk

National Trust Experiences on Auction

From Tuesday 21st November the National Trust will be auctioning off some fantastic experiences in Northumberland to raise money for the Trust. If you're looking for a unique Christmas present then they don't get much better than this! On auction in Northumberland there is the opportunity to experience:

Farne Islands seabird spectacular
Experience the sights, sounds and smells of one of the greatest seabird colonies in Europe in an exclusive boat-chauffeured view of life on the Farne Islands. See nesting seabirds at your feet, and come within an arm's reach of Puffins, Arctic Terns and Eiders, before a traditional fish and chip supper.

Farne Islands Grey Seal colony
Over 1,300 Grey Seal pups are born on the Farne Islands during autumn, making it England’s largest breeding population. This tour of the colonies will take in the drama of some normally off-limits islands, seeing the trials and tribulations faced by pups with their attentive mothers close at hand.

Host a Georgian evening at Seaton Delaval Hall
Dressed in full Georgian clothing, start with a Champagne reception for eight guests at Seaton Delaval Hall before an authentic Delaval menu for dinner. After you bid your guests farewell, retire to the Bird Bedroom for a once in a lifetime overnight stay.

Cragside
From the top of the tower to the depths of the wine cellar, get into Cragside's nooks and crannies. With an expert to bring the story to life you can wander at your leisure: open drawers, go right into each room, see spectacular views and take a seat as Lord Armstrong’s guests would have done.

Hadrian's Wall
Stay for two nights in one of our newly refurbished cottages along Hadrian's Wall.You’ll have an escorted tour of the Wall with one of our expert staff, followed by an evening of wildlife watching with one of our rangers.

Visit the National Trust website for more information and links to the individual auctions on ebay. Will you be placing a bid?

2011 Northumberland Business Awards Winners

The Northumberland Business Awards winners were announced at a ceremony at the Macdonald Linden Hall Hotel last night. Huge congratulations to all the fantastic Northumberland businesses that were nominated and especially to the winners, who were:


1. Start Up - The Wellwood, Amble

2. Keep It Local - Moorhouse Farm Shop, Stannington

3. Training - William Hackett Chains Ltd, Alnwick

4. Business in community - Bad Apples NE, Ashington

5. Entrepreneur - Bruce Durham, Amble

6. Technology - Quantum Elite, Blyth

7. Green - Comvert, Alnwick

8.  Export - Techdrill, Blyth

9. Apprenticeship Ambassador - Carewatch, Alnwick

10. Best Business - William Hackett Chains, Alnwick

11. Outstanding Contribution - Ken Beattie, Blyth

Sunday Lunch Campaign - Two Down!

I've had quite a few emails over the last couple of days asking what's happening with the Sunday Lunch Campaign. Throughout November we are visiting the four finalists and judging their Sunday Lunch, the last place we are due to visit is on Sunday 20th November. I'll then be  publishing a review of each place and announcing our winner before the end of November. We've visited two restaurants so far and the standard has been amazingly high, it's going to be an incredibly difficult decision to make.

It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it!

Olympic Torch Route Revealed

The Olympic Torch will pass through Northumberland between 14th & 16th June 2012 including all of our major Towns and a large number of our smaller Villages throughout the County.

Day 27 - 14 June 2012: Edinburgh to Alnwick
Edinburgh, Duddingston, Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Lasswade, Loanhead, Bilston, Milton, Bridge, Penicuik, Eddleston, Peebles, Innerleithen, Walkerburn, Selkirk, Galashiels, Earlston, Gordon, Greenlaw, Duns, Chirnside, Foulden, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Bamburgh, Alnwick

Day 28 - 15 June 2012: Alnwick to Newcastle upon Tyne
Alnwick, Hipsburn, Warkworth, Amble, Ashington, Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Ashington, Choppington, Morpeth, Hartford, Bedlington, Blyth, Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, Tynemouth, North Shields, Howdon, Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne

Day 29 - 16 June 2012: Gateshead to Durham
Gateshead, South Shields, Whitburn, Sunderland, Low Fell and Chowdene, Blaydon, Prudhoe, Stocksfield, Hexham, Riding Mill, Consett, Moorside, Castleside, Tow Law, Esh, Langley Park, Durham

A full breakdown of the route is available here.

Christmas Shopping With a Conscience

Based at the Playhouse in Alnwick the Northumberland Theatre Company provides professional touring theatre to 'theatreless' zones in rural areas where access to the arts are limited. Like a large number of arts organisations, Northumberland Theatre Company (a registered charity) are facing massive funding cuts in 2012 and drastic action is needed to keep the company going. They want to ensure that future generations continue to have access to the arts and are not restricted to these opportunities because of their location. There are a number of ways in which you can help:

Your Christmas shopping can raise vital funds at no extra cost to you! All you have to do is find your preferred retailer through the Easy Fundraising page. Then simply register your details and use their website to search for the shop you need and visit them via their link. It's that simple! There are hundreds of shops including Amazon, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Apple so it couldn't be easier to raise vital funds without costing you a single penny.

If we all do our online Christmas shopping via this link we could collectively raise a huge amount of money to help the Theatre Company continue their wonderful work.

To view other ways in which you can donate to Northumberland Theatre Company, visit their website.

Northumberland's Best Sunday Lunch: The Finalists!

A huge thank you to all the people (well over a thousand) who took the time to nominate in our campaign to find Northumberland's Best Sunday Lunch. We are so fortunate to have so many fantastic places to eat in our great County and proud of the quality of the produce on offer. That pride flowed through all the nominations and four establishments stood out in particular, their immensely supportive and passionate customers spoke out! We will be visiting each of the finalists to sample and judge their food, writing a full review on the blog and announcing the winner at the end of November. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get updates! In no particular order here are your four finalists:

The Wellwood - Amble
In sheer numbers of nominations, The Wellwood just beat the other finalists to come out on top. The reasons were varied and passionate, but centred on the amazing flavour of their gravy. I look forward to sampling it!

"Another amazing lunch today at The Wellwood, this place never fails to deliver! The local "Gloster Hill" beef from the farm just a stones throw away shows real commitment to sourcing local. This from Zecca's sister restaurant who won last years Northumberland Business Awards for using local produce. Keep up the good work and please never ever change the gravy!".....

"An almost perfect lunch - I leave perfection to my late Grandmother. Good slices of quality meat, crunchy roast potatoes, a yorkshire pudding you would break your ankle if you fell from, just cooked fresh veg. The chef usually adds a different variation of veg such as cauliflower cheese. Lashings of hot tasty gravy..... Dont get me started on the puddings. I believe a Sunday lunch deserves a hot pudding. Bread and Butter, Crumble, Sticky Toffee - all served with custard. As I say - Almost Perfect!".....

"I have no hesitation in recommending it to all my "guests" as I run a 4 Star Gold holiday cottage. Those who visited the Wellwood, which are many, all report the quality of this establishment in the guest book and also recommend it to oncoming guests. I think it's a privilege to have such an establishment in our area and I hope long may it last!".....

The Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant - Wark

Local sourcing and home grown food were the theme in almost all of The Battlesteads' nominations. Sustainability is a buzz word of the moment and the customers here are clearly impressed by their efforts to keep things local. The beautiful location and highly praised food sealed the deal for them.

"This is a family run business with the proprietors being very much hands on giving that personal touch to all customers who eat there. There is a excellent variety of food on offer including a selection of fish and Gammon, all food is locally sourced with a lot being grown on site. (sustainability benifits everyone who live in and visits this beautiful unspoilt county.) The resaurant is always busy - testiment to its popularity yet the service is excellent and you are always greeted with a friendly smile. Excellent Food, surroundings and staff all locally sourced!!".....

"Every time I go its always lovely, nice selection of starters, lovely roast joints and vegetables, their ice cream menu is really different from Beckleberry's and the home made puddings are better than what mum used to make! Make me feel welcome and my custom is valued.".....

"Buffet lunches, large variety of vegetables, three - four meats. The roast Pork, Beef, Lamb and/or Chicken, just melt in the mouth and the flavour just erupts on the taste buds. Varied starters and deserts.Great welcome, busy, but found a table for us but only just.".....

The Running Fox - Felton

A large number of people felt that The Running Fox has had an amazing impact and transformed the Village of Felton since they re-opened earlier in the year. It is clearly a special place that is held in high esteem by the community it serves, quality and value for money were mentioned again and again. Combine all this with a beautiful location by the river and they are on to a winner.

"Chris and Nev have done a wonderful job since taking over the Running Fox only this year, their fare is all made on the premises from locally produced sources. I would say their success so far is down to them being "people persons" which reflects on their staff who are very friendly. They truly deserve to do well as they do go the "extra mile" for their customers.".....

"This is a fab little establishment. Compact and cosy with lovely views of the river it never fails to deliver outstanding meals from locally sourced produce all at a reasonable price. The service is always friendly and the tables are always busy. A sure sign of a popular eatery!! Love the Running Fox.".....

"This wonderfull village cafe is Northumberlands best kept secret... wonderfull fresh food.. beautifully presented along with attentive staff... and if that isnt enough... extremely reasonably priced!!!".....


No.19 at Close House - Heddon on the Wall
Standing out more than any other for the constant and direct praise for the standard of cuisine and service is No.19 at the Close House Hotel. 'Contemporary' and 'unique' are words that were regularly repeated throughout the nominations, patrons were genuinely impressed with the location, friendliness and excellent service.

"What a stunning Place for a family Sunday lunch. The views of the Tyne valley are incredible, the staff are very friendly making you at ease as soon as you arrive. The menu flooded with produce from Northumberlands wonderful larder. Everything on the menu was beautifully presented, the meat and vegetables beautifully cooked and for those with a sweet tooth the desserts are top class. Simply a great Sunday lunch."......

"No 19 puts its own stamp on a traditional Sunday dinner, using locally grown produce it really stands out against others in the local area. Being someone who dines out every sunday, always sampling new restaurants, No 19 has really stood out as the best in the area. Me and my family no longer sample new restaurants as we know that we cannot possibly find any better.".....

"No 19 at Close House is an exceptional place for Sunday lunch, the variation and choice in the menu is so unique but not lacking in the traditional roast, the locality of ingredients is also what puts no 19 above the rest. Beef from wallington, lamb from ingram valley, local veg, what more could anyone ask for, definitely number one in the region.".....

Massive congratulations to the finalists! I can't wait to visit you all and sample your wonderful Northumbrian food.

Organised Firework Displays in Northumberland

Be safe this Bonfire Night and attend an organised Firework Displays in Northumberland. Information courstesy of Northumberland County Council.

Ashington Football Club Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Sunday 6^th November 2011
• Time: TBA
• Price:Tickets cost £3 each (for both children and adults) and they are available from a number of newsagents and post offices around Ashington
• Venue: Ashington Football Club, Woodhorn Lane, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9FW

Alnwick Round Table Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: Door open 6pm Display starts 7pm
• Price: Adutls £5 Children £3
• Venue: Alnwick Rugby Club, Greensfield, Alnwick NE66 1BE

Hexham Round Table Annual Charity Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: Bonfire lit at 18:30 hrs (Fireworks at 19:00 hrs)
• Price: Free, however donations for local charities accepted on entry
• Venue: The Sele, Hexham
• Website: For further details visit www.hexhamroundtable.org.uk/bonfire.html

Higham Lakes, Ponteland, NE20 0DH, Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: Bonfire Lit - 17:00 hrs (Fireworks at 18:30 hrs) - Ends 20:00 hrs.
• Price: Adults - £5, Juveniles (5-16 year old) £2, Under 5's - Free
• Venue: Higham Lakes, Ponteland, NE20 0DH
• Website: www.highamlakes.com

Beal near Holy Island, Fireworks Display

• Date: Sunday 6^th November 2011
• Time: Fireworks starts 6.30pm
• Price: Family Ticket: 2 Adults, 3 Kids, Under 5's Free - £10.00 (Up to Nov 3rd, £15.00 after)
• Adult ticket - £4.00 (up to Nov 3rd , and £6.00 after)
• Child ticket - under 5s free - £2.00 (up to Nov 3rd, and £3.00 after)
• Venue: Beal near Holy Island
• Website: www.barnatbeal.com/news.php?ID=34

Morpeth Rugby Club Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Sunday 6^th November 2011
• Time: Doors open at 17:00 hrs (Event starts at 18:00 hrs)
• Price: TBA
• Venue: Morpeth Rugby Club, Mitford Road NE61 1RJ
• Directions: You can view a streetmap, or view a roadmap to help find this event.

Prudhoe Town Football Club Firework Displays

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: 19:00 hrs
• Price: Free
• Venue: Kimberley Park, Broomhouse Road, Prudhoe, NE42 5EH

Rothbury & Coquetdale Round Table Firework Displays

• Date: Sunday 6^th November 2011
• Time: Gates open 5:30pm Display starts 6pm
• Price: £5
• Venue: Cragside House, Rothbury.

Swarland Sports Club Bonfire and Firework Display

• Date: Friday 4th November 2010
• Time: Gates open 18:30 hrs
• Price: Adults £3, Children £1, Conc £1.50
• Venue: Swarland Sports Club, Viner Park, The Avenue, Swarland. NE65 9HU
• Refresments and Mulled Wine available plus the first 150 children get a free toffee apple!

Tweedmouth Green Bonfire and Fireworks Night

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: 18:00 hrs
• Price: Free
• Venue: Tweedmouth Town Green, Dock Road, Tweedmouth

Ulgham Playing Fields, Ulgham Lane, Ulgham, Northumberland, Fireworks Display

• Date: Friday 4^th November 2011
• Time: 18:30 hrs - 20:30 hrs
• Price: £10 Family, £5 per adult
• Venue: Ulgham Playing Fields, Ulgham Lane, Ulgham, Northumberland

Broadway West Playing Fields, Broadway West, Gosforth , Newcastle NE3 2HY Fireworks Display & Bonfire

• Date: Saturday 5^th November
• Time: 18:30 hrs
• Price: Entry Adults £3.00, Children £1.00
• Venue: Broadway West Playing Fields, Broadway West, Gosforth , Newcastle NE3 2HY
• Website: http://www.gosforth.roundtable.co.uk/

Sunday Lunch Campaign - Announcement

With the nomination period over, it's time to count up the votes and read all the fantastic reasons why you have nominated each place. Four restaurants in particular stood out beyond all the others, both in the number of nominations that they received and the passion in which they were spoken about. Before I announce the finalists, I'd like to talk a little bit about the huge number of restaurants and pubs that were very close to being finalists.

The following places had a large number of nominations and should be very proud of the lovely comments and support that they clearly have from their loyal customers. They come under the 'extremely highly recommended' category if you're looking for a quality Sunday lunch in your area.

The Duke of Wellington - Newton

"A great range of high quality traditional and modern dishes in good portions. The staff are friendly and efficient and the new build combines a homely feel with up-to-date decor and furniture. A great place to lose a Sunday afternoon at any time of the year!".....

"This has to have been the best Sunday Lunch I have ever had. The food was cooked to perfection. Great portion sizes. All served up in a friendly warm atmosphere!".....

"Superb food, always excellent quality ingredients, locally sourced wherever possible,impeccable service, friendly but professional, everything you could want from a top-class restaurant".....

Goats on the Roof - Fontburn

"Everything from the locally produced food to the friendly and relaxed service made our visit to the Goats on the Roof restaurant very enjoyable. The lunch was extremely tasty and the proportions were very generous and would be more than enough to make us take the journey from Blyth to Fontburn again and again. So pleased to have discovered this place even if it was by sheer chance.".....

"I was pleased to find they have a fantastic selection of meats available on their carvery. all of which were locally sourced, which is a bonus. Fantastic views of the reservoir and animals and friendly staff too really do top it off!".....

"The restaurant is situated in the beautiful open countryside of Northumberland. The food is mainly sourced from the farm itself. It has a great atmosphere and helpful friendly staff. It's also very child friendly and where else has goats on the roof!?".....

The Northumbrian Piper - Gosforth

"Fantastic, fresh, tasty food, all locally sourced. Service with a smile. Friendly staff and great atmosphere. Value for money. Will even deliver it to your home if you so wish! No need to go anywhere else.".....

"The gravy says it all! Fantasic environment, friendly staff and fresh locally sourced ingredients.".....

"We were just in Newcastle for a visit and went with some friends for Sunday Lunch .We were very happy with the friendliness of the staff and the quality of the food it was one of the best Sunday Lunches we have had for a while, The Pork was cooked to perfection andthe vegetables were just right, we will be back.".....

The Feathers Inn - Stocksfield

"So many pub sunday lunches are often the weakest link in their menu. With the feathers you might even argue it's the jewel in their crown. From the excellent ales and fine wines, through the astonishing range of superb local produce, to the portions that guarantee you'll be going home satisfied the whole experience is a joy. And that's without even mentioning the quality of the cooking, for instance, the way the roast pork melts in the mouth is so sublime it has to be witchcraft. Not only is the feathers the best sunday roast in Northumberland, it's so good it's hardly worth holding the competition at all!".....

"For reasons here ".....

"The quality of the food is outstanding, The food is local and you know exactly where the food comes from. The service is excellent. ".....

The Swan at Choppington

"Plenty of it, always cooked to perfection, fantastic home-made yorkshires, superb range of alcohol to accompany it".....

"Fantastic food, friendly staff and great service make this a top value Sunday lunch. Tasty meat, fresh veg and all the trimmings!".....

"Excellent service and real home cooked food - you can't beat it!".....

The Red Lion - Alnmouth

"Food served was lvely and hot and you got a good portion.".....

"Always great service, fantastic food and that gorgeous feeling of being comfortabley full when you get back home. Lovely - and they serve all day.".....

Vallum Farm - Eastwallhouses

"Its just very good, the food is excellent as is the service every time we've been. It makes for a perfect traditional Sunday Lunch. I've always highly recommended it to all my friends."......

"Having tried many sunday lunches, this one is unbeatable. I keep trying to find a better one but cannot. All of the produce is fresh and local, and the cooking of it is just like mum used to make. Traditional methods, no shortcuts, served beautifully. The puddings and icecream are delicious too, if you can fit it in. Thoughtful food served with excellence.".....

"Wonderful atmosphere and location and the best homemade ice cream in all of the North!".....

The Rat Inn - Anick

"Its always very busy but the standard of the food and the ambience cant be beaten,exceptional local rib of beef and perfectly cooked veg and home made puddings. Staff very friendly and welcoming.".....

"The quality of the Sunday lunch is consistently good. Quality local produce cooked to perfection. Always excellent value for money accompanied by a great choice of real ales and fine wines. The pub always has a good atmosphere and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable.".....

I'll announce the four finalists tomorrow!

Warkworth Castle - The cuts hit the cuts! UPDATE

I received a phone call yesterday from a journalist at the Northumberland Gazette who had seen my last blog post about the grounds maintenance at Warkworth Castle. He too had been in touch with customers services at the English Heritage and would like to write an article about the situation. This I feel is great news and will hopefully raise awareness of the issue locally and help to save the daffodil display in the Spring! I look forward to reading the article and will of course post my response once it's published.

Don't forget to read Your Guide to Warkworth over on the main website.

Warkworth Castle - The cuts hit the cuts!

Some people may have noticed that the grass banks around Warkworth Castle have been left uncut this year and frankly, to my mind, it looks a mess. I've had a few people contact me, both visitors and people who live in the area commenting about how untidy it looks. Warkworth Castle is such an imposing and beautiful Castle and we've gotten used to how it has looked with it's tidy, well kept grassy banks. After driving by recently I decided I'd contact the English Heritage to find out what's going on, their initial reply was that the grass in the moat had been left 'to encourage wildlife' to the area.

Now I'm all for encouraging wildlife, but I replied and suggested that the tops of the bank could surely be kept neat and tidy as it's seen so prominently from the road and the Village. I also expressed concern that the Spring display of daffodils, such an iconic image of Warkworth Castle, could be under threat if this area wasn't maintained. The reply I received to this, to give English Heritage their due was a detailed one from Mick Wilson, their Landscape Manager, and a summary of the response is copied below:

"Dear Andrew

As you may be aware English Heritage is currently having to respond to significant cut-backs in government funding.Considerable cost savings have had to be made across all service areas including grounds maintenance and we have had to introduce similar reductions in service levels across the majority of sites in the Northern Territory.

Thankyou for your recent communications to English Heritage regarding grounds maintenance at Warkworth Castle.

The long grass areas at Warkworth were previously cut on at least two occasions per annum but this regime was very expensive and along with other sites in the north it was decided to leave grass on banks uncut on a trial basis in order to meet cost savings targets. As the summer progressed this year we found that the banks at Warkworth became quickly covered in tall weeds and so all banks were cut and cleared as a one off exercise to control the potential spread of weed seeds.

As things stand the next cut at Warkworth is currently planned to take place in 2013. We are however now aware of the rapid growth of weeds on the banks and so the possibility of re-introducing at least one cut and clear of herbage each year will be reconsidered at a forthcoming 'end of year one trial period review' meeting to be held in early November. Your communication and concerns will be reviewed at this meeting and maintenance of the annual display of daffodils will also be taken into account.

Please be assured that all concerns and comments both positive and negative are being taken seriously and all letters and e.mails will go forward for further consideration and review at the end of this initial trial period. Your particular concerns for the future survival of daffodil display at Warkworth and the importance of the site in terms of tourism will certainly be taken into account during this review process. In the meantime if I can be of any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Mick Wilson

Landscape Manager

English Heritage"

While I do have complete sympathy with every organisation that has been hit by the government cuts, I don't think that their current plan for the next grass cut at Warkworth to be in 2013 is an acceptable one. If you are resident in Warkworth, or have visited the area and feel that your views should be taken into account in their November review meeting, I would encourage you to email Mick at mick.wilson@english-heritage.org.uk and also warkworth.castle@english-heritage.org.uk with your views.

Review: The Railway Inn, Acklington

Friday evening, 8pm, "where will still be serving food?" we asked ourselves. A quick google search for the places we could think of in the vicinity and we decided on the Railway Inn at Acklington, who served food until 9pm that day. When we arrived at about half past eight we could hear how the busy the bar was as we walked through the door, a quick peek inside and I thought there was no chance we were going to get seated. There were large groups of people dining and all the visible tables were full... until we realised that the restaurant went right around and behind the bar, revealing a much larger eating area than I had expected. There was a musician and a singer setting up near the entrance so we decided to head to the far end of the restaurant area where there were two tables still available.

We were greeted by a really friendly lady at the bar who took the drinks orders and said they'd being them over to our table, so we sat, took in the atmosphere and browsed the menu. It looks like the Railway Inn has been recently refurbished and on the whole it has been a success, although I was slightly bemused by the RAF theme to the décor. If anything I would have expected the railways to feature, but I'm sure there must have been sound reasoning behind this, even if it wasn't immediately evident. The place was buzzing with large groups, families and quite a lot of children milling around the restaurant, and with that comes a lot of noise.

Our drinks arrived and we placed our food order, although we were told there would probably be a long wait as a group of 22 had just ordered their food. I had the potato skins to start and to my surprise they arrived within a few minutes! Perhaps they had decided to sneak our order for two in ahead of the group, for which we were very grateful. The starter was acceptable, some of the thicker potato skins hadn't quite been cooked through, but there was plenty to eat and the dips were tasty. As we finished the starters the 'live music' started up which made conversation, even at the far end of the restaurant almost impossible. The quality of the act was somewhat questionable, with the female lead managing to make each song sound identical to the last and I don't think the guitar player knew more than three chords. However, having said that the large groups of people seemed to be having a whale of a time and as time passed and the drink flowed the atmosphere became even more boisterous.

Our mains arrived promptly, I had chosen the Gammon Steak (£12) and my dining partner had Belly Pork (£10). The Gammon was of generous proportions and extremely succulent, it was obviously a very good quality piece of meat and the eggs were fried to perfection. There was however an impostor on the plate! I despise mushrooms in any form and there were four very large ones presented to me with my main course. Quite why anyone would choose to put a fungus in their dinner is well beyond me and I certainly would have welcomed opportunity to ask that they weren't included. Unfortunately they weren't mentioned on the menu, so I wasn't able to, but thankfully it didn't quite manage to put me off my meal. My dining partner's belly pork was also very good, the layered fat was ever so slightly under-rendered, but the crackling on top crackled perfectly.

We decided after our mains that we couldn't face another course (or another song) and asked for the bill, which was incorrect. The till had charged the Belly Pork at £13 instead of the £9.95 that is was marked at on the specials board. This was no problem, it was quickly rectified and apologies were made profusely. The correct total for two starters, two main courses and three drinks came to a little under £40.

Highlight: The friendly, attentive and personable staff.
Lowlight: The noisy, boisterous 'holiday camp' like atmosphere.

The Railway Inn’s Scores
Venue: **1/2
Ambience: *1/2
Service: ****
Presentation: **
Taste: ***
Value for Money: **

Overall Score: All credit to the Railway Inn for managing to fill such a large venue with happy, paying customers, which is no mean feat in the current economic climate. It is perhaps better suited to the families and groups staying on site than it is to the casual diner. We left having had our fill, in more ways than one. **1/2

My scoring system explained:
***** Outstanding **** Excellent *** Good ** Average * Poor