03-07-2025
The 21 best restaurants in Northumberland
Northumbrian food? You're probably thinking fish and chips, roast lamb, ploughman's lunches, maybe a bit of game; oh, and salmon. Solid, nourishing, but not necessarily exciting. Think again. In recent years, the region's chefs have quietly been finding fresh ways to work with the area's bountiful natural produce, breathing new energy into the area's dining scene. There are now two Michelin-starred restaurants, a flush of gastropubs, specialist seafood places and a growing number of artisan cafés and bakeries. What's noticeable is that they have a real sense of place. And why wouldn't they, given the region's superb coastline, rich farmland, excellent foraging opportunities, rich honey production and sublime heritage potatoes? Tuck in.
All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best restaurants in Northumberland. Find out more below, or for more Northumberland inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, pubs, things to do and beaches.
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Best all-rounders
The Lord Crewe Arms
The surroundings alone make a trip to this restaurant worthwhile; a pin-neat estate village of honeyed-stone cottages that sits in the wooded valley of the River Derwent. The inn – the former abbot's lodging of a 12th-century priory – is an atmospheric jumble of stone-flagged floors and staircases, with a choice of dining rooms. Downstairs is best for cosy nights, upstairs for light summer evenings. Menus offer punchy Modern British dishes such as cod with roasted squash and hazelnuts or venison with faggot and fruits.
Area: Blanchland, south Northumberland
Website:
Price: ££
Reservations: Recommended
