Seahouses, Northumberland:
This is odd. This review has it as a gastropub, and the Tripadvisor reviews are glowing, but when we visited, there was no sign of this- it seems the restaurant is closed much of the week, and is to permanently close on Oct 26th.
Sadly, what we were left with was a pub with no real ale, the football on too loud, and an unpleasant smell (from the glass washer, I reckon). Shame.
Seahouses, Northumberland
An unexceptional pub- not horrible, but nothing to write home about. Staff were friendly, but no real ale- shame as the interior was pleasant enough traditional pub and the locals seemed OK too, so I’d have stopped longer with something better to drink.
Beadnell, Northumberland:
Just up the coast from Seahouses. I think the weather helped- warm and sunny. This is an inn, again, and a good amount of the inside is dining space, but it feels very pub-like, tidy and fresh but not devoid of character, and sat outside in the lovely beer garden, it felt almost like the perfect country pub. Landlord and staff were friendly, the food and beer was great, and generally this made for a lovely afternoon.
Alnwick, Northumberland:
Pleasant traditional pub in the centre of town. Pleasant staff, good beer, and a decent lunch at reasonable cost. This place has rooms, too, but it’s very definitely a pub.
Bamburgh, Northumberland:
This is a hotel, but the bar and (pleasant) beer garden feel pub-like, and the bar markets itself in that way, so it’s in.
We stopped here for lunch after a walk up from Seahouses. Pleasant staff, decent beer, good food, and not too expensive, though our entire Northumberland trip was a bit pricey beer-wise. It’s very modern gastropub inside, clean, bright and stripped wood, but not unpleasant- and the nice man filled our water bottle for the journey back.
Seahouses, Northumberland:
The best known pub in Seahouses, and a probably for good reason. Inside it’s a maze of rooms, and most of them are decorated with an eclectic mix of maritime memorabillia. There’s great beer (both choice and quality), and good food, and the staff are friendly. There’s free wi-fi too, handy given the shaky Vodafone signal locally.
There’s actually only one problem: It’s far too popular!
We went in several times, but turned round and went to The Bamburgh Castle Inn over the road more times than we stopped, as we couldn’t get to the bar, never mind a table to eat, but I should point out they take reservations- so booking is adviseable.