Situated on Hexham's main street, the Tap & Spile (aka 'The Tap') is one of the nicest pubs in…read moretown. Incidentally, it also doubles up as a B&B, but having never stayed there I don't think it right to comment on anything other than it's main public house functionality! So, The Tap is one of those traditional, unfussy pubs that doesn't try to pretend to be anything but, which is very pleasing in this era of identikit gastropub-cum-nightclub efforts springing up everywhere. There is always a good selection of beers on offer (cannot really comment on anything else wine or spirit-related) including a couple of guest ales which are different each time I go, each well kept. One little moan is that the prices are creeping up into London territory - £3.80 for a pint seems a little steep. The bar is smallish but centrally located to the main seating areas, of which there is a fair amount. It can get a little cosy at the usual busy times but never had trouble getting a seat after too long. Am usually in there every other Monday evening and it's a nice place to have a quiet pint or two and catch up with people. Not had a chance to try their food yet, but am reliably informed it is rather good indeed - clearly need to find an excuse to back up this source of information. What is nice about The Tap is that whilst more of a traditional establishment, there is a good age range of people in there, so it doesn't feel like you're in one of those locals pubs, where you may not be as welcome as you first thought... Various events are also put on during the week: Quiz & Curry on a Monday, Pies on a Tuesday and Thursday, plus a regular Sunday tea-time live music offered up by local artists and bands. A nice mix of activities, but doesn't detract from the fact that this is still a great pub - worth checking out if you're ever in Hexham and need your thirst quenching!

A real find on a cold winters day thanks Qype. Small single room pub with a very frindly publican…read more He brews the beers in his own award winning brewery up the valley. Good food great selection of cheeses to go with the ploughman's. Will go back when next up north.

Legendary inn by the gently flowing Dipton Burn in Hexhamshire. Camra pub of the year countless…read moretimes, always at least 4 cask beers including 3 from the landlords Hexhamshire Brewery. Really nice home cooked food, great ploughmans, & sandwiches.

We came here on a Saturday night as it was recommended by a local. We booked a table by the phone…read moreand arrived at 8pm. The place had a nice buzz and was very nicely presented. We were seated right at the back, between the window overlooking the terrace with outside seating and a dark blue wall. The lighting was also not enough so it was a big difference to the rest of the restaurant. Still, we received good service for a pub, but not good enough if they're going to be priding themselves as a gastro pub. Still, the food is excellent. I'm sorry my pictures don't do it justice. (I had to use flash 'cos it was too dark.) We ordered the soup of the day (potato and leek), the salt and pepper squid to start. The soup got the thumbs up and the squid was fresh but it lacked both salt and pepper, which was no bother when the rings were so easy to eat and the batter so crispy! For mains we had a fish and chips - the fish was a bit too dry for my liking and the chips were under cooked but the mushy peas were good; 10 oz rib eye steak - it was wolfed down in minutes it was cooked to perfection; cajun chicken burger - chicken was tender and nicely flavoured and the sweet potato chips were not soggy at all; pork belly with mustard mash - I felt that this was the winning dish (again, sorry my picture looks crap) the pork had the right amount of fat and the lean parts were tender. When I noticed that crackling was missing, the waiter brought a whole side dish of it and they were GOOD! All crisp and no annoying chew! I was honestly too full to eat dessert but our friends ordered a sticky toffee pudding and a hot chocolate brownie smothered in chocolate sauce. They came piping hot and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Both were generously portioned and were tasty according to my friends. Definitely come and try out their food. Avoid sitting at the very back though!

Very good hearty food (recommend the cheese board!), and a nice selection of beers. Very friendly…read morebar staff who are definitely into, and know about, the food they sell. Very relaxed atmosphere. The night we went in (Weds), it was busy with people eating when we arrived, suddenly totally emptied out and then about 9pm, suddenly filled up with older locals coming in for a drink.

For those Newcastle/Gosforth dwellers amongst us (I was one of those once), you will probably know…read moreof The Brandling Villa by South Gosforth roundabouts? Well, Hexham has its own sister version in The Tannery at the bottom of Gilesgate - I have to say it's just as brilliant. I've learnt through friends who've lived in Hexham longer than me how the previous public house incarnation was "struggling" (to put it mildly), so it needed some vision and ambition to bring this place back to life. And they've done a cracking job over the last year, bringing a younger, funkier pub to Hexham's social scene. As you enter, you can head right into the main bar area, which can get a little more rowdy as the night progresses (board games!), or turn left into the lounge area, where it is slightly more relaxed. There is an outdoor area to the back as well, for the three days a year when the UK weather permits... Great range of beers, ales, wines, spirits to boot, always with one or more local breweries on tap. They were previously offering third-pints and two-third pints (think that's a schooner?) but didn't see these on my last visit. All beer is very well cared for, never had a bad pint here. The other key attraction is their food menu, where there are some brilliantly bizarre choices on offer... anyone for a "The Dirty Thoughts of Cheryl Versini-Whatsit" burger, which is - and I am not making it up - an 8oz beef burger topped with Greggs sausage roll, Heinz Baked Beans and cheddar cheese. Hold the salad. Yes, seriously. Or if the DToCV-W doesn't take your fancy, how's about a "Beef Chegwin" burger - 8oz beef burger, Cheviot Cheese, crispy pancetta, this time with salad. Just two of the crazy offerings on the menu, which illustrates the fresh and quirky attitude this place has got. For the non-carnivores amongst you, the beef burger can be swapped for a beet'n'bean burger - the 'vegetabularian' substitution as they call it. All plates come with a mountain of fries and 'slaw, this is some seriously tasty and filling scran. Gets quite busy of a weekend but this is one of those pubs where you can pop in for a quiet one by yourself, or you come with friends and end up playing board games until last orders. A refreshing change to the other (excellent) pubs in town, definitely worth a visit if you get the chance.

Used to be called the Skinners Arms, much cooler name I think. Great selection of beers and wines…read more Very friendly bar staff. Music is not annoying, food looks great. Bit studenty, without the students which I find strange. Would come here again. I am here on a Sunday, so who knows what happens on a regular day????

We are regular customers at The Rat because it is such a great place with great food…read more Last night's visit was for my wife's birthday and except for one minor thing it was as good as usual. The Rat is the very definition of an English country pub. Open fires and a cosy atmosphere are exactly what you want from a pub, add in the great food and it is hard to beat. We shared a starter of smoked haddock fritters which was delicious if a little parsimonious for £7. Main courses were superb; slow cooked belly pork and 3 cuts of lamb; delicious, deep savoury flavours that are so hard to accomplish at home. My wife's warm gingerbread dessert wasn't warm which was a disappointment in an otherwise delicious meal.

Love, love, love this place! Have taken four or five different groups of friends or family there…read morefor dinner and Sunday lunch, not one person has come away disappointed or feeling hungry! This is a real gem of a pub, tucked away up the hill just a few miles from Hexham. Have heard this is walkable from Hexham on a nice day but most will need a car - one thing to bear in mind is parking can be a bit limited and a bit of a free-for-all at busiest times, but you should usually get a space somewhere. Alternatively, taking a taxi is a good option, should only cost about £6-£8 from the centre of Hexham itself. First of all, the location and setting is simply stunning. If you park across the road, the views over the Tyne Valley are fantastic. You then go into the pub itself via a lovely garden area with a pergola. Inside is a proper Northumbrian country pub, great traditional decor, roaring fires, with some unusual wall and ceiling decorations (will leave that for you to discover!) Each time we've visited to eat, we've been welcomed by the friendly staff who offer the right level of service, i.e. keeping your table clear, everything in check without being overly attentive. The bar offers a good range of real ales, usually with a local brewery on offer, all of which are very well kept. They have an excellent range of wines and spirits as well, so you could easily go here for a relaxing drink, although the bar area is relatively small. However, if you are here, you really must try the food. Honestly, the Rat Inn has served up some of the best food I've ever eaten, nothing fussy or complicated, just locally sourced ingredients cooked to perfection. What is encouraging is that there are no menus on the tables, instead you'll find the day's menu on a chalkboard, which indicates freshness and illustrates how much they care about what ends up on your plate. In fact, you can find out where the meats and veg have come from as the suppliers are also chalked up on the wall. As the menu changes fairly regularly, it is not really worth recommending any particular dish on here for fear of it not being on next time, but the Sunday roast dinners are superb and the Sticky Toffee Pudding is top notch! Bear in mind you do get hearty Northumbrian-sized portions here, it is difficult to leave here without feeling a tad on the full side... As this place features in the top 50 UK gastropubs, it can get popular and they don't have an abundance of space, which adds to its charm but is also a slight disadvantage - definitely worth booking in advance to avoid missing out. In summary, the Rat Inn really is a wonderful place and one to which I can't wait to have an opportunity to go back soon.

Nice cosy pub with reasonably priced food. We dropped in here for dinner and a pint or two. Mains…read moreare around £10. My wife's burger came with chips and salad. I had the cod and chips which came with mushy peas. Food was good and staff friendly. This was our first experience of an english pub as we were visiting from Australia. We enjoyed our experience there and would return.