Very nice place and out of the way. Can be busy but food is fabulous! Had teriyaki duck, pepper…read morechicken, liver and onions and pork. Awesome food and great people.

Highly disappointing! Having heard a lot about this place as…read morebeing one of the best "gastro-pubs" in the area, we were expecting good things so well in advance for Sunday lunch / birthday celebration 8 adults and two small children. As we had a vegan with us, we asked if he could be accomodated and were specifically told, it wouldn't be a problem. We were shown to a large table in a decent room at the back of the restaurant which didn't have the ambiance of the rest of the place but thankfully, we didn't have to get the singer either. I was a bit perturbed to see office style chairs in this area (yet not in the main part) and this didn't really give it a great look. The waitress came to take our orders and had never heard of a vegan ... when we explained, she stated that all that was available was on the menu, despite the fact we'd been assured that something could be arranged. The owner came out and although apologetic, she just passed the buck claiming she didn't know who took that call and on Sunday's nothing could be done - all she could offer him were a salad and some vegtables. When I stated that any chef could knock up a vegan dish without a problem (erm, stir fry? roast tomatoes with pasta? mashed potatoes with roast veggies? couscous? .... ) she said they were unwilling to do that on a Sunday. It was extremely annoying. As a gastro-pub I was expecting something a little out of the ordinary and maybe other days they do but even on something as traditional as Sunday lunch, there are ways of making it that little bit special. Starters on the table were potted shrimp (tasty), prawn cocktail (70's style in rose sauce ... tasty and good portion, a wild garlic soup, goats cheese salad and black pudding and bacon salad. These were the only choices and these could have been knocked up by just about anywhere. There was nothing wrong with them, they just were just a bit pedestrian. Our vegan got a small salad which was basically just 2 cherry tomatoes and some leaves with dressing. How hard would it have been to excite this some? From taking our order, it too about 15 mins for the starters which was fair enough but after clearing our plates it took another 40 mins for the main courses to come which is far too long for lunch. Again the menu was rather dull with 4 types of meat (lamb, beef, belly of pork and chicken), fish pie and wild mushroom mac and cheese (yaaaawn) - just about the easiest menu that could be prepared and everything in advance. Lunch was actually fairly good apart from the dull fish pie (one type of fish and shrimp) in which they forgot to serve the side salad and bread until asked. A huge bowl of well prepared boiled veggies and cauliflower cheese as sides. I have no idea why this would take so long as every dish would have been prepared in advance and could have been put out a lot faster. Our vegan got a bowl of veggies - EXACTLY the same veggies that were in our big bowl and which we had a lot left. Service was very average over all. The girls serving have not had proper training for somewhere that is trying to be on the higher end (reflected in the prices, table clothes, cloth napkins, etc.). The bill came and for the vegan's salad and the bowl of veggies, they charged £9 !!! Considering that they had made the mistake and were unable to correct it, the very least the owner could have done was to comp that (we could have simply skipped his meal and fed him from our plates!) Overall we were all very disappointed and feel that this place can only be "resting on it's laurels" if it gives this little attention to it's customers. Well these are 8 customers, that are unlikely to return.

Chraming cosy pub in Ellington Village in Northumberland. Near to cresswell beach & druridge bay,…read moreyou can easily stop off here if you are on your way up the coast to amble, or coming back down from that way. Very easy to find and such a nice place. Lovely friendly atmosphere, we got a warm welcome when we arrived. They do a good range of food served Mon-Sat 12pm -8pm and Sunday Lunch 12pm - 3pm. I have not tried a Sunday lunch yet but have been midweek when the food was lovely, generous portions! I thought the cost of the main meals were very good and were what I expect from a local pub. Talking to the lady behind the bar she informed us that they have just added some B&B accommodation, this will come in handy for relatives visiting us from Yorkshire, a bit different from the usual premier inn. The pub itself has a very nice lounge, very relaxing with fireplace. There is plenty of seating in the restaurant and this has a warm atmosphere. There is a separate bar area which also has a nice feel to it. I will come back here again, and although I do not live in Ellington, i wish this was my local! Plenty of parking outside the pub. Fantastic pub grub with a good atmosphere and pleasant surroundings, I'll be back!

Had a great time at this pub with a booked group of 16 people. Nothing was too much trouble for…read moreKatrina the owner, and her fab staff. One of the group cheekily added her request to the already comprehensive menu,........ and got it, Katrina actually going out to obtain her request. Stunning!! Can't speak too highly of the food, some fussy eaters were really blown away by the quality of the food. The Inn itself, is lovely and comfortable, with great atmosphere. Thanks for making the meal special x

We have eaten at The Ship many times as a family and have always had a lovely time. The service is…read morefantastic, the menu is extensive with something for everyone, the place is very child-friendly, with good quality highchairs available, and I really have nothing negative to say about it at all! We happened upon the place purely by chance when returning from a day out, and I am so glad we did as it is now one of our favourite places to eat! I would recommend this pub to anyone who has a very healthy appetite, as i have never seen portions this big anywhere else! Many of the main meals would be enough to serve two people, especially some of the meat dishes, which are HUGE! Many of the meals have smaller portion sizes available, but to be fair these are still much bigger than you'd get in many other pubs. Even the children's portions are big! We have tried various dishes off the huge menu and all have been delicious; there is a quite a large vegetarian menu which pleased me; the mushroom stroganoff with pasta is lovely, and the puddings are gorgeous too! The prices are a little higher than many pub meals, but this is reflected in the portion sizes and the sheer quality of the food. I can't recommend this place high enough and am looking forward to returning there soon!

The staff were lovely and friendly…read more We went for Sunday lunch and the food was fantastic. Very big portions and reasonably priced. The owner showed us round the accommodation that is available at the back of the public house, he showed us the disabled room, which was very well equipped, we would not hesitate to stay there or recommend it to anyone. There are plenty of parking spaces at the rear of the pub. We will return in the future to dine again.

The Ship Inn is a great restaurant/pub which always lives up to its fantastic reputation. The food…read moreis always amazing and Sheila has a wonderful, ever changing menu. This place is always top on my list to visit when I am in the north east.

Food is lovely. Beautiful interior and great vibe. Village landmark highly recomemded in every way.read more

Good menu both bar and A la carte. Friendly atmosphere. The guest beer is good but could do to be…read morechanged more frequently. This is a very popular local establishment with nice decor it is advisable to book.

Best find on holiday ever!!…read more Set in a beautiful little village with a huge village green with loads of parking round and about (although im sure that on a mid summer sunny day parking may be somewhat difficult!). The pub has a bar area and a restaurant area - we only ever went into the bar as you could eat int here and it was really cosy (dogs are also allowed!). The staff were incredibly friendly and chatty (lets face it, Yorkshire, particularly North Yorkshire folk are possibly the most friendly on the planet - i challenge you to disprove this!). The food was INCREDIBLE. Nothing fancy pants, just really good food, VERY big portions (trust me on this, you dont need three courses - choose your weapon of starter or dessert to go alongside your main - we made the mistake one night and 1) couldnt eat it all and 2)pretty much rolled home). We spent an evening in the pub, had a meal and then sat playing card games - we felt incredibly welcome. So welcome that we ended up visiting three times in a week long holiday. You cant really get a better recommendation than that can you??

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.

Excellent North East England village pub. Spacious dining room and public bar. Good sized car park…read more A wide range of local beers available. The food is standard pub fare but good quality and sensibly priced. Minimal use of microwave, as far as I could see. The pub is patronised by locals and walkers on the Durham coast path. Well worth a visit. The pub is accustomed to dealing with walkers and others engaged in outdoor activities. You may be asked to leave muddy boots at the entrance.

Still a fantastic place to chill out in the Durham countryside. Food is exceptional from breakfast,…read morelunch through dinner. Hotel rooms are quaint but top floor rooms would benefit from power showers to increase water pressure as it takes a while to get wet. Loved the cask Double Maxim on taps, much better than I remember from Vaux! Prices are very reasonable for large portions.

We are repeat customers to the Old Mill, the food is always great, and lots of it…read more You have to grab a table, and choose what you would like to eat from the blackboard in the main dining room. Once you have chosen what you would like to eat, go to the bar with your table number and order. We have been on a number of occasions, and service is always great (have been when every table has been taken, and was told 40 min for food, but received it well within 30 min) Have never had a bad meal from here, or a bad word to say about the place

If you are looking for a traditional country Pub, ran as they used to be alongside the farm, well…read morethis must be one of the last few remaining ones. If you can imagine walking into a friend's house and there in the corner is the bar just knocked together with a few bits of wood and a couple of tables and stools to sit at, well this is what's here. What you see is what you get not a great selection of beers but the Theakstons went down a treat (well actually several did). We sat in the garden overlooking the countryside unspoiled by any sounds other than that of the birds and sheep in the fields opposite. If you are after Juke Boxes, slot machines and the other trappings of modern pubs give this a miss, if you are after visiting the Scarborough area try and find this one you shouldn't be disappointed after all they way the pub trade is going at the moment it may not be here for many more years. I will probably get bought and turned into someone's home, shame if it ever does. The pub doesn't do food (only a few sandwiches) just a traditional pub.

The Mill Inn is situated in the middle of the British countryside…read more You could easily drive past it and not notice it were there. Walking into the mill inn is like walking back in time to the 1970's! When you order a drink the bar man Disappears down stairs to his underground cellar to fetch it. Only open on certain days and I've you go you will be talking about it for day's after. Love it