After a year of restrictions, distancing and outdoor dining, one Northumberland pub is getting ready to spread its wings once more
The Blackbird has been a firm fixture in the Ponteland community for many years – in fact, its roots go all the way back to the 14th century. Originally a castle which was later turned into ruins and rebuilt as a manor house, restorations in the early 20th century recovered an ancient tower and a stunning Tudor fireplace, which can still be seen in the venue today. Despite its long history, it’s safe to say that the last year has certainly been one of its most challenging but closing its doors to patrons for much of the last 12 months also gave the team the opportunity to explore new avenues. A tipi restaurant, the popular Café Blackbird popping up outdoors and a variety of themed takeaway boxes celebrating events like Burn’s Night, New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day are just some of the innovations the pub introduced for diners. Teaming up with Jesmond artisan bakery Kennedy and Rhind also proved to be a popular move, with their pastries added to the menu, a pop up shop selling out most weekends and the option for customers to order baked goods for collection directly to the venue. But nothing quite beats sitting down with a drink and a hearty meal in a cosy country pub and the venue has welcomed the ease of restrictions – while still taking precautions to keep staff and customers safe. Larger parties can now meet indoors, whether that’s to celebrate a special occasion, conduct a work meeting or catch up with old friends. And private dining can return once more, with the upstairs Minstrel Gallery offering a space filled with character, thanks to rustic wooden furniture, exposed bricks and quirky portraits adorning the walls. While much of the last year has been about adapting to various guidelines and restrictions at a moment’s notice, the team at the Blackbird are now looking forward to planning for the future and, more specifically, the most wonderful time of the year. Plans for festive menus and Christmas parties are well underway, with the tipi also set to return at the end of the year due to its success during the summer months. Stuart Young of the Northumberland Pub Company, which owns the Blackbird, is delighted to welcome diners back to the venue. “Working in hospitality during a pandemic has certainly brought its challenges and the whole team has gone above and beyond to adapt and try new things,” he said. “We have been lucky enough to keep operating throughout restrictions and we are very grateful to all the support from our customers while we were working with takeaways and reduced capacity. “It’s excellent to be in a position to finally welcome back larger parties and private dining and we are all looking forward to celebrating Christmas in style at the Blackbird this year.”