With the prospect of Lockdown 2.0 looming large, my wife Lisa and I took off to The Northumberland Arms in Felton for one last night of luxury.
The venue is perfect for a stylish gastrogetaway, located just off the A1 and thereby easily accessible from Newcastle and beyond. The handsome stone building resides in the heart of the village and offers deluxe, en-suite, guest rooms overlooking the River Coquet all furnished to that top class standard you really expect from an inn with 5* accreditation. This is a venue rich in history, originally built in the 1820’s by Hugh Percy, 3rd Duke of Northumberland as a coaching inn where his coach horses, family and visitors could take refreshment before journeying on to Alnwick Castle. Today, the venue has been lovingly restored with a rustic appeal and classy gastro pub as its focal point. Fortunately, Owner Stuart Young has pedigree in managing such a venture and is also behind The Blackbird in Ponteland which has witnessed a real renaissance in recent years. The hotel’s six individually-decorated guest rooms capture the spirit of Northumberland and are all tastefully appointed with tartan rugs, Bergere sofas, plush bedding and heavy drapes. Bathed in a countrified colour palette – all greens, browns, purples and mauve – ours was a haven of comfort and tranquillity. Enveloped by its cosy embrace, all worries of a second lockdown would fade into nothing. After a brisk unpack and change of dress, we headed down to the bar restaurant area which really comes into its own through the winter months. Social distancing measures were in full swing with the staff exceptional throughout the duration of our visit. Many guests are active folk making the most of the area’s many walks, hikes, cycle routes and other attractions available on the doorstep with the bar area a lovely place to kick back and bask in the afterglow of the day’s outdoor pursuits. Lisa and I applied similar endeavour to an excellent bottle of Primitivo which we sipped on while tucking into a sharing plank of fresh sourdough with olives and whipped butter. Lisa kicked off with the smoked haddock fishcakes with curried mayo, fennel and coriander salad while I opted for the pan-fried scallops with crispy pig cheek and cauliflower & apple puree. Following up, I hugely enjoyed the salmon katsu curry with sticky rice and sautéed greens while Lisa, seeking pre-lockdown indulgence, sampled the steak & ale pie of the day with greens and buttered mash. The following morning, we were in for another sumptuous feast at the breakfast table. Smoked salmon & scrambled eggs and a superbly cooked Full English set us up nicely for the journey home. At the time of writing, the post-lockdown hospitality picture remains uncertain however I would highly recommend a visit upon reopening – whether that be for a Christmas treat or New Years resolution worth sticking to.