Drawing to the end of a long working week, my son Jack and I were looking forward to a nice spot of lunch to kick start the weekend. The Beamish Park Hotel in Marley Hill is an old favourite of mine which has somewhat dropped off my radar in recent times. After hearing a few positive rumblings, I thought a return visit was in order.
The family-run, independent hotel is a great facility boasting 42 guest rooms, chic meeting spaces, a par 3 golf course and a driving range. There’s also a snug bar area perfect for informal drinks, not to mention a super-inviting, outdoor beer terrace for when the golf demands a break. The jewel in the crown though is perhaps the bright & airy conservatory bistro which serves a la carte specialities alongside lighter bites like soups, sandwiches and salads.
The hotel occupies a stunning location overlooking the rolling hillsides of County Durham. We pitched up on a sun-drenched day and really saw it as its very best.
Sometimes an independently-owned venue can mean for better service and this was especially true of Beamish Park as we received the warmest of welcomes. Indeed, our waiter Andrew looked after us superbly all afternoon.
The bistro boasts an impressive wine list, but on a day such as this only a crisp pint of Moretti would do. The bistro’s airy aspect projects a leisurely vibe with its floor-to-ceiling windows affording some great views out over our surroundings. It also has style in abundance with stripped oak flooring and some Jazz-themed wall art featuring Nina Simone, Miles Davis et al. Needless to say, it didn’t take us long to relax.
Having long held 2AA rosette status, this is a restaurant with real culinary chops. Lunch is available 12pm 2.15pm every Monday to Saturday with its menu exciting and varied. Dishes are constantly changing, inkeeping with the seasons and reflect the best quality produce currently available.
For a restaurant in such close proximity to Beamish Museum, this is a menu surprisingly forward thinking. To start, I chose that old restaurant staple prawn cocktail, yet shaken up here with fresh chunks of apple and avocado and served in a punchy, Bloody Mary dressing.
Jack chose the tempura king prawns, battered expertly and served with an Asian side salad. An artistic splodge of chilli jam provided much colour and interest.
Many dishes on the menu are Asian-inspired, including the Korean beef salad which I chose for main course. This was a nutritious, well-presented dish a cornucopia of ingredients including spring onion, carrots, peppers, lentils and fennel with thin rice noodles all in a Korean sesame seed dressing. The staff are very accommodating are were happy to load this with extra chillies as per request.
Jack chose the hearty, bistro rump steak with skinny fries, black pudding and peppercorn sauce. All locally-sourced, steaks are something of a speciality at Beamish Park with a steak night taking place every Friday with some great value available.
Feeling replete, we swerved dessert but couldn’t leave without checking out the golf facilities. Complete with driving range, short game area and 9 hole Par 3 course, Beamish Park has everything you need to get the swing going but then again, they’re all hard for me.
Given that The Beamish Park Hotel is situated just seven miles from the centre of Newcastle and 10 from Durham, the venue is perfectly placed for a business lunch. Easily accessible yet far enough out to feel a real sense of release. It was great to be back.
