Whether it's wining and dining, bed and breakfast or even artisan breads and baked goods, the Northumberland Pub Company offers something for every customer.
Home to the Blackbird, The Northumberland Arms and Kennedy and Rhind, the group has quickly gained a reputation as one to watch in the North East food scene. Originally a castle with roots going all the way back to the 14th century, the Blackbird at Ponteland was the group’s first venue – known for its stunning upstairs Minstrel Gallery and seasonal menu – before acquiring The Northumberland Arms in early last year, in the picturesque village of Felton.
Taking over a second business just before the first lockdown engulfed the UK certainly came with its challenges but not enough to deter a third, with Kennedy and Rhind launching later that summer.
The artisan bakery, run by chefs David Kennedy and Murray Rhind, has gone from strength to strength since it’s launch, opening a busy shop on Jesmond’s Holly Ave West before expanding into a café space.
And while each of the brand’s three venues offers something a little different, the core values remain the same – delivering top quality service and delicious dishes every time.
However, this doesn’t mean that the three work completely independently, with the launch of a series of special occasion boxes over lockdown proving just how successful the trio can be together. Themed around holidays such as Christmas, New Year, Burn’s Night and Valentine’s Day, customers across the North East could order their very own celebration in a box before picking it up at the venue closest to them.
But diners don’t have to wait for a special occasion, or make the trip to Newcastle’s outskirts, to enjoy Kennedy and Rhind’s homemade baked goods, with their pies, buns and more making a regular appearance on the menus of the two pubs.
While the Northumberland Pub Company has certainly been busy – in fact, they haven’t stopped – they are showing no signs of slowing down, with plans for new ventures in the pipeline. Having recently secured an alcohol license, Kennedy and Rhind is looking forward to expanding its opening times to offer evening dining and the venue is also home to a large upstairs space – which the chefs hope to utilise for future food events.
Staying at home over the last year may not have been everyone’s first choice but the rise in staycations has certainly been good news for The Northumberland Arms, which hopes to add another bedroom for guests zto enjoy. And the three venues are firmly in planning stages for the most wonderful time of the year, with festive menus, Christmas parties and winter tipis set to make a return.
Stuart Young, of the Northumberland Pub Company, believes the business has a bright future. “The last year has definitely been challenging for everyone working in the hospitality industry, so we are very lucky to have been in the position to launch two new venues,” he said. “We’re very grateful to our customers for sticking around and supporting us, especially when we had to get a little creative during lockdown with takeaways and special occasion boxes, and we’re delighted to have opened our doors once more.
“Having missed last year’s festive celebrations with our diners, we cannot wait to launch our Christmas plans and we hope that this year will be one of our best yet.