We've arrived at that point in the year where my wife Lisa and I begin to put a little thought into our weekend activities. With the kids off doing their own thing, the football season drawing to a close and my golf swing still very much a "work in progress" we start to ponder how best to make the most of the extra time and sunshine.
One pearl of an idea was to hop on a train somewhere and stop off for a spot of lunch somewhere we’d never tried before. I’m so glad we did.
Wylam is a charming little village in Northumberland, etched on the map as the birthplace of railway pioneer George Stephenson and in more recent years, by the popular brewery which bears its name.
Only 10 miles west of Newcastle, the village is easily reachable by train although you might not be able to catch the steam locomotive of yesteryear which is such an emblem of the community.
After stopping off at a couple of cracking local hostelries, we headed for the Ship Inn a proper British pub serving fresh food hearty and wholesome.
The pub’s interior is cosy and characterful with an array of taps showing a selection of the good stuff on keg and cask. For a pub with such great beer choice we were surprised to also find an extensive wine list. Glorious sunshine outside heralded the start of “Rose drinking season” so we kicked off with a lovely Pinot Grigio blush which combined strawberry & cream flavours with delicate sweetness and crisp acidity.
There was much to enthuse over on the foodie front too. Whilst snacking on a couple of homemade scotch eggs, we looked over a menu brimming with choice.
All dishes at the Ship Inn are served as small plates which can be shared around the table. Dishes are split up into three different categories meat, fish, vegetable with three recommended per person although you’re free to order as many as you like for a full tapas-style feast.
Dishes champion the freshest local ingredients and are all cooked to order, served as and when they are ready.
Kicking off with the meat category, Lisa chose the Northumbrian burger with smoked bacon, mordon blue cheese and caramelised onion whilst I opted for mutton faggots with spring greens and rosemary gravy.
Joining this, came the smoked cod’s roe with grilled flat bread as well as the beer cured salmon a real standout with seaweed pickled cucumbers and salad cream. Completing the pretty picture was a veggie-friendly chickpea, sweet potato & spinach curry and some “proper” homemade triple-cooked chips with garlic mayo.
This was an inventive menu, with many quirky little dishes and we both agreed that the tapas-led concept was a welcome departure from typical pub grub.
Puddings looked equally divine and whilst we tried to exercise some restraint, we couldn’t leave without sampling the rhubarb & blood orange pavlova with clotted cream, not to mention an epic cheeseboard featuring Doddington’s Admiral Collingwood.
The Ship Inn has carved out a fine local reputation yet from this visit is deserving of wider acclaim. We were so impressed, we’ve even earmarked a date for our next visit. Weekend’s never looked so good!
For more information, visit www.theshipinnwylam.co.uk