Eating Out
From Michelin Guide restaurants and world-famous seafood to trendy artisan eateries or traditional fish and chips. Here are our restaurant and café recommendations for when you really don’t want to ‘self-cater’
Northumberland
Alnmouth
Bistro 23 – A tearoom in the day and a fully-licensed restaurant on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Alnmouth. Tel: 01665 830393.
Box Pizza – Artisan wood-fired pizza from a retro Peugeot van in the grounds of The Old School Gallery, Alnmouth. Coastal Retreats guests receive 10% off food through our partner offers. Tel: 07518 433555.
Alnwick
The Treehouse – In the grounds of Alnwick Gardens, this magical treetop restaurant complete with wobbly rope bridges should not be missed. Denwick Lane, Alnwick. Tel: 01665 511852.
Amble
The Old Boat House – Fantastic seafood overlooking Amble harbour. Great for light lunches or evening meals watching the sun go down. Leazes Street, Amble. Tel: 01665 711232.
Bamburgh
Sunnyhills of Belford– A wholesome and fun farm shop bistro with fresh, local and tasty breakfasts, lunches and cakes. There is a play area for the children, ride-on tractors, chickens and alpacas. South Road, Belford. Tel: 01668 219662.
The Potted Lobster – One of the most popular Bamburgh restaurants, receiving rave reviews for its delicious seafood and a mention in the Michelin Guide. Well worth a try. 2-3 Lucker Road, Bamburgh. Tel: 01668 214088.
The Victoria Hotel– Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at the brasserie within this central village hotel. Great service and a fulfilling children’s menu. 1 Front Street, Bamburgh. Tel: 01668 214431.
The Lord Crewe – Excellent service at this hotel restaurant. Front Street, Bamburgh. Tel: 01668 214243.
Seahouses
Elan Pizzeria – Freshly baked artisan pizzas. Highly recommended. 68 Main Street, Seahouses. Tel: 01665 721311
The Olde Ship Inn – A sea-themed pub with open fire and bar meals. The best real ale pub in the region. Main Street, Seahouses. Tel: 01665 720200.
St Aidans Bistro – An ever-changing menu with locally caught seafood and Northumberland produce. Fantastic views of the coast from the restaurant. Seafront, Seahouses. Tel: 01665 720355
Lewis’s Fish Restaurant – A traditional fish and chip restaurant with an excellent variety of fish options including haddock, lemon sole, cod and plaice. 22 Main Street, Seahouses. Tel: 01665 720475
The Spice House – A traditional Indian restaurant with good reviews. 52 Main Street, Seahouses. Tel: 01665 720345
Craster
The Jolly Fisherman – a gastro pub with fantastic sea views and gorgeous crab sandwiches. Coastal Retreats guests receive 15% off food through our partner offers. Haven Hill, Craster. Tel: 01665 576461.
The Shoreline Café – The perfect spot for breakfast, soup, sandwiches, cake and cappuccinos. 1 Church Street, Craster. Tel: 01665 571251.
Craster Fish Restaurant – The seafood restaurant of the smokery for consistently tasty fish and seafood dishes, some with a Brazilian twist. Haven Hill, Craster. Tel: 01665 576223.
Chathill
Carnaby’s Cafe – Carnaby’s has an excellent cafe (Coastal Retreats guests receive 15% off food through our partner offers) as well as a gift and homeware shop, and a children’s play area.
Embleton
Embers – Wood-fired pizza from a pop-up shipping container in the grounds of Eleanor’s Byre. Plans to come for a more permanent venue with indoor seating in 2021. Embleton. Tel: 07858 984544
Chatton
The Percy Arms – With rave reviews and locally sourced seasonal produce, this gastro pub has become renowned for serving up inspirational dishes at the hands of Head Chef Alistair Merrey. The Percy Arms is a short drive from our Rosebud cottage. The Percy Arms, Main Road, Chatton. Tel: 01668 215244
Beadnell
Beadnell Towers – A recent multi-million-pound revamp has transformed this eatery into an urban-chic brasserie with and open kitchen and seafood fresh off the boat from North Shields. Food is gastro pub fayre from delicious mussels to hearty steaks and burgers. The Wynding Beadnell. Tel: 01665 721211.
Saltwater Cafe – A cafe by day serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and snacks, and a bistro by night. Coastal Retreats guests receive 10% off food through our partner offers before 7pm. The Wynding, Beadnell. Tel: 01665 720333.
Felton
The Northumberland Arms – An 1820s coaching inn built by the 3rd Duke of Northumberland offering locally-sourced, seasonal fayre in its bar and restaurant by acclaimed Head Chef & North East Chef of the Year, Gabor Puzstai. The inn has direct views of the River Coquet and is a short drive from our Amble Retreats. The Northumberland Arms, The Peth, Felton. Tel: 01670 787370
Newton by the Sea
The Joiners Arms – A family-friendly gastro pub with great food and cool interior. Coastal Retreats guests receive £10 off food through our partner offers. Newton by the Sea. Tel: 01665 576112.
The Ship Inn – A relaxed pub with a log fire and outdoor seating in a grassed courtyard overlooking Low Newton beach. Serves lobster straight off the boat in the Spring and Summer months. It has a micro-brewery and great coffee. Low Newton. Tel: 01665 576262
Scottish Borders
Berwick upon Tweed
The Barn at Beal – A café and restaurant overlooking the causeway to Holy Island. Beal Farm, Berwick upon Tweed. Tel: 01289 381477.
The Royal Garden – A popular Chinese restaurant where you can dine in or takeaway. Marygate, Berwick upon Tweed. Tel: 01289 331 411
The Magna Tandoori – An Indian restaurant voted one of the best places for curry in the UK. Bridge Street, Berwick upon Tweed. Tel: 01289 302736
Melrose
Burt’s Hotel– recently awarded Scotland’s Dining Pub of the Year by the Good Pub Guide, Burt’s is the epitome of Scottish-ness with its roaring fire, excellent range of ales and whiskies and fabulous food.Market Square, Melrose. Tel: 01896 822285.
The Townhouse – A contemporary brasserie serving locally-produced meat and fish.Market Square, Melrose. Tel: 01896 822645.
Marmion’s Brasserie – Serves breakfast, lunch, dinner or just coffee. Buccleuch Street, Melrose. Tel: 01896 822245.
Ochiltrees Restaurant – stylish eating at Abbotsford House – the home of Walter Scott – with stunning views of the place from the restaurant. Open for coffee, lunches and afternoon tea. Abbotsford, Melrose. Tel: 01896 752043.
St Boswell’s
Mainstreet Trading Company – excellent choice of coffee and cakes at this cafe within a book store. Also online deli with home delivery or click and collect service. Main Street, St Boswells. Tel: 01835 824 087.
The Seafood Trail
From traditionally smoked kippers to oyster beds dating back to 1381, Northumberland’s seafood specialties are a must-try on any trip itinerary.
Oysters
At the north of the county lies Ross, a beautiful bay between Bamburgh and Holy Island, part of the Lindisfarne Nature Reserve, and where the Sutherland family today farm their ‘Lindisfarne’ Pacific Oysters. This secluded part of the coast has been home to oyster beds since the late 1300s and are the only commercial beds on the east coast north of Norfolk. They can be bought online, from Swallowfish in Seahouses or sampled in some of the area’s great seafood restaurants.
Kippers
The world-famous Craster kipper is smoked here in Northumberland at L Robson and Sons smokehouse in Craster. This smokehouse situated across from our Harbour Master’s House cottage (a former store of the smokehouse) has been producing some of the finest smoked kippers and salmon for nearly 100 years. The family also has its own eatery on site, the Craster Fish Restaurant, where you can sample some of their tasty produce.
Further up the coast in Seahouses, is Swallowfish – another excellent smokehouse which has been in business since 1843. They use the same methods of smoking their cod, haddock, kippers and salmon as they did back then, and the shop itself is a real delight to visit with old photos and a smorgasbord of fish and shellfish.
Where to buy
Swallowfish is in South Street, Seahouses and sells oysters, kippers, seasonal fish caught in the North Sea and a wide variety of shellfish.
Craster Kippers can be ordered online at www.kipper.co.uk and Lindisfarne Oysters at www.lindisfarneoysters.co.uk
Something Sweet
A holiday on the coast would not be complete without ice cream and Coxon’s Icecream is a must when visiting this part of the coast. Grab a 99 through the hatch in Main Street, Seahouses and then wander down to the harbour wall, or sit in the parlour and really indulge. Its ice cream van can also be spotted at Beadnell Bay during the summer months.
Alternatively, head to Morwick or Doddington Dairies and have some ice cream straight from the farm.
