Visiting Alnwick, Northumberland - suggestions for good eating places ?

lindab15

Hi all,

We'll be having a family trip for a few days up to Northumberland, near Alnwick.

Never been to this part of the country and looking forward to it.

Any suggestions for good value places to eat in that general area - i.e. pubs / restaurants / fish 'n' chip shops / cafes etc ?

We'll be self catering and have sorted out some Tesco clubcard vouchers for a day at Alnwick Castle, but would ideally like to have a few meals out without breaking the bank. Makes the holiday and means I have a good break too !!

Thought some of you wonderful MSE's who're familiar with area might be able to point me in the right direction to make the most of our holiday money.

fifimore

There are loads of wonderful places to eat in Northumberland, in Alnwick itself there is a hotel called The White Swan which is not too bad for food. Alnwick gardens are fantastic to visit but best advice would be to take a picnic, personally I do not like the Tree House restaurant located here. Embleton has a lovely hotel called Embleton Hall which serves a great Sunday lunch. About 20 minutes from Alnwick there is a great market town called Morpeth with lots to see and do, there is a super restaurant here in the market place called Szoda which is also great value for money. Do visit Lindisfarne/Holy Island where you will find locals selling fresh crab sandwiches from the backs of there cars, really tasty. Seahouses has very good fish and chip shops, near Acklington there is a farm that produces its own ice cream in loads of flavours called Morwick, worth a trip as they have a coffee shop and play area too. Hope this helps, believe me it is but a tiny taste of Northumberland!

lindab15

Hi there,

Thanks - that all sounds brilliant ! Will definitely try out the ice cream farm shop - we always seem to try different flavoured ice creams on holiday, even though we rarely eat the stuff at home ! Will look forward to that.

Appreciate the tip about the Tree House restaurant - I'd seen a mention of it in a brochure and was intrigued. Knew it was bound to be more expensive, but from what you've said probably not worth paying extra. Good to know !

Noted your suggestions and will look out for them. Thanks again !:T

sharnad

Alnwick garden the pavillion does lovely meals it was £6.95 last time though but got 2 big chicken breasts and you help yourself to all the veg

The fish and chip shop is nice in alnwick and not to expensive

Be carefule were you eat in seahouses the bigger ones are best for the best chips to takeaway go to charlies in amble

They do a lovely carvery for cheap at the poachers rest just outside powburn on a sunday next to petrol station and antiques place

If you go to holy island try and eat before hand, if you go from alnwick up that way to hold island there is a 24 hour cafe that does fab foob

Holy island has a poncy menu pub expensive hotel and a really bad cafe that sells the worst food

We like going to craster having a walk along to dustanburgh castle where the views are fab and they have loads of kittiwakes and eating at the jolly fisherman

Warkworth castle is well worth a visit for the fab castle

If the kids are young www.heighley-gate.co.uk does massive fab meals
it has a great big outdoor play centre and an indoor one for when your eating

Shelle

Just to add an important point - if you do intend to visit holy island, you will need to know the tide times in advance so you dont get cut off by the tide!

If you like books (second hand) try barter books in Alnwick. They have a website to give you an idea of what they have. Can be a tad expensive, depends on what you like.

Craster is worth a look, Seahouses I would avoid as it has done downhill very much so and not worth a look at if you have a very short time on your hands.

wendyjj

Just to second that The Jolly Fisherman in Craster is nice to go for lunch. Craster is where they smoke the famous 'Craster Kippers'. The smokery is opposite The Jolly Fisherman, you can go and see the fish being smoked and buy fish (and kippers!!!) from their shop. I would park your car either in the public car park at the entrance to Craster or, if it's a quiet day, park at The Jolly Fisherman (which is around past the harbour to the right). Have a nice walk along the coast to Dustanburgh Castle (along past the houses to the left of harbour). Then go and have lunch, I like the fresh crab sandwiches or stottie pizza.