We came here on a Saturday night as it was recommended by a local. We booked a table by the phone…read moreand arrived at 8pm. The place had a nice buzz and was very nicely presented. We were seated right at the back, between the window overlooking the terrace with outside seating and a dark blue wall. The lighting was also not enough so it was a big difference to the rest of the restaurant. Still, we received good service for a pub, but not good enough if they're going to be priding themselves as a gastro pub. Still, the food is excellent. I'm sorry my pictures don't do it justice. (I had to use flash 'cos it was too dark.) We ordered the soup of the day (potato and leek), the salt and pepper squid to start. The soup got the thumbs up and the squid was fresh but it lacked both salt and pepper, which was no bother when the rings were so easy to eat and the batter so crispy! For mains we had a fish and chips - the fish was a bit too dry for my liking and the chips were under cooked but the mushy peas were good; 10 oz rib eye steak - it was wolfed down in minutes it was cooked to perfection; cajun chicken burger - chicken was tender and nicely flavoured and the sweet potato chips were not soggy at all; pork belly with mustard mash - I felt that this was the winning dish (again, sorry my picture looks crap) the pork had the right amount of fat and the lean parts were tender. When I noticed that crackling was missing, the waiter brought a whole side dish of it and they were GOOD! All crisp and no annoying chew! I was honestly too full to eat dessert but our friends ordered a sticky toffee pudding and a hot chocolate brownie smothered in chocolate sauce. They came piping hot and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Both were generously portioned and were tasty according to my friends. Definitely come and try out their food. Avoid sitting at the very back though!

Very good hearty food (recommend the cheese board!), and a nice selection of beers. Very friendly…read morebar staff who are definitely into, and know about, the food they sell. Very relaxed atmosphere. The night we went in (Weds), it was busy with people eating when we arrived, suddenly totally emptied out and then about 9pm, suddenly filled up with older locals coming in for a drink.

Pleasantly surprised. Fine dining in a little town. French food in an English Village…read more Charming inside. When we made the reservation we asked what the dress code was, no mandatory dress code, we dressed up (cocktail/wedding like attire) anyways & glad we did. Everyone was in at least a button up shirt and slacks, some had coats. The atmosphere was classy. We weren't sure if we needed to make a reservation but glad we did, it was a busy Saturday night. The food portions were filling. The food was delicious. Also ordered the Duck Fat Chips, a glass of white wine recommended with the meal, and Escargot (forgot to take pics of these). The escargot was amazing. The food was appetizing to the sight. It was evident much heart went into each dish. The staff was polite and attentive. The price was reasonable for the quality and portion. Will definitely be going back because there are many more items on the menu I'd like to try. Do recommend.

Holy cow! Call me impressed…read more On our way to Edinburgh we stopped to find a place to have dinner. Although out of the way, this restaurant in Hexham is a hidden gem. An unassuming building from the outside leads to a softly decorated dining room with French prints and neutral tones that leads to a calming dining experience. My appetizer was one of the best chicken liver parfaits I've had in a long time. Perfect baguettes accompanied the pate which also came with cornichons and white onions. Cheese soufflé was light and airy with a hint of saltiness to add effect to the overall taste. The mains of duck confit and lamb rounded out the full eating experience. My only one criticism is that the duck was a little bit dry as the dish became cooler. Lamb entree was fabulous though!!! Such an amazing little restaurant that just went through a new renovation to the dining room that just makes the whole experience a must try for anyone who enjoys French cuisine.

We are regular customers at The Rat because it is such a great place with great food…read more Last night's visit was for my wife's birthday and except for one minor thing it was as good as usual. The Rat is the very definition of an English country pub. Open fires and a cosy atmosphere are exactly what you want from a pub, add in the great food and it is hard to beat. We shared a starter of smoked haddock fritters which was delicious if a little parsimonious for £7. Main courses were superb; slow cooked belly pork and 3 cuts of lamb; delicious, deep savoury flavours that are so hard to accomplish at home. My wife's warm gingerbread dessert wasn't warm which was a disappointment in an otherwise delicious meal.

Love, love, love this place! Have taken four or five different groups of friends or family there…read morefor dinner and Sunday lunch, not one person has come away disappointed or feeling hungry! This is a real gem of a pub, tucked away up the hill just a few miles from Hexham. Have heard this is walkable from Hexham on a nice day but most will need a car - one thing to bear in mind is parking can be a bit limited and a bit of a free-for-all at busiest times, but you should usually get a space somewhere. Alternatively, taking a taxi is a good option, should only cost about £6-£8 from the centre of Hexham itself. First of all, the location and setting is simply stunning. If you park across the road, the views over the Tyne Valley are fantastic. You then go into the pub itself via a lovely garden area with a pergola. Inside is a proper Northumbrian country pub, great traditional decor, roaring fires, with some unusual wall and ceiling decorations (will leave that for you to discover!) Each time we've visited to eat, we've been welcomed by the friendly staff who offer the right level of service, i.e. keeping your table clear, everything in check without being overly attentive. The bar offers a good range of real ales, usually with a local brewery on offer, all of which are very well kept. They have an excellent range of wines and spirits as well, so you could easily go here for a relaxing drink, although the bar area is relatively small. However, if you are here, you really must try the food. Honestly, the Rat Inn has served up some of the best food I've ever eaten, nothing fussy or complicated, just locally sourced ingredients cooked to perfection. What is encouraging is that there are no menus on the tables, instead you'll find the day's menu on a chalkboard, which indicates freshness and illustrates how much they care about what ends up on your plate. In fact, you can find out where the meats and veg have come from as the suppliers are also chalked up on the wall. As the menu changes fairly regularly, it is not really worth recommending any particular dish on here for fear of it not being on next time, but the Sunday roast dinners are superb and the Sticky Toffee Pudding is top notch! Bear in mind you do get hearty Northumbrian-sized portions here, it is difficult to leave here without feeling a tad on the full side... As this place features in the top 50 UK gastropubs, it can get popular and they don't have an abundance of space, which adds to its charm but is also a slight disadvantage - definitely worth booking in advance to avoid missing out. In summary, the Rat Inn really is a wonderful place and one to which I can't wait to have an opportunity to go back soon.

Just popped in here for a quick tea as we were passing . Lovely sausage and chips and the…read moreassistants were very friendly polite.

Greasy and not good cod :( Downstairs is cold and damp…read morethough spotless. Scampi is good but a major let down by the greasy chips

Great re-vamp of the cafe in the Queen's Hall in Hexham giving it a much better atmosphere. Lovely…read morehigh backed sofas cut down the background noise (and are nice and comfy!) making it nicer to chat without everyone else's conversation seeping in. Tea and coffee are first rate and the scones are a nice generous size too; none of these fiddly little things you see too often. Just one minor thing; the clotted cream that came with our scone was still in the tiny plastic tub - it would be much nicer spooned onto the plate or in a glass bowl.

Got introduced to their beverages by the fine folks at Marlowe in SF. Their Victorian Lemonade is a…read moreblend of Carbonated Water Sugar Lemon Juice Concentrate Glucose Syrup Ginger Pear Juice concentrate Cream of Tartar Lemon / Speedwell / Juniper extracts A very interesting blend for a lemonade indeed. The bartender said their might be a slight bit of alcohol (miniscule) due to some fermentation but I didn't detect it. Not that it mattered as it was a refreshing beverage.

This is a brewery that produces a botanically brewed mixer range. They have:…read moreVictorian Lemonade Mandarin & Seville orange jigger Dandelion & Burdock Ginger beer Curiosity cola Calories are around 130 a bottle! They use carbonated spring water. For USA sales USAsales@fentimans.com or http://www.realfoodsdirect.co.uk . The company has started to ship to Japan! Waitrose & Oddbins stock some of their range. Fentimans have sponsored cyclists and hosted special events on the Bluebell railway. They also took part in a Christies charity auction. The Victorian lemonade was runner up in the BBC Goodfood awards. These drinks are worth checking out. It must be noted its an adult drink range.

The Fish and Chips were huge! After a long day of flights and airport issues, the Angel was a quick…read morebus ride from Newcastle where we started our Hadrian's Wall hike. The Angel has been welcoming travelers since 1752 and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect place to decompress. We enjoyed a wonderful meal and a few pints overlooking the historic stone bridge over the River Tyne. The Angel is easy walking distance to the Corbridge Rome Town. After good night sleep and a hearty breakfast, we were off on the hike. The hotel staff ensured our bags were marked and loaded in the vans to be transported to the next hotel. The Angel Inn takes excellent care of travelers. Hope to return again.

Drink here on a lovely late afternoon a Pint of fine Wolf Ale and you'll never forget The Angel Inn…read moreof Corbridge. Perfect Scenery, beautifull village!

Mmm...delicious scones with mountains of whipped cream (I exaggerate not) and delightful jam. A…read morenice selection of teas. My friend got some rocky road cake which was quite delicious as well. They sell tea and interesting beers to take home as well. Not so keen on the tacky gifts for sale, but the place is cozy enough and a good place to wait for the rain to stop.

Lovely feel to the place as soon as you enter, with warm, friendly and attentive service and great…read morefood. I had a pepper and onion omelette which was light and well cooked with side salad and coleslaw, followed by home made apple pie and custard. The coffee (I tried an Americano and a filter coffee) was freshly made and tasted good. There seemed to be a good range of regular menu items (including plenty for those of us who prefer to go meat-free) and also a specials board. I understand the cakes are something of a speciality, I will have to try some next time! The cafe itself is light and airy with a roomy main table area, and what looked to be a really nice cosy sofa area towards the back which would be perfect to sit and chat if you weren't planning on a meal. The Shire Gate is recently under new management, so anyone put off by some of the negative reviews on Qype could do a lot worse than give the place a try. Based on my experience today you will go away more than satisfied and wanting to come back. I am an occasional visitor to Hexham but will certainly visit the Shire Gate again when I am next across.

Went in for a meal, sat down, took off our coats, asked fellow diners if it was table or counter…read moreservice. Approached the counter, wife headed off to the toilet. Wife intercepted by large, grumpy woman. You have to order before you can use the toilet. I explain that I am at the counter ready to order, money in hand and that wife will go to the toilet whilst I do. Then told that they will not reveal the location of the toilet until the order has been placed. I explain that I am going to order immediately and could they please show wife the way to the toilet. Large grumpy woman tells me that in her 25 years many people have looked her in the eye and said they would order, but just used the toilet and left so think on. I asked her if she was actually suggesting that I was a liar and she agreed. We immediately left. Two fellow diners followed us out the door and caught up with us saying that they were appalled by how we were treated and directed us to a nearby (better) cafe. They thought it was shameful that anyone had come to Hexham and been so abused. They explained that they would never be returning to the Shire Gate because of it. We live up the road in Alnwick. This was the first time we'd been to Hexham and large grumpy woman was even the first person we'd ever talked to in Hexham. They lost three customers and two locals that day. So think on.

Best chippy by far in Hexham. Always fresh, good quality fish & batter…read more Also now does pizzas.

From the owner: The Sea Chef provides quality food served by a team of friendly, well-trained staff. We offer an…read moreextensive takeaway menu. We also offer an extensive range of other popular dishes.