Taste of Northumberland is a scheme designed to champion the county’s food, drink and hospitality businesses that grow, make, or serve products within Northumberland. More and more businesses are signing up to this scheme and if you see the Taste of Northumberland logo while you are searching for somewhere to eat or doing a spot of shopping, you can be sure that you are enjoying the best, freshest and most local ingredients at a business who prides itself on authenticity, genuine ingredients, artisan skill and locally sourced products.
To qualify, businesses must demonstrate genuine local sourcing and production, as well as meet recognised food quality standards. So, we have rounded up ten of the best restaurants, breweries, shops and farms where you can go and know that you are supporting the locals and eating local produce from the land you are exploring.
Rigg & Furrow
Rigg and Furrow is an authentic farmhouse brewery that has given a new lease of life to its old milking parlour. Creating new takes on Farmhouse beers, this independent, family-run team brews by hand and creates exciting, innovative, fermentation-focused beers. They brew history-inspired ales, crisp lagers, hoppy pales and mixed fermentation beers reflective of Northumberland’s rural landscape. They have recently journeyed into farmhouse cider making using 100% locally grown Northumbrian apples so watch this space! They also have a jam-packed calendar of events and pop-up food vans so you can enjoy quizzes, great food and more.
The Alnwick Garden
The Alnwick Garden is a fantastic attraction that welcomes visitors of all ages to explore its stunning landscapes and plant varieties, interactive water features and exciting seasonal events. Admire the spectacular Grand Cascade, stroll through the elegant Rose Garden and prepare for a thrill in the mysterious Poison Garden. Head to their shop to choose from an excellent spread of Northumberland produce and souvenirs to take Northumberland home with you or gift to your loved ones after your visit.
Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery
Ad Gefrin is the first of its kind, bringing together a contemporary museum with a pioneering Whisky Distillery at the gateway to the Cheviot Hills in Wooler. Sitting in the heart of some of the world’s finest barley-growing country, with five named local farmers producing exclusively for Ad Gefrin, you can be sure that you are enjoying quality local produce here. As England’s northernmost whisky distillery they also benefit from pure Cheviot water drawn from beneath the distillery itself. Tours here conclude with the opportunity to taste their award-winning spirits: Tácnbora Blended Whisky, Flyte Whisky Cream and Thirlings Dry Gin, all under the expert guidance of expert alchemists.
Bailiffgate Hotel
There are many magnificent hotels in Northumberland, but this one has the amazing claim of havin a direct outlook of an iconic castle. Bailiffgate Hotel is a luxury hotel that sits beside Alnwick Castle and comfort and care are woven naturally into every detail here. The Motte & Bailey, their signature restaurant led by Head Chef Paul Blakey, delivers an exceptional dining experience with a traditional Afternoon Tea and modern bistro menu that celebrates locally sourced produce and a distinctly personal Northumbrian flair.
Northumbrian Gifts
Northumbrian Gifts offer the finest selection of locally crafted beers, spirits, and luxury hampers, all from beautiful Northumberland. From award-winning ales to indulgent treats and beautifully presented gift sets, every item is carefully chosen to celebrate quality and regional character. Whether you’re shopping for a special occasion or simply treating yourself, you’ll discover something truly memorable crafted with pride and tradition.
Blagdon Farm Shop
Set within the beautiful Blagdon Estate in the heart of the Northumberland countryside, Blagdon Farm Shop is filled with outstanding local produce. From succulent 21-day dry-aged Belted Galloway beef to freshly made pies, quiches and seasonal fruit and vegetables, you’ll find everything you need for a delicious-but-quick supper or an impressive dinner party across their award-winning craft butchery and bakehouse and fantastic grocery range. They proudly stock goods from more than 50 local producers and from their own farm. Whether it’s vegetables coming into the shop from their fields in less than 15 minutes from picking, or their twice-weekly supply of world famous Craster Kippers, they know that freshness is what makes their food taste extra special.
Hauxley Farm Dairy
Hauxley Farm Dairy is a warm and welcoming dairy farm that sells dairy from its very own cows and produces delicious milkshakes, cold coffees, butter, milk and more. The cows can be seen grazing near the hut and the farm prides itself on providing fresh products of fantastic quality. Also placing a huge emphasis on sustainability, Hauxley Farm Dairy has solar panels installed on 2 roofs powering up to 45kwh to help power the farm using renewable energy, as well as using full electric vans on their milk round deliveries to reduce their carbon footprint. Plus, their milking parlour consists of two automated Lely milking robots which helps to reduce the human interaction with the cows and allows the cows to be milked at their own pleasure.
Corbridge Condiment Company
The Corbridge Condiment Company meticulously crafts exceptional flavours, believing that every meal deserves a remarkable accompaniment, to bring the best and freshest condiments to its customers. Seeing as their inspiration was sparked by a family allergy to artificial pectin which is commonly found in jams, you can guarantee that The Corbridge Condiment Company’s products are made from delicious, natural preserves using only the finest quality ingredients and they make every effort to source products locally from Northumberland.
Hepple Gin
A modern take on a classic gin, one taste of Hepple’s flavours of intense green juniper, bright Douglas fir, and savoury lovage, bog myrtle and blackcurrant takes you to the rugged moors of Hepple Estate in Northumberland. With over 4000 acres of remote land to explore, they boast some of the cleanest waters in England to nourish their plants, with babbling brooks flowing into tranquil ponds edged by lovage and blackcurrants. Bracing winds drive their bog myrtle and Douglas firs to root deep into the earth, while wild horses, cows, pigs and stags churn the ground, helping their juniper trees to take hold. As their distillery is on their estate, the botanicals they harvest are fresh and picked at their prime, ensuring that the flavours and aromas of Hepple fill every bottle they produce.
R Green & Son
R. Green & Son is a long established family butcher based in Longframlington, just outside of Morpeth. Loved by locals for their quality Northumberland meat, including beef, pork and lamb, they have been serving the community for over a century and yet always keep things fresh and innovative, varying up their flavours and offerings weekly.
There are many more businesses who have qualified for Taste of Northumberland so take a look at our website and map for more information and keep an eye out for the Taste of Northumberland logo while you are out and about in our beautiful county.
Author: Jenni Meikle
