The Railway Hotel, Rothbury, Northumberland

I've got several reasons to visit Rothbury: my Granny lives there, my dentist (who also sells fresh farm eggs) is there, and... ok so I've got two reasons to visit Rothbury.

Generally though, everyone should; it's a charming village in a valley a short drive across dramatic moors from Alnwick, and a walk along the Coquet River in spring is about as removed from fighting for space on the City pavements as you can get.

For as long as I can remember we've combined a trip to the dentist and Granny with lunch at the Newcastle House Hotel in the heart of the village; once very briefly famed outside the County for Gazza falling off the wagon there in spectacular fashion. To be honest though, and this may hurt my family, much as I always raved about the mince & dumplings, fish & chips, and other good honest pub grub on the menu, I always thought it was caff food. Good beer though (usually Old Speckled Hen).

Anyway, it seems the Newcastle has fallen rudely from grace - something to do with a change of management, a big bar brawl, and another change of management that I'm not quite following - so last Saturday we changed the habit of, quite literally my lifetime, and tried the Railway Hotel instead.

Mozz and I got there first (having excused ourselves from garden watching at Granny's to exlore the village) - in fact we were very almost the first in the pub altogether, but for one chap who looked welded to his bar stool and helpfully suggested the John Smiths when I was told the Deuchars, and all other ales, were off. Of course when the rellies arrived my Pa was having none of this and persuaded the landlord to put another barrel back on quick sharpish.

I fully expected, to my shame, that the food would be worse than at the Newcastle. And how wrong I was: it was all locally sourced, home made and jolly tasty. Between us we had steak & ale pies, Whitby scampi, seafood risotto and a salmon dish, and all got the thumbs up. And despite my full tummy I couldn't resist a sticky toffee pudding, protesting all the way that it was to share with Mozz (I think he got one mouthful) which was simply divine, possibly the best (of many) I've had.

I'd like to see the Railyway in full swing; it was too big and empty when we were there for an early lunch, and I gather management has recently changed so maybe they're still building up their fan base. If they're reading this (they won't be, but let me pretend) then this is me proudly stepping onto that base and looking forward to my next dentist appointment.

Comments

[anne douglas and lewis kirk]

thank you for your review
pop in for a pint next time you are in rothbury
from anne and lewis @ the railway hotel