Lord Crewe Arms - Northumberland

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I was hesitant to write this review because I want to keep this hidden gem all to myself. I am very familiar with the Tyne Valley and can confidently say that this restaurant is one of the best places to eat, along with the Beaumont Hotel in Hexham and a few others. They were recently featured in the Financial Times for being the cosiest place to eat, and they truly deserve it. From the warm greeting to the excellent table service, high-quality food, inviting atmosphere, and overall experience, everything was top-notch. I highly recommend this place to everyone. Kudos to the whole team for a job well done.

The welcome was good and the service was good as well. However, the menu that was given to us was different from the one we saw on their website. It seemed like they didn't want customers to compare them. The options were limited and prices were higher than expected. Starters were too expensive. The mains, such as the Haddock chips, were good but came with unusual sauces. Some dishes like the Chicken Schnitzel and Omelette only came with skinny chips, no vegetables. The desserts were disappointing, with small portions and lacking accompaniments like cream or ice cream. The service charge was automatically added to the bill. Overall, the atmosphere was nice and the food tasted okay, but it was not worth the high prices.

We came to the Lord Crewe Arms for a birthday treat a few nights away from the stresses of working life. We had dinner in the restaurant. The ambience and friendly service made for a relaxed meal. Our food was really, really good, particularly the beetroot starter, hogget rump main (just fantastic actually, tender and flavoursome) and duck egg custard dessert (bold flavours that fitted perfectly together and demanded big spoons full). We’re eating here again tomorrow night!

We opted to sit upstairs for a more peaceful atmosphere as one of our group members has difficulty hearing. It was a successful choice. The room was lovely and the service was excellent. The menu offered a good variety of options and the portion sizes were appropriate. We ordered 4 different main courses and starters among us and were not disappointed. The staff were attentive and competent. The only small complaint I have is that in my opinion, if a main course clearly requires a side of carbohydrates such as the lamb dish, it should not be an additional charge. The sardine starter was delicious but be mindful of the bones. It would be nice to see ice cream added to the dessert menu for those looking for a lighter option.

Our first visit, this establishment, was recommended by our friends and boy was it impressive. 3 couples for a 3 course Sunday lunch in such an amazing building dating back almost 1000 years. The sharing platters for starter, mains and desert was sensational.