I should give these little posts a special name. How about “Little Posts” ?
Next up is Hexham, which I probably said enough about last time I was up here. It hasn’t changed. Except for a new Guide entry and a Starbucks (or WiFi stop, as we call them down south).
Mrs RM stayed in Corbridge on her last ski trip down the A68, and certainly Hexham’s little neighbour has the edge on pubs, whatever the current Beer Guide says. From memory, Corbridge had six pubs in the ’94 GBG I bought, and we did all of them on a memorable night in Easter 1994.
Hexham has the Abbey and the posh shops, and the factories.
Some typical Northumbrian street art that Mrs RM would have enjoyed, if she hadn’t been eating Scandinavian pastries in the Starbucks.
Hexham isn’t really a town you associate with rebel art, it’s closer to Saffron Walden than Saltaire. There’s quite a few similarities with Saffron, with handsome streets, antiques,
and a lively Spoons.
I thought about using the Spoons vouchers burning a hole in my moth-eaten wallet, but remembered I was on strict timings, so headed into the Heart of Northumberland. It’s shown as the Heart of All England on Google, so clearly has had to change its name following a legal challenge from Fenny Drayton.
It certainly looks a handsome place, sign apart.
The crucial words here are “pub and kitchen” of course. A hex on you, all pubs with the word “kitchen” on your sign.
It’s a thin pub, where’d you’d bump into folk if everyone wasn’t seated for their Sunday ribeye. If you want to experience an Islington Sunday with nicer people, this is the place to come.
But wait ! Lovely staff (this is getting dull) keen to give me tasters of the beers, and who actually knew which was the nearest brewery (Allendale).
The Golden Plover was pleasant enough NBSS 3), glass notwithstanding, but no-one wants to stand up in a dining pub, do they.
I’d told Mrs RM I’d need 20 minutes to do the 0.8 miles both ways, forgetting that WhatPub measures as the crow flies. And that Hexham has hills.
retiredmartin 
“I have no idea about this one”
I think maybe with those wings, he’s supposed to be a Phoenix? 😉
“with the word “kitchen2 on your sign.”
At least put ‘kitchen’ in quotes… as you meant to do. 🙂
“I’d told Mrs RM I’d need 20 minutes to do the 0.8 miles both ways, forgetting that WhatPub measures as the crow flies. And that Hexham has hills.”
Yes but… not ‘busy’ at least. 😉
And as for the map; I’m biting my tongue not to comment on Cock Wood, Swallowship Hill and the various ‘Ho’s (e.g. Black, Ochrelands, Beaufront Red and Stagshaw). 😉
Cheers!
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Well done. I hoped someone would pick up on those place names !
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I also couldn’t help noticing on the map that Hexham has ‘The Hermitage’. I must visit my fellow hermit if I am ever up that way…
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Oh you must do that. Think there’s more than one of those in the UK though !
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How about this place in Essex that is considerably closer to home for Martin? 😛
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Fingringhoe has a great pub from memory.
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Life’s a puzzle.. the Beaumont in Hexham has more room to sit and just drink and has Golden Plover in fine form (and one other) but it’s not even in What Pub.
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Doesn’t it give CAMRA discounts ?
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Is it possible that some hotels slip through the net of What Pub even if they have bars open to the public?
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I think that’s the answer. You can’t expect volunteers to know everything, and I doubt hotels have close relationships with CAMRA.
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I know Tim likes to feature the history of some of his Spoon palaces, but he is still an unsung hero for repurposing some lovely old buildings isn’t he? (Provided he doesn’t close them down again). Hexham’s lovely old art deco style cinema is a perfect example of one that is often hard pushed to find another use in a smallish town.
Her Majesty should re-direct one of those ‘sport star’ knighthoods his way…(discuss)
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Of course Timbo should get a knighthood.
He’s a self-made man who employs 37,000 people,saves buildings from dereliction and does more for real ale than just about anyone else.
But he’s a very vocal Brexiteer and in today’s climate it’s a safer option to give a gong to a loser like Nick Clegg and other assorted Westminster parasites who’ve never held a proper job in their lives.
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Titles are irrelevant.Especially when you’re dead. Call everyone by their first name and scrap all titles.
But Timbo has done more for pub going, real ale and family dining than anyone, and will be missed when he’s gone. Same with Humphrey.
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Did the pub you went into give CAMRA discounts?
Personally I’d have gone for the Mordue brew, much better brewery IMO than Allendale and haven’t we all had enough of those samey, samey unchallenging Golden beers?
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I were being facetious, You’d be amazed how many GBG pubs give CAMRA discounts. Too close to paying for inclusion in a guide for me. I thing GBG pubs should offer excellent beer.
You’re right, and Mordue a favourite (partic Workie Ticket) but I like to try stuff.
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After the 10th golden one nobody says they aren’t challenging!
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Not just Kitchen in the name but Bar and Grill gets my goat cheese on focaccia..Nothing is ever grilled.It’s is always deep fried.
And don’t get me started on Eating House.
Mrs Professor Pie-Tin’s bête noire is pan-fried.
I can hear her now,in a loud voice aimed at the waitress, ” you’re hardly going to fry it in a kettle are you love. ”
Lord knows what she’ll be like next time she sees pan-fried on the menu if she’s still off the fags.
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Sounds a great woman
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Pan-fried is a legitimate term as it distinguishes it from deep-fried.
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I’m staying out of this. I know what you Stockport gourmands are like 😉
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That’s funny because my local Chinese,the Wan Hung Loe doesn’t have wok-fried Singapore noodles on the menu.
Pan-fried first appeared on menus of provincial restaurants at around the same time they started calling gravy jus.
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Do you typically walk 4.8 mph? Pretty good clip I think.
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Only downhill.
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So you were late…
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Yup
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Interesting history on the Hexham ‘Rant website about the Heart of All England. Used to do a decent pint of McEwan’s 80 bob back in the day but hit hard times after the beer orders. http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/hexham/Hexham-Putting-the-heart-back-pub-bcbd1c6e-755c-49bc-9503-bf80838ec6fd-ds
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Not serving pints to women ! Good job it wasn’t Mrs RM or she’d have been thrown in the Tyne.
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