The top ten pubs in Northumberland

It is important during any holiday to make sure that everyone gets a break from the cooking and the pubs in Northumberland can do just that. There is nothing like sitting down at a table in a cosy English pub and enjoying a good drink and meal. 

A local pub is a place for everyone to come together, locals mixing with visitors, where everyone can get merry. When the atmosphere is alive, a pub is one of the best places to be! Many of the local Northumberland pubs serve up seafood caught fresh from the sea, herbs and vegetables grown from their own kitchen gardens, and locally sourced meat too! Pick from our Northumberland cottages and try all the eateries in the area.

Read on to discover the top ten pubs in Northumberland that give you a much-needed break from the cooking...

The Olde Ship Inn, Seahouses

Set above the tiny and historic Seahouses harbour, The Olde Ship Inn welcomes you in to enjoy delicious grub and local beverages. If you are looking for a traditional English seaside pub, then this is the place to come. Here you can enjoy locally caught seafood, homemade soups that warm the heart and a variety of yummy daytime meals that will fill you up and keep you happy. The décor combines comfort with curios – you will love all the nautical artefacts and model fishing boats. Location: NE68 7RD

The Ship Inn, Low Newton-by-the-Sea

The Ship in is a welcoming local pub that puts customer comforts first, serving up lovely freshly cooked meals celebrating local ingredients and produce. Catering for everyone, they have great vegetarian options and the seafood on the menu is all freshly caught by the local fishermen. Between June and October, they serve lobster straight from Newton Bay! The pub has a great beer garden too, so on sunny days, you can sit out with views over the ocean. Make sure you try their very own ale, brewed on-site! Location: NE66 3EL

The Pheasant Inn, Hexham

Set in an original coaching inn, The Pheasant Inn is a lovely traditional pub that welcomes you in to enjoy a merry drink or a filling meal – or both! It has open fires which you can warm up beside after periods of outdoor adventure and the kitchen serves up delicious home-cooked food which comes in generous portions. The menu contains local produce from Northumberland, Newcastle and the North East, and many of the herbs and vegetables are homegrown! There is a lovely garden area which you can eat out in too. Read our guide on things to do and see in Hexham for more ideas on what to do around your meal! Location: NE48 1DD

The Hope & Anchor, Alnmouth

This is a classy venue serving everything from freshly caught seafood to wood-fired pizzas! Offering an extensive lunch and dinner menu, there are plenty of options for all tastes, at any time of day. Enjoy a soup and sandwich for a light bite, or if you have been out and about exploring, a big burger may be more what you need! The staff are really friendly and will make sure you have everything you need on your visit to this great pub. To find out more about the town, check out our guide to Alnmouth. Location: NE66 2RA

The Masons Arms, Warkworth

This is a warm and inviting pub, situated in the heart of Warkworth. With a menu packed full of delicious options, you could come here every night during your stay and still have things to try by the end of it! Their drinks menu offers a great selection of local beers, real ales, wines and spirits. The interior is lovely and cosy with exposed stone archways, leather furniture and characterful artwork hanging up. Have a drink with the locals, enjoy the chef's specials, and tuck into a meal in The Masons Arms. Check out our guide to Warkworth for ideas on what to plan around dinner! 

The Turks Head, Rothbury

Originally a coaching inn in the 16th century, the Turks Head today is a charming family-friendly pub in Rothbury. With the customer at the forefront, the menu, designed by the head chef, caters for all palettes and budgets. If you are into live music, the pub hosts an open mic night every Thursday and if you visit in July you can experience the traditional music festival which is hosted here each year. You will be able to enjoy live music from local artists which will make your visit truly memorable. Food, drink and live music – what could be better? Our guide on things to do in Rothbury is worth a read if you are planning to spend more time in the area. Location: NE65 7TE

The Tanners Arms, Alnwick

Alnwick is one of the most popular towns in Northumberland, this could be because of the famous Alnwick Castle, but we think it is because of the great array of foodie places! There are that many, and it was hard for us to narrow it down. The Tanner Arms is another pub in which you can enjoy live music and open mic nights, along with local craft beers and ale. Although you won’t find food here, the selection of drinks is great, and we hear a lot of good things about the service and atmosphere from visitors to the area. There is a wood burner in the centre of the pub, perfect for warming you up after cooler days of exploring. Pop here to sample local life in Alnwick and for some more inspiration read our guide to Alnwick. Location: NE66 1QF

The Jolly Fisherman, Craster

What would a coastal pub in Northumberland be without a name like this? The Jolly Fisherman is a characterful pub overlooking the sea in the village of Craster. Combine delicious home cooking with cracking views and you have yourself a lovely meal out! Notice all the features that keep this pub historic – the flagstone floors, the low beamed ceilings and the old chimney places. In the winter, you will be grateful for the roaring open fires that stay lit. Best known for their crab soup, the pub serves up the best of Northumberland’s freshly caught seafood and also serves steaks, burgers and duck too (amongst many more mouth-watering dishes!) Location: NE66 3TR

If you are looking to stay in the area read our guide to Craster for lots of ideas on what to see and do.

The Bamburgh Castle Inn, Seahouses

You can enjoy everything in The Bamburgh Castle Inn - from excellent local ales and wines, to warming hot drinks and cups of soup - all whilst relaxing and enjoying the sounds of other people having a nice time too. Ranging from light bites to filling main courses, the menu on offer is impressive. From cooked-to-order steak to freshly caught fish and shellfish, there will be something for you to try every night of the week! Although inside is absolutely charming, there is a lovely beer garden with sea views in which many like to sit and enjoy a pint in the sun. Location: NE68 7SQ

Named after Bamburgh Castle, this is a popular pub that is busy all year round. For more about Bamburgh, read our helpful guide. 

The Amble Inn, Amble

Come to the Amble Inn if you are looking for great food, cooked to order, all day long. And come here if you are looking for a friendly pub serving a wide array of beers, ales, wines and spirits. You will find everything you need in the Amble Inn. Living up to the Northumberland seaside restaurant reputation, all of their seafood is locally and freshly caught, with the specials board changing to accommodate the local catch of the day! We suggest you head here on a Sunday, as the carvery serves up delicious beef, pork and turkey alongside roast potatoes and scrumptious vegetables. Being a family-friendly pub, there is a great children’s menu too! Location: NE65 0FF 

For more ideas on what to do and see in the area of Amble, check out our comprehensive guide to Amble.

We hope you have enjoyed discovering these Northumberland pubs with us today, and that we have inspired you to come and try out some of the best pubs in the UK.  For more ideas, discover some of the best places to eat in Northumberland which features great restaurants, cafes and fish and chip shops too! Do you like the finer things when on holiday? Plan a treat with our guide to the best afternoon tea spots in Northumberland.

Taking the dog too? We have combined a list of pubs in which you can take your fluffy friend, meaning you don't have to worry about leaving them behind. View some of our favourites in our guide to the best dog-friendly pubs in Northumberland.

Stay in a Northumberland holiday cottage 

If you are looking for a new holiday destination, keep Northumberland in mind. Our self-catering cottages in Northumberland act as the perfect base for exploring the local towns and villages and our search tool on the website helps you search for those cottages that are within walking distance from a pub – that way you don’t need a designated driver!