Rothbury's Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes
Your Guide to places to eat and drink in Rothbury. For such a small place there really is an excellent choice of cuisine and establishments. Below you will find highlights of some of our preferred places for each category. A full list, along with web links (where available) is provided towards the bottom of the page. If you eat at any of these places be sure to mention where you heard about them! Our featured places to eat are all marked on our interactive map of Rothbury or Buy a full guide of where to Eat and Drink in Northumberland.
Harley's Tea Room Bridge View House, 9 Bridge St, Rothbury, Northumberland - 01669 620240Rington's Tea takes me straight back to my childhood. I remember the Rington's van visiting our village on a Tuesday, the man dressed in his little suit delivering what looked like at the time shiny, perfect little boxes of tea and 'treats'. That was the 80's and when I walked into Harley's Tea Room I was taken straight back to this lovely, comforting memory... a pot of Rington's tea. The choice of tea on offer at Harley's is quite exceptional and lives up to the mantle of 'Tea Room' which so many places who proclaim that in their title can't seem to manage these days. Loose leaf tea, organic tea, green teas, drinking herbs, fruit and herb teas and that's just the tea menu!
No self respecting Tea Room would be without food and Harley's doesn't disappoint here either, from light lunches to a more hearty main course, desserts and chocolates you are spoilt for choice. We sampled a freshly baked fruit scone and a couple of pieces of cake to go with our tea and coffee and were very pleased with both the quality, portion size and taste. The Tea Room itself is modern with a warm, traditional and friendly feeling that can only come from a family run business. Another nice touch is a range of gifts, jewellery and home accessories to browse while you're waiting for food or enjoying a cup of tea. Visit their website for more information.
Tomlinson's Cafe and Bunkhouse Bridge St, Rothbury, Northumberland - 01669 621979
Tomlinson's is a unique and different business that has won the 2011 uStartup award which celebrates the achievements of new local enterprises in their first year of business. So who are they? Located in a beautiful former schoolhouse just a few yards from the River Coquet Tomlinson's describe themselves as 'A one stop shop for low cost, bunkhouse accommodation, a wholesome meal and activity base'. It does exactly what it says on the tin and from our recent experience they do it extremely well. The Cafe serves simple hearty breakfasts, lunches and light evening meals and they offer a wifi connection which is a bonus that is often overlooked in country cafes. The interior is comfortable, modern and bright with large windows and pleasant art work on the walls, the warm welcome even extends to your dog! They now have extended opening hours into the evenings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with regular live music nights. Visit their website for more information.
Holystone Lodge Low Farnham, Northumberland, NE65 7AQ - 01669 640140
A revelation in the Coquet Valley! Perhaps the most formal of all dining experiences in the Rothbury area, if you'd like somewhere a little special without breaking the bank then this is the place to go. Located in Low Farnham, about a ten minute drive up the Valley from Rothbury, the Holystone Lodge is in a breathtaking location with great views. A converted Farmhouse, the restaurant is light, airy and modern with a large a la carte menu and many Greek specialities from chef Socrates. Visit their website for more information.
The Congregational Art Gallery and Café Upper High Street, Rothbury, Northumberland, NE65 7TL - 01669 621900 Open from March until December in the beautiful Village of Rothbury, the Congregational Art Gallery bills itself as 'Contemporary British Art with a Northern Edge'. You'll find the gallery at the far West of the Village, set back off the main road that leads through to Thropton, just passed the majority of the shops on the high street. Rothbury has more than its fair share of churches and from the outside you would think that this was another place of worship.... but oh no! The Gallery itself is excellent, but we’re here to talk about food! The café has a good range of home-made cakes, scones, soups and light snacks with a larger range to choose from in the busier months. With comfy sofas, a friendly welcome and a roaring fire in Winter you really can’t go wrong with a trip to the Congregational! Visit their Website.
The Anglers Arms Weldon Bridge, Longframlington, Northumberland - 01665 570271
The Anglers at Weldon Bridge is a short drive from Rothbury and has been a perennial favourite of ours for many years. Set in an attractive Hamlet location near the River Coquet the Anglers is a lovely country style pub that has a genuine Pullman Railway Carriage as a restaurant. It's the quality of the food in the Bar area that keeps us coming back, with special offers on weeknights (except Friday) if you order before 6pm. Highlights include their 'Petite Grill' which is anything but petite and their classic home made fish and chips. It's just great pub food done exceptionally well in a pleasant setting. The a la carte restaurant in the train carriage is popular with locals and offers a different (and more expensive) menu to the Bar. There is also plenty of outdoor space with a children's play area should the weather be amenable. Visit their website for more information.
Village Tandoori Restaurant Railway Hotel, Bridge St, Rothbury, Northumberland - 01669 620221
Perhaps surprisingly for a rural location there is a very good Indian Restaurant in the heart of Rothbury. Located in the Railway Hotel on Bridge Street, just by the River Coquet is the Village Tandoori Restaurant. It's great that there is such a variety of cuisine in Rothbury and the Village Tandoori certainly adds to the choice on offer. They offer a simple, yet varied menu of great tasting dishes that include all your classic Indian favourites from Tandoori to Tikka Massala and Jalfrezi. The restaurant also offers a takeaway service and invite you to have a drink at the bar while you wait for your order, and why not! Visit their website for a full menu and more information.
