Places to eat around Alston, Nenthead and Garrigill

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Places to Eat

Good Food is very subjective. For some people it is the size of the portions, for some the cheap price, for some it is the ambiance of the surroundings, and for others it is the quality of the cuisine.

There are plenty of places to eat - we still have not tried them all - but these are some of our favourite places:-

Restaurant Meals / Extra Special Meals (birthdays, anniversaries, etc)

Langley Castle is expensive (~£40/person for four courses & drinks) and is about half an hour by car (near Haydon Bridge) BUT it is well worthwhile and it is our automatic choice for our birthdays and anniversaries. The setting, in a castle, is superb, the ambiance in the lounge and restaurant is welcoming and relaxing, the service is friendly & efficient, and the food is EXCELLENT.

The Overwater Lodge Restaurant in Nenthead is only a couple of minutes by car, or about a 20 minute walk. The food is very good and is good value (3 courses and drinks about £30). If you have children, don't take them there unless they know how to behave in a restaurant, and have a sophisticated palate - there are no burgers, chicken nuggets or chips.

The Pavilion, at Consett, is probably the best chinese restaurant in the North East and is our favourite. It is about an hour by car from here so we tend to go there only when we are in the area anyway. It is not far from Beamish Museum or Durham Cathedral. Our favourite dish is Turbot with Ginger and Spring Onion. It is at Iveston on the road between Consett and Durham - ask us for directions or set your SatNav to DH8 7TE

Good Meals / Bar Meals

For many people, it is important whether the pub is 'dog friendly' (see dogfriendlypubs ) We know the Miners Arms in Nenthead and The Cumberland in Alston are dog friendly. We will check up on the other local pubs to add to the list.

The Miners Arms in Nenthead is only a couple of minutes by car, or about a 20 minute walk. It serves excellent bar meals and the Black Sheep beer is good ( Click for the story about Paul Theakston, the 'Black Sheep' of the Theakston brewing family who started his own brewery after the rest of the family sold Theakstons to Scottish & Newcastle). They have a pleasant conservatory/restaurant - better for children than a bar. It is nearby, good food and a good price. They are also 'dog friendly'

Alston House, opposite Hendersons Garage in Alston has a nice bistro style restaurant.

Alston Pubs - there are plenty of pubs in Alston serving food

Carts Bog Inn, on the road from Alston to Haydon Bridge, is very popular. The bar meals are good and the portions are quite large. The name is believed to be because carts used to get stuck in the boggy ground

George & Dragon, in Garrigill, has changed hands and we have not been yet. Very convenient if you are doing the walk to Ashgill Force or go for a swim at St Johns Pool.

Lunches / Snacks / Cafe Meals

The Village Bakery at Melmerby (about half an hour by car on the road to Penrith) is THE place to stop. It is organic, cooked in sustainable wood fired ovens. (They have gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, etc). It is expensive (motoway service station prices) but good value (not a rip-off like service stations!). It is a bakery and a cafe.

Out & About

These are places that we stop at when we are out somewhere.

If you go over to the Lakes, it is difficult to find somewhere to park and a good place to eat that is not a rip-off.
In Keswick we like the cafe at Booths supermarket. They have a car park and the food is very good.
In Buttermere, Syke Farm makes its own ice cream and has a tea shop. We always have an ice cream! even though the scones look lovely. Set your SatNav to CA13 9XA

Driving Home

These are place about an hour from here that we stop at:

If you are heading South down the M6, the Westmorland Services at Tebay are good but we always go on a few miles to the services at Killington Lake where there is a Costas Coffee Lounge with a lovely view of the lake. It is quiet & peaceful there as most people have already stopped at Westmorland Services.

If you are going South down the A1, we suggest you take the B6277 past High Force, right turn in Middleton, skirt Barnard Castle to the A66. Just before Scotch Corner there is a lay-by on the right with a kiosk, picnic area and loos. The large bacon rolls are not to be missed!

If you are going North to Scotland, follow the road to Brampton to get to the A69 and head towards Carlisle. At the roundabout take the second turning to Scotland and Carlisle North. Just before the motorway there is the large Houghton Hall Garden Centre with a nice Cafe, or you can go over the motorway roundabout, then turn right to get to ASDA to fill up with cheap petrol and go top their fairly good cafe

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