The Feathers Inn

A centuries-old village pub atop a hill midway between Hadrian's Wall and the conurbations of Tyne & Wear, this ‘local hero’ continues to provide sustenance and a ‘consistently warm welcome’ for all-comers – with the added bonus of an in-house bakery (open Saturday mornings) and a summertime ‘pizza yard’ in front of the pub.  Inside, it looks the part with beams, log-burning stoves, well-kept Northumbrian ales and old-fashioned pub games, although the place has built its reputation on locally sourced seasonal food (check their 60-strong list of suppliers). The kitchen cures its own charcuterie, makes black pudding, and pickles North Sea herrings, as well as producing bespoke spirits. Fans rave about the venison Wellington and the hearty cassoulet, but you might also find anything from homemade beef and ale sausages with mash to cheffy ideas such as North Sea hake with white asparagus, spinach and brown crab sauce; other dishes come courtesy of the flaming outdoor fire pit, while Northumbrian cheeses and homespun desserts including burnt Northumbrian cream fit the bill nicely. To drink, vermouth-based cocktails keep company with keenly priced, well-chosen wines.