Harden's survey result
Summary
“Delightful old inn” with a “blackboard menu of uncomplicated, unchallenging, proper food done well” (“good local produce; noted for steak”) and “a lovely garden with views over the Tyne Valley”. Chef Phil Mason and his wife Karen have been at the helm for almost two decades, impressing both Hexham locals and visitors including the likes of Michael Palin and Brenda Blethyn. Top Tip – “the bar area with open fire is lovely and cosy; the second dining room down a couple of steps perhaps less so, although it’s much brighter if you’re the sort of person who likes to photograph their lunch”.
Summary
Set on the village green in a charming hamlet a few miles from Hexham, a “lovely old inn” with a “warm fire in winter” and a conservatory offering sweeping views over the Tyne Valley. The blackboard-listed cuisine features some “very good local produce, e.g., game and fish” (plus “fantastic steaks”) making it “a favourite” in these parts; it’s been ably steered by chef Phil Mason and FOH wife Karen since 2007, and is the follow-up to their acclaimed former venture the Green Room, which occupied the old luggage office at Hexham railway station.
Summary
This “delightful old inn” with a conservatory is “good for lunch with a view” over the Tyne Valley; a “short blackboard announces half a dozen starters and mains” – “all tasty” and “not your normal pub grub” (no surprise given that chef Phil Mason and wife Karen, who took over the venue in 2007, used to run the Michelin-starred Green Room nearby).
Summary
This “picture-perfect pub overlooking the Tyne Valley”, an old drovers’ inn outside Hexham, specialises in “local beef – choose your size and enjoy it on a platter with cress and chips”. There’s also a dynamic blackboard menu of “amazing” daily specials that reflect the ‘fine dining’ background of chef Phil Mason, who won a Michelin star at the nearby Green Room before taking over the Rat with his partner Karen Errington 15 years ago. Children are well catered for, as well.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Rat Inn?
Anick, Hexham, NE46 4LN
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Anick, Hexham, NE46 4LN
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑8 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑8 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑8 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑8 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑3 pm |
Best British, Traditional restaurants nearby
British, Traditional restaurant in Hedley On The Hill
British, Traditional restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne
British, Traditional restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne
British, Traditional restaurant in Hurworth
Fish & seafood restaurant in Bamburgh
