Blackfriars Restaurant

Today Blackfriars Restaurant is one of Newcastle's most recognised restaurants, with inclusions in the Good Food and Michelin Guides and an AA rosette; it was also the Metro Newspaper's 'Restaurant of the Year', and was awarded the 'Best Roast Dinner in the UK' by Kevin Spacey.

Dating back to 1239, Blackfriars, with its horseshoe of buildings sheltering a medieval al fresco courtyard, is the oldest purpose-built restaurant in the UK and the main restaurant holds up to 80 covers, whilst the Medieval Guest Hall takes a further 60. The classic, gutsy traditional British food uses really fresh local and seasonal produce, often direct from the farm.

Typical dishes include North Atlantic seafood samplers, wood pigeon 'prosciutto', poached pears and watercress, rare breed sirloin steak, balsamic roast tomatoes and rustic chips, or wild rabbit stew with prunes, toasted almonds and Jerusalem artichoke puree. For that something rather different take a swipe at the wild mushroom, chestnut, Evensong ale and Stilton pie, or grilled scallops, roast pumpkin, French beans and beetroot coulis. To round off there is Julius pear tart tatin with vanilla ice cream, and local cheeses with oaten crackers, grapes and apple chutney.

Whilst magnificent sea views, quality cuisine and good design features play a significant part in the success of a restaurant such as Blackfriars, this is not to overlook the cellar and wine list, regarded as one of the best to be found in Newcastle. Excellent French house wine from Georges duBeouf starts at £13.50 or £3.40 a glass. South African wine is increasingly to be found on thoughtful wine lists, and a 2004 Chenin Blanc, Paarl offers crisp, fresh easy drinking at an affordable £13.50 a bottle. From Argentina a soft, full-bodied Sauvignon Blanc is an opportunity to sample wine from 40 year old vines, organic in all but name. Further down the list keep an eye lifted for the 2002 Puligny Montrachet, a fine white Burgundy at just under £50.

Wines from Chile, red in particular are attracting plenty of attention, and the Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot from Terre Andina is a rich, robust all-purpose wine that is so versatile it will happily partner a wide variety of dishes at a very reasonable £14 a bottle or £3.90 a glass.

Those who are relishing an encounter with the cheese board will have their spirits further lifted by the Ferreira Late Bottled Vintage 1998 Port, by the glass or bottle. Some discreet single malts lurk amongst the liqueurs, together with what many would regard as Italy's finest grappa, Po di Poli, made by the Maestro Grappaiolo himself.

Blackfriars hosts regular gastronomic events such as their popular Medieval Banquets where roast suckling pigge and venison kebabs are washed down with with fine wine or 9% Benedictine Ale, all served by monks and buxom wenches on a 30ft oak table in an ornate medieval banqueting hall lit by 300 church candles - an event not to be missed!

Click on their Website for further details of special events, meeting rooms for up to 60 delegates and menu changes.