A former coaching house in superbly historic surroundings, but there is nothing historic about their attitudes to looking after people in comfortable surroundings, in particular the quality of the meals.

Dinner is served in the dining room that overlooks the courtyard, with less formal meals served in the bar. Everything is prepared in the kitchen, from breads to puddings. The result is a menu of around 5 starters, 7 main courses and 5 desserts every night. A four course meal can be contained within £24.95.

Starters may include sliced smoked trout fillet and chilli crayfish tails, or smoked chicken and olive salad, followed by roast leg of Cheviot lamb with mint jus, or duck breast. Vegetarians fare well with aubergine and smoked Northumbrian cheese with beef tomato tower stack and salad. A good selection of homemade sweets and cheeses is always available.

A fine range of special dishes includes the pan haggerty, sliced onion and potato, topped with a rarebit of local cheese and fresh herbs, cooked in Newcastle Brown Ale, served with a house salad, and the famous Warkworth House game casserole, a real meal for a hungry man.