The Bailiffgate Bistro - Northumberland

This charming little restaurant is connected to the Cookie Jar hotel and is a fantastic discovery. The food is delicious and beautifully presented. The staff are delightful, friendly, and courteous. I highly recommend dining here.

Located next to the entrance of Alnwick Castle, this restaurant is a true hidden gem. I cannot commend it enough. The decor is fabulous, the staff is friendly and very efficient, and the freshly prepared modern style food is really enjoyable. What more could you ask for? Additionally, there is a beautiful view of the garden.

We were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this hidden gem as the entrance is unassuming. Once inside, it is clear that the owners have put a lot of effort into updating and modernizing the property, as it looks fantastic. Despite our initial uncertainty about just having tea and cake, we were greeted warmly by the receptionist and led to the area where afternoon tea was being served. The dining room/tea salon is situated down a corridor at the back of the building, and is tastefully decorated in a Mediterranean blue theme. Although the room was bustling with guests enjoying full afternoon tea, we opted for just tea and cake. The room was bright and airy, with large windows offering a view of the gardens and Alnwick Castle in the distance. The walls were adorned with framed montages of cutlery, and shelves held various blue porcelain pieces. The selection of cakes was impressive, making it difficult to choose just one! The service was top-notch, with friendly and helpful staff. We inquired about dinner for that evening, but unfortunately they were fully booked. However, they kindly recommended Lilburns in Alnwick as another excellent dining option.