Heart of Northumberland — Restaurant in England

I used to come here almost every Sunday for lunch and always really enjoyed it. After a long break, I decided to give it another try last weekend — and honestly, I left pretty shocked.

The roast was nothing like it used to be. For over £17, I got just two thin slices of meat, and the vegetables looked and tasted like they’d been boiled, not roasted. The red cabbage, which used to be one of the highlights, was especially bland. I even asked if it was really the large portion — I just couldn’t believe it. I was told the kitchen staff is new… which, sadly, explains a lot.

The onion soup starter was also disappointing. It had a slimy texture and didn’t resemble proper onion soup in taste or appearance. The bread served with it looked like it could’ve been good quality — if only it hadn’t been completely burned. It was either rock solid or close to charcoal.

The whole meal felt like it was thrown together by someone focused on cutting corners, not by a chef who actually cares about what’s being served.

Service wasn’t much better. We waited over 25 minutes just to get our starter, and then another 15 minutes before anyone came to clear the plates. Nobody seemed particularly attentive or in a rush to help.

Even the atmosphere felt different. It used to be a warm, relaxing, and welcoming spot. Now it just feels flat and tired.

What really says it all? I managed to get a table without a booking — something that used to be impossible on a Sunday afternoon. Now I know why.

I used to love this place. It’s genuinely sad to see how far...

I came for dinner on a quiet midweek night and was really looking forward to trying The Heart of Northumberland. The pub itself has a lovely, traditional feel—cosy lighting, relaxed atmosphere, and friendly staff.

I ordered the seared beef medallions, which were beautifully cooked - tender, full of flavour, and nicely presented. The portion was generous and the accompanying sides were well done too.

The food was definitely the highlight of the evening. Unfortunately, the overall experience was let down by the lack of cleanliness. Despite it being a quiet night, the floor around my table was messy with crumbs and food debris. However, the table have been wiped properly before I was seated. I also had to visit the toilets,they were quite alright.

This visit honestly made me question how the pub has passed its hygiene inspection, because it didn’t feel up to standard.

It's a shame, as the kitchen clearly has talent and the staff were welcoming. With better attention to cleanliness and upkeep, this could be a fantastic spot. I might return, but only if I hear they’ve improved the hygiene side of things.

I always try to find more positive moments but remain objective. Hopefully I'll find the Heart of Northumberland in much better...

A truly disappointing experience I'm afraid to say! We looked at the menu the day before and decided this establishment was well worth a visit and the reviews were more than favourable, we booked a table for 13:00 and were really looking forward to taking my Mum out for a nice lunch. On arrival our table was reserved albeit with the wrong arrival time on, we ordered drinks at the bar and after perusing the delicious looking menu we ordered at 13:00 precisely. Then came the wait, the front dining area wasn't busy with only 3 others tables of two being occupied by diners who were tucking into what looked and smelt like delicious food, so we waited some more in anticipation of great things to come, and we waited some more. It was after 40 minutes and seeing other customers who had arrived clearly 20 minutes after us being served the same food as we ordered that we just had to call it a day and leave, we felt totally forgotten about and let down, also still very...