House Of Meg — Restaurant in England

53 miles cycling through the not so gently rolling scenery of Hadrians Wall country builds up a bit of an appetite so when it comes to the obligatory cafe stop you need a filling meal. The House of Meg certainly ticked the right box on that score. Feeling the need to fill up on carbs I opted for baked potato and chose a baked beans and cheese topping. I certainly wasn't disappointed with the quantity and quality. Thankfully it wasn't too filling so I still had enough of an appetite to enjoy a slice of scrumptious caramel shortbread. As it was such a lovely day we chose to sit outside but I did have a peak in the indoor eating area which looked clean and cosy. Of course the other important thing is the standard of service. The staff at House of Meg are friendly, efficient and accommodating, they also appreciated my compliment on the quality of that caramel shortbread. The only criticism I have is that, at 53 miles from home, I'll not be able to visit on a regular basis but somehow I think I'll make a return visit. I guess it's not too far from the A69 if I'm driving...

Meg's offers a great range of sandwiches plus hot and cold food. There are also cakes, teas, coffees etc, moreover Meg's has a few alcoholic drinks on offer even a glass of bubbly! There is plenty of seating inside and out. In good weather you can watch the world go by and on cooler days you can sit by a roaring fire indoors. There is some lovely history attached to the building of Mumps Ha' (Mumps Hall) through Sir Walter Scott’s novel of 'Guy Mannering'. Sir Walter Scott visited Gilsland several times. He was very fond of the village as it was there that he met his future wife, Charlotte Charpentier, in Gilsland. Meg's Cafe is named after Meg or Margaret Teasdale. She is a real person and her grave is to be found in the Over/Upper Denton Church cemetery a few miles away. Meg Teasdale featured in 'Guy Mannering' as the character of Tib Mumps. Meg was a fearsome landlady (allegedly) but you will not get that reception from Meg's Cafe: friendliness and...

Those of a literary bent will know that Meg Merillies was imprisoned, scourged, and banished, but always good in a pinch. And the same very much could be said of the cafe named after her, which may be the most reliable lunch to be found throughout the ancient Waste of Cumberland. The fare is standard: soups, sandwiches, scones, cakes, and hot beverages. But it is notably not just good of kind, but better. The soundest example of this was the bacon on my BLT baguette. When your good friend from Lincolnshire starts noting the bacon is unusually good, you know that your sense of taste and texture does not deceive you. After all, Lincolnshire is surely the pork product rival of Cumberland. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and camping hikers (or anyone else in need of necessities) will appreciate the basic...