Northumbrian hospitality at its best
St Mary’s Inn in Stannington, Northumberland, closed for a while to facilitate the progress of building nearby housing. It re-opened with a new chef in 2018 and has already built a reputation for providing tasty food and quality accommodation. My husband and I were delighted to revisit this Inn.
Although rurally located St Mary’s Inn is within easy driving distance of many Northumberland attractions (more on that later). This cosy inn welcomes all. It has a layout good for those like me with mobility issues and has an accessible room. It is child friendly with a children’s menu and plenty of high chairs. Dogs are welcome in the bar, there is a dog friendly bedroom.
St.Mary’s Inn is rather striking with its red bricks, tall windows, clock tower and impressive arched doorway. We parked in the private car park, the entrance took us directly into the bar (check in is in the bar). Friendly staff greeted us. Soon we were in the lift to our room which like all of the eleven rooms was on the first floor.
There are deluxe, standard, accessible and dog friendly rooms. Our room was a deluxe which I would recommend. I viewed other rooms, all were good quality, the accessible room being fully equipped for the disabled person and the dog friendly room had the benefit of a terrace. On this first floor a door leads to an outside courtyard (steps lead down to the courtyard) giving residents a private outdoor space to sit. Some rooms are accessed from the courtyard.
Our spacious room at the front of the Inn viewed woodland (rear bedrooms overlook housing). Soft carpeting, cream walls with bright tapestries created an uplifting atmosphere. Antique furniture provided really good storage – a large mirrored wardrobe with an additional long deep drawer. A mirrored dressing table, a large chest of drawers. A comfortable wrought iron bed, various chairs, table and TV along with a hair dryer, torch, teas, coffees, biscuits, bottled water completed the room. An independent radiator provided warmth. The free Wi-Fi worked well.
The spacious, spotlessly clean, gleaming white bathroom had quality fittings, shiny stainless-steel accessories, a large mirror, a magnified shaving mirror. An over bath shower provided lots of hot water. Complimentary toiletries were from The White Company, towels were plentiful, white and fluffy. Heating was underfloor and a heated towel rail.
The ground floor bar and restaurant area which is all one level has been tastefully sectioned off into smaller areas to provide easy access whilst maintaining privacy. A homely atmosphere is apparent in each area with log fires set in traditional fireplaces, eye catching beams, bright Northumbrian tapestries and local crafts displayed. Meals which range from snacks to several course meals are served in the bar and restaurant which are open to non-residents.
We ate dinner in the restaurant where the food and wine menu’s offer good choice.
My starter of trout and cod fishcake was incredible, super quality fish on a bed of the freshest salad in a mouth-watering dressing, a super treat for the taste buds! My main course was equally delicious – tender chicken breast with potato gnocchi, button mushrooms, braised baby onions, garlic, chives, accompanied by cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and peas. My dessert was a good choice, soft sticky toffee pudding enriched with a toffee sauce and a good scoop of vanilla ice cream.
After coffee, we ventured into the well-stocked bar and were able to experience St. Mary’s Ale brewed by the Northumbrian Rigg and Furrow Brewery.
Breakfast in the restaurant included a variety of refreshing fruit juices, a selection of home-made fresh fruit salads – which were fabulous, whole fresh fruit, home-made yogurt and muesli, boxed cereals. My husband enjoyed the entire Full English breakfast whilst I selected bacon which was thick and tasty, juicy tomatoes, large flavoursome mushrooms and eggs perfectly poached. Toast with jams and marmalades was brought to our table along with pots of breakfast tea.
We loved staying here, we always felt welcome, the accommodation was super, the general atmosphere relaxed and friendly. Meals were excellent – interesting menus, quality ingredients cooked and presented perfectly and served with a smile I would not hesitate in recommending St Mary’s Inn.
Nearby: The thriving market down of Morpeth with its beautiful park, riverside walks, good shops, medieval Chantry Building which houses the unique bagpipe museum. Northumberlandia – 19 acre park which includes a land sculpture of a reclining lady. Whitehouse Farm – great for children. Driving north brings the historical town of Alnwick, with its castle and Alnwick Garden. National Trust property Cragside. The beautiful Northumberland coast with its many castles is also easy to drive to.
St Mary’s Inn
St Mary’s Lane
St Mary’s Park
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 6BL
Website: www.stmarysinn.co.uk
Email: hello@stmarysinn.co.uk
