The Rat Inn in Northumberland

Booked Sunday lunch a couple of weeks ago and I can’t stop thinking about this roast! One of the best Sunday roast I had, chicken was seasoned perfectly as well as the veg, cosy setting, friendly staff and excellent portion size. 10/10

Nice lunch, pleasant surroundings

Sunday Lunch...Well recommended this place, but our meal was disappointing. Roast potatoes like bullets/ yesterday's bullets possibly. Gravy tasted bought in not make in the kitchen. £4 Supplement to have the beef... two thin slices of roast sirloin. Which was the best bit of the meal. But not worth the extra . Meat came piled high...on mash... felt cheated. £180 for four of us with one bottle of wine and soft drinks. Nice staff etc. but still...

Three couples booked for lunch and the welcome from the gentleman at the bar was unfriendly as if he had better things to do and our table was just pointed out to us. Unfortunately his front of house manor did not improve at all from taking our food order to our departure with no attempt to reply to our goodbyes and thanks. The remaining staff most helpful and pleasant. The menu small but varied which we like as the food is usually then cooked fresh. Starters and mains all very good, and those that were tempted said the strawberry and frangipane tart was delightful. An old pub with atmosphere and a beautiful garden to sit out in the sun.

The quality and taste of the food was incredible. The prawns were cooked well and fresh, but this meal wasn't very filling. The service was excellent, the staff were all very friendly and accommodating.

We had high expectations of The Rat Inn, given all the excellent reviews. Unfortunately they weren't quite met. It's in a lovely area and seems like a great pub to have a pint in and spend a long evening chatting over a beer. Our lunch in the garden was pleasant but the food was disappointing. The starter was light and tasty, but a simple salad isn't hard to make. Our burgers were a big let down. Solid, uniform discs of tough, overcooked beef. The kind you get at a roadside burger van. No flavour, no juices, no seasoning. The chips were overcooked and dry. There were plenty of fancier options on the menu but if you can't get a burger right.....

Nice relaxing.. Would have been 5 star is it was real chips and not frozen.

Booked for first time without knowing what their menu was or their prices as nothing on their website. Menu changes daily apparently. Location lovely, staff very pleasant and welcoming. I was shocked to see the prices on their menu board but was committed to staying. My partner and I both ordered fillet steak, which came with chips, half a tomato and handful of watercress. Just short of £37. Sides of onion rings and garlic mushrooms £4.50 each. Onion rings were cut very thin and I couldn't taste onion. The mushrooms were swimming in oil. This oil despite trying to be careful transferred to the plate. The food was average. Two pints of lager at £6 each and a glass of coke. Bill came to just short of £100. Definitely not worth the money in my opinion. Mentioned to staff about the plate swimming in oil and I couldn't finish the chips as so oily. Staff said they would tell the chef but no other acknowledgement was made.

In short it's what a country pub should be. Nice setting with good, well cooked quality food. It's not the cheapest but, in this instance, you get what you pay for. We both had the beef and it was well cooked and tender along with fresh veg and nice gravy. Staff were attentive without being overbearing. Wil be back again for sure.

We turned up to the Rat without a booking, just about to start the Northumberland 250. The staff were really welcoming. They were clear that the the kitchen was short staffed at that lunch time, so we may have a wait, which we were happy with. Within 20 minutes someone came over and took our order, and our food arrived shortly after - I was really impressed how quickly this was and that we were remembered! The mackerel starter was outstanding and stood up to ones I've had in fine dining restaurants. The burger was classic, and well made - it was simple and excited perfectly. My partner had the truffle mac and cheese... obviously I tried some. I'm not a mac and cheese person, but that was amazing and I would eat it all. Local beers delicious too, and everything a fair price.

A bit pretentious and expensive for the area. We visited after a tour of the roman wall and found the staff cold and standoffish. Mostly full of wealthy and childless couples.

Old fashioned homely pub/restaurant in a very quiet part of the snail village.The staff were welcoming and professional The meals of 3 rib eye steaks and grilled cod with warm tartar sauce was perfect as was the sticky toffee puds,A meal to impress.the girl friends A reasonable menu choice available. Lighter meals lighter on the pocket are also available will be visiting again

Lovely place and the views are incredible. Sunday roast was ok, very hard roast potatoes and the other vegetables were undercooked. Beef was lovely but £4 supplement always annoys me when you’re already paying a lot. Good Yorkshire pud but tasteless gravy and just overall ok. If it wasn’t for the beef this would be a poor review and not average. Service was fine but we did sit with empty plates for a while, and I would have had another glass of wine if they’d have been quicker. Worth a trip for the beer garden alone.

We have been meaning to try The Rat Inn for a while, after hearing of its excellent reputation and finally had a chance to use a Christmas voucher for a visit. It didn’t disappoint. A breathtakingly beautiful location for a really quaint and pretty pub. Service was excellent - unfussy, friendly and unpretentious. You felt it was special and there was enough attention on you, whilst retaining a chilled out pub vibe. Really was just right. The food was fantastic and honestly faultless. Hearty, beautifully cooked ‘pub grub’ but with an interesting twist. Breaded pork belly starter was perfection. Special shout out to the Peach and Cardamom cake. Just go. It’s amazing. We will certainly be returning.

Not much choice and a bit pricey

Our meal was absolutely delicious, potato and lovage soup to start, incredibly tasty. Main course, cauliflower with parmesan, mushrooms and spinach was outstanding, every morsel was extremely tasty the most wonderful umani. Service was superb. We sat outside as it was a beautiful day, the garden was so tranquil and a delight to be in. Loved it. Oh yes and fab new potatoes on the side. Thank you.

Exceptional pub. Great food, cosy, with a wonderful view. Phenomenal ribs, chateaubriand and pork loin.

Going potty at the Rat! Great lunch. Good service.

Good food, friendly service, great view

What a fantastic warm welcome. Place was full, and even though busy our Host had us seated quickly and without fuss. No menu is handed to you, they bring the Huge Specials board to your table! And what choice! All sounding mouthwatering even before tasted. As it was lunch we opted for the Cold local beef Sandwich and Ground Steak cheeseburger. Both meals out of this world. Apparently their hand cut chips are a speciality and known throughout the area. We now know why. Our extremely knowledgeable barman, [we asked where the name "The Rat" originated from and didn't it put people off] was an added bonus, he made our visit ever more special with his open friendly and disarming manner. Worth a visit.

Just squeezed in without reserving, but I wouldn't count on it. Busy, rightly so. Good beer , lovely food, traditional style substantial lamb , roasts , veg etc. really nice puddings. Not cheap, but ok prices.

Really good restaurant with amazing food and great variety of choices. The staff is very professional and you have different table options (inside, conservatory or outside). The location has beautiful views. 100% recommended.

First visit in 30 years. The food was lovely, best chips ever. Although the menu choice was small, my friend and I went for red onion and goats cheese tart with new potatoes and salad, while the boys had the pork steak with vegetables. Very well presented and tasty. The bottle of Chardonnay wine was perfect for us, and the boys had 2 beers and a shandy, and we all had deserts. We find that most places now are coming in at around £50 per head for two courses with wine and beer including tip, which isn't at all bad. There was a nice atmosphere with a roaring fire, perfect for a chilly day. We would certainly go back if we were visiting Hexham. Enjoyed our visit.

First visit to this place. Just had a pint of Tim Taylor's Landlord here. My favourite beer that I have been drinking for 45+ years. It was vile. The guy who pulled it had no idea what he was doing - sprinkler loose - so flat. The beer itself was sour. Like drinking beer in London. I doubt it was actually Landlord, it tasted nothing like it. I wont be back.

Visited today Good Friday as reviews were favourable. Disappointed. We had a steak sandwich and burger. Neither came with a garnish ( wasn't stated but would take nothing to add). It was average food to say the least. What annoys me most is the wine list stated two prices for glasses of wine. Although you couldn't see the sizes on menu because of a bulldog clip I opted for the largest merlot at £6.85 . Was charged £9.50!. When I queried this I was told that's the price of a 250ml even though it's not shown. Blatantly misleading! Will never return.

Awful food, awful customer service We booked the rat inn because it is supposed to be known for its top quality steak. Looking at the website it said there is no children’s menu but children can have anything as a smaller portion, no problem I thought. When we got there (with my husband and 2 girls) one of my girls wanted a burger and the other a steak so the waitress explained that as the girls weren’t sharing a meal then they couldn’t do them at a smaller portion so it would be a full adult meal. Not ideal for my kids (5 and 7 years old) but I accepted this as we were on holiday so was happy to pay extra for what I presumed would be top quality food. So 3 fillet steaks turned up (myself and my hubby had one too), we’d asked for them all to be cooked medium rare. All of them were medium at best, well done at the edges, not a pink bit in sight! We brought this to the attention of the waiter who I expected to apologise and offer to cook some more. But all he did was come up with a list of excuses - it’s probably the lighting in here (that was my favourite!!), the chef is very particular about how he cooks his steak and he does use a temperature gauge… When we then asked for it to be re-done they said it was likely to be the same and were very awkward about doing that for us. Such awful customer service!! In the end we compromised and just sent one back and asked for just one new one cooking, hoping we could share the medium/well done ones between us and then have a nice bit of medium rare steak when it was cooked better. 20 mins passed… an even worse bit of steak was brought out!! Even my 7 year old asked where her pink bits were. Just terrible. And I add that the cost of these steaks were £37! So an extortionate price for the poorest steak I’ve ever eaten and the worse part of it all was the awful customer service. I must add the latter doesn’t include the lovely waitress who was very polite and attentive and even followed me out to the car as my girls had left some crayons on the table, very kind of her. So think twice before going to this place if you want top quality food, it’s far far from what it’s supposed to be. Very disappointing.

Great selection of food dishes, great service by the staff, great selection of drinks and great atmosphere too.

Absolutely beautiful meal. Best steak I have ever had. Lovely staff who were very accommodating. Lovely atmosphere, will definitely be back!

So much better than when malcolm redman had the place

The service and food was excellent. Very friendly staff. Will definitely go again.

Lovely pub with a spectacular view, very chill and dog friendly

My time dining at The Rat Inn was definitely a memorable experience. The atmosphere is lively and each plate is a masterpiece but it's the kitchen that holds the real intrigue. Every so often, I would hear occasional clatters from the kitchen, followed by hushed but frantic activity. It's almost as if someone, or something, is orchestrating the culinary show from behind the scenes, possibly with more than just human hands.. The chef, A figure of endless speculation, added to the evening's enigma. His behavior was nothing short of peculiar – often seen conversing with his hat as though it housed a miniature advisor. This quirky habit, coupled with his slightly erratic movements, left me pondering the possibility of a hidden presence guiding his hands. Sometimes the greatest talents come in the smallest, most unexpected packages. .

Second visit here with family. A wee gem of a place. From the outside it's a village pub, but it's a bit more than that when you're through the door. A warm welcome awaits in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Good choice of lovely food, very good service from helpful and cheerful staff. Well worth a look in if you're around Hexham, but it's a popular place so it might be an idea to book beforehand, you can do it online - we'll definitely be back

When with a party of 6 people, food was excellent. The price below includes wine

A great place with great food and lovely staff. It’s a proper old pub, not a modern, converted building, and is all the better for it. I don’t eat meat, but if you do, your eyes will light up when you see what the Rat Inn can offer.

Good food and selections of drinks - dog friendly area in the bar

A lovely old pub worth visiting. Great ales. We had a light lunch but a bit disappointing. The crispy bacon baquette was well charred. Lovely staff and dog friendly. Lovely views and walks nearby

Food was not as great as I thought it would be checking people's reviews before we went in.Very average for the price with not much flavour.Would not be stopping there again.

Hadn't been here for ages and we came on the wettest Sunday! SUCH a warm welcome, fire burning, we sat in the cosy conservatory, food was as excellent as it always has been. Fantastic service too. Love the Rat and wish I lived closer!

Excellent food and service. Book early and be prepared to pay as it isn't cheap.

Only stopped for a drink but very impressed 😁👍

Food was excellent atmosphere was lively we did go late in the day so was quite. Really like the waitress she was very helpful in giving us great places to visit as this being our first time up North

Food always excellent - live locally & visit regularly.

Last minute (very) large group booking - the staff were wonderfully accommodating and thoughtful! Excellent service and food!

Really welcoming. Polite friendly and helpful staff. Nothing was too much bother for them. Excellent service and food.

What a lovely relaxing atmosphere and excellent food.

Hiding away, just off the beaten track, The Rat is a delight to find with its traditional good looks and large garden. With real ale on tap and an entertaining menu, coupled with great service, what's not to like?

Very overpriced and disappointing service. We were told to arrive 15 minutes early and then were kept waiting 30 minutes past the booking time for our table. We had wanted the roast chicken but after waiting past the time of our reservation were told it has just run out. We therefore had to order an alternative and more expensive option. Not being a fan of roast pork or lamb that left the beef at £11 more for my partner and I. There was no apology for the wait and we were finally seated 30 minutes late and the food arrived after another 20 minutes, again with no apology for the delay. No one checked how our meal was and if we were enjoying it. My beef was very fatty, there was a small portion of 3 thin slices and cumulatively an entire slice was inedible. My partner's was also very fatty and the lamb ordered by his Mum and Aunt was very tough and quite inedible. We reported the problems and the response was very dismissive. We were told very insincerely I'm sorry you didnt enjoy your meal. Additionally, I was informed that my meat was fatty because it was sirloin that's how it is, several times. That's news to me as I've had sirloin roast beef many times in my 42 years of life and not been served fatty cuts like that. We'd really been looking forward to the family meal and it was an expensive disappointment. Not only was the food and service bad but the ladies toilets had water leaking through a light in the ceiling, which did not appear particularly safe and added to the unpleasant atmosphere. Finally, a point that won't affect people without small children, but we had booked a high chair as we had our 8 month old baby with us. We would have appreciated a heads up that there's no baby change facilities. Going out to the car to change the baby is not ideal, especially in torrential rain, and I had to get on the floor by the table to change her. There's clearly a lack of care or attention to detail. Another table had lovely beef, so obviously they got a nice cut of the meat. I'm genuinely surprised that this place is in the Michelin guide or top 50 Gastropubs. I've had better food, service and value in many other establishments.

Great Sunday roast and delicious desserts.

Hidden away in the countryside north of Hexham . Took some finding. Reserved a table in advance. Not the usual pub grub. Limited dishes such as the house burger/ fries, steaks, pork steaks, sea bass. Expensive with £30-34 for a steak, £26 for a pork steak or sea bass. Burger was £16 and sadly very disappointing. Can get a much better offering in a whole host of venues. Other menu included pork and black pudding terrine, curried cauliflower soup etc. Sadly, my first and only visit.

An excellent stop for great food, service, ambience and vistas

Really nice elevated pub food in a cosy and welcoming environment. Really good attentive and friendly service. Dog friendly in certain areas - ask in advance!

Dependable favourites made well

Fantastic country pub tucked away up the slopes of the Tyne Valley. Excellent food options with high quality, locally sourced ingredients and freshly prepared dishes. Great selection of drinks from the bar or wine list. Friendly but relaxed service in an busy but comfortable setting. Fine views across the hills and River Tyne from the beer garden and front windows. NB: Some seating is in the bar area which has plenty of hustle and bustle going on during busy evenings - not a problem but not as intimate as some tables. Well worth the trip out to Anick (not Alnwick!).

Excellent cheeseburger for lunch. Lovely pint of Timmy Taylor Landlord too. First time back here for 10 years at least but we'll be back again soon.

Five stars every time. We come here for a treat rather than regularly but it never disappoints.

Impromptu lunch, great meal although it was a bleak day and the inn lacked warmth

The Rat has changed since I was there many years ago . Beautifull garden to sit . Dogs allowed but on a lead Food very expensive But scenery breath taking Staff think they are a cut above and didn't feel welcome

We arrived on a busy Saturday evening and had a warm friendly welcome. It was a cool, windy summer's evening but inside was cosy and comfortable. We had the burgers, vegetarian and meat and they were delicious. Service was great too. Would recommend.

We left without food nothing on menu that appealed and very over priced, frosty reception no atmosphere what so ever sitting right in front of chalk board with only menu on, apart from 1 clip board with nibbles on between us. Other customers standing next to our table trying to read board which was not the clearest. We were so looking forward to coming here after reviews and frankly it was a total let down.

Beautiful setting with fantastic views down the valley. Service was quick, enough time in between courses. We sat in the conservatory area, which was cosy. Delicious food, and a menu that changes as you order haha. I couldn't decide whether to have a starter and a main, or a main and a dessert, so asked for dessert menu first 😁. Too full for a pudding this time, but hope to be back again sometime. Highly recommended 👌

I heard good things about The Rat Inn and it certainly didn't disappoint. We were seared in the conservatory and it was lovely. Nice views down the valley. We had a starter and and main each. The food was lovely and the service was great. Wouldn't hesitate to call back again. Thank you

Good food and atmosphere, and excellent service. Friendly staff changed our table when we asked to be away from a high traffic area, and have been helpful throughout. The steak (rump ordered rare) was perfect, the chips were slightly soft, but acceptable. The duck confit was nice, the sauce a little too sweet for our taste, but others might like it that way The bloody Mary was slightly thinner than I like it, but full of flavour. Overall, it has been a good experience with very friendly staff, in a nice location.

Fabulous pub with great food! Worth finding and enjoying.

Wow! Been meaning to try here for a while and got the chance today. Very friendly staff, nothing was a bother. Well kept near harden with beuitiful plants and flowers. Food was absolutely amazing, yes some reviews moaning about the price, but in my opinion worth every penny. Highly recommend this place, a proper quiet, rural, country pub with everything you want. Will definitely be returning 😀

We very much looking forward to our visit to the Rat but were very disappointed with the food from a self proclaimed gastropub. The menu was fairly limited, not in itself an issue but as my wife observed afterwards it consisted mainly of items that were not difficult to prepare. She had Portobello mushroom burger and I had a steak burger. They could best be described as just conforming to the trades descriptions act . Basic bun, mushroom or mince as described, a little relish, slice of tomato, a little cheese and a leaf or two plus decent chips. No side salad, no homemade coleslaw or anything that might raise it above the ordinary. Priced at £14 and £16 I would have expected a little more - at least 20% overpriced. Starter was a single fillet of grilled mackerel with a non descript salad and unidentifiable gooseberry dressing - £11🤨. Pudding - yoghurt cake with non- existant elderflower syrup. Hope it was just that the usual chef was absent but we won't rush back...

Lovely pub in a great setting, good food and friendly staff

Really enjoyable meal in a smashing old pub.

Sunday lunch is not a good time to judge a gastro pub. With a vegetarian, and someone who doesnt like roasts. But this was overpriced and decidedly average. Very disappointed.

Lovely setting. Lovely food. Very friendly and expert service.

Great food, great beer and lovely staff. Fabulous views of the Tyne valley

Beautiful food in beautiful surroundings. Really busy, even mid-week, so recommend booking in advance if you can. Staff were attentive and patient. Although it's not cheap, the quality of the food was superb and worth the price for me.

Beautiful garden overlooking the valley, it’s a real sun trap! Unfortunately the table we were seated at had an unalterable parasol. The staff however were less then friendly and the food menu was also very small but boosted by an excellent sticky toffee to finish. Pleasant traditional pub with exceptional views but ultimately I think somewhere better for a drink than food

A super pub with even better food. A lovely welcome from very friendly staff. A great selection of drinks to suit any pallette including some local real ales. The food was excellent served in a wonderful atmosphere. Whatever you do, don't tell your friends about it or you'll never get a table! Highly recommended!

Stopped there on the way back from vindolanda for lunch really good food and friendly staff 😁

Lovely Sunday lunch for four of us. Superb food and relaxed atmosphere.

Excellent village pub, restaurant with excellent food and even better service. Sunday lunch was superb.

Excellent food and very friendly staff. It's best to book for eating. Great views if, it's a sit outside day.

We have been quite a few times and everytime the food and service is fantastic five stars all round

Had drinks and crisps in the pretty garden. Lovely place.

Lovely quaint pub, I had high expectations as this was recommended for Sunday lunch! However.........not great for the price!. OVER £22 for beef dinner the beef was nice after the fat was cut off which then didn't leave much beef. Yorkshire pudding looked nice but pretty tastless, the gravy was like brown water and the small portions of veg were nice, the roasties were anemic. I wanted to complain but my husband just wanted to get out, which is what we did. Paid the £50 odd bill and left never to return. Lots of other people there enjoying the food just not for us, we have had better dinners for half the price. Clearly a captive market in that area.

Great friendly staff and service. Was able to take dogs in. All the food was great. Cocktails and mocktails were very tasty.

Service good very friendly food very good would visit again.

Delicious food, wonderful friendly staff in a beautiful setting & great pub/restaurant.

Just popped in for a drink and they were very welcoming, despite being very busy. We will be back

We were disappointed with our visit here in November. It was the first place I'd been in ages when nothing seemed appealing off the menu and the choices seemed to be a bit dull. The service was okay but not particularly welcoming. We were seated and served it quite a stiff businesslike manner and I think this contributed to a lack of atmosphere. The food itself was fairly solid pub grub but nothing spectacular and didn't live up to past positive reviews. I was surprised at how workman like it was really. The portions were huge. A large wine was served to the brim of a small glass. I did use the booking feedback form after our visit to explain our disappointed but didn't ever get a response to that. Sadly this place was a miss for us and we wouldn't go back.

Went for lunch on Saturday, the pub was packed but we had reserved a table in advance. This is the first time we have visited despite hearing good things for years. We opted rather than starters as thought we may fill up for our main meal, the bread, olives and salami was all delicious. For our main course we shared a chateaubriand steak, this was cooked to perfection medium rare. It was melt in the mouth and I have to say one of the finest cooked pieces of meat we’ve ever eaten, this came with Chips and sauce which enhance the meal and again were cooked perfectly. No fault to find in anything.

Super food ,clean and tidy,staff were very helpful.First class everything !.

Excellent Sunday lunch in this very popular and busy pub. Glorious views across the Tyne Valley.

Great food will be going back again

Food, service, vibe, location- all perfect

Very nice food but it's on the expensive side

Perfect lunch and pint on a cold winter's day.

Cold pub, shabby decor. Food basic, underwhelming, overpriced and cold serving plates. And why are dogs allowed around guests while they are dining!

Slightly disappointing supper, having read such hugely positive reviews… I guess all reviews need to be taken with a pinch of salt, after all we all have different criteria of what is good.. I’d say given the price of the courses, they should be a little above the average pub food .. but in reality it’s average, or that was our experience the evening we visited. With a few simple tweaks we felt it could really be above average.. it takes caring day after day .. meal after meal .. not easy, but eating out is increasingly costing a lot & I believe it should include that care, & the feeling it was all the very best it could be.

Phenomenal pub with food that is just superb.

Brilliant friendly service, food exceptional, good day for all of the family, views from the restaurant absolutely beautiful. Thank you Mick

Great food great atmosphere and reasonably priced......

Excellent lunch, good service, great views down the valley

We gathered for lunch. Order was taken in a perfectly appropriate timescale. Mains took over 30 minutes to be served. We had lots of catching up to do so the time passed quickly. We thought the food we chose was perfectly acceptable although for what it was the price was several pounds more than perhaps it should have been. The pasta dish had lots of pasta, lovely creamy sauce but could have done with more mushrooms and spinach. However we had a convivial lunch, friendly staff and a pleasing location. Lovely to have the fire lit.