Posted:  Saturday 27 November 2010

Three More Pub Lunches For
North East Associates

Hello again readers, we are still in the middle of summer so it's raining.

August 10th sees the group at the seaside, and even though it's pouring with rain there is an upside - it is warm rain. The inclement weather did not stop the gourmets enjoying a wonderful lunch at the famous fish restaurant The Waterford Arms, Seaton Sluice.

Seaton Sluice Harbour

This popular venue attracted 36 diners who were once again treated to scrumptious fish and chips.  I had a medium fish with chips and mushy peas for £8.95.  The fish was bigger than the plate but being a big lad I managed to complete the task (phew).

One small issue was the lack of beers, the pub only offered two types of beer, Stones and Guinness (four types of lager) which made it more like a restaurant than a pub.  They are planning to increase the types of beer and include cask ales, so here's to the future.

We are now in September, the 8th to be precise, some might say early autumn.
In our topsy-turvy land it is warm and sunny.

Higham Dykes in Northumberland is the land in question which is situated north of Ponteland on the road to Jedburgh.
The Waggon Inn has just changed hands and been refurbished.

It reopened six days before we arrived - guinea-pigs spring to mind!
I need not have worried as the owners and staff made us very welcome and had prepared a special seating area for us.

The menu was excellent and varied with a lot of exciting dishes.  I had a large chicken breast stuffed with black pudding and wrapped with smoked bacon.  It was delicious and very filling.
The menu was so appealing a lot of people had more than one course.  The most popular was a haggis, black pudding and crispy bacon salad starter.

In all 27 epicurists (I looked it up!) partook of the food and agreed it was one of the best places we have visited.
The Waggon Inn is now high on the list for a quick revisit.

We are fully into autumn, the leaves are yellow, brown or red, a wonderful sight in the countryside.

The Beehive Inn, Earsdon is the venue just inland from Seaton Sluice.  It is a cloudy day but warm and dry.  We start off poorly as the pub is closed and we hang around outside.  When they do decide to open (12.07) there are twenty people waiting including a party of four not with us.
We have the chef with one person waiting on and one bar person.  Queues are long and service is very slow.

The food is excellent as is the beer but the constant waiting time for desserts and coffee was too much.
In all 26 participated on the day without much complaint (to me).

The Beehive is fine for small parties but not a large group.

This is my last article before the festivities so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Good Cheer!

Keith Stokoe

(ph  31/10/2010)
pictures:  ph

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