Posted:  Saturday 26 November 2011

The Autumn Pub Lunches of
North East Associates

- August - September - October -

August is wet, and today the 8th is no exception.  It is however warm rain so all is not bad.

We have gone west into the countryside to a village named Newton.  There are a lot of Newtons, this one is sited north of the Tyne just before Corbridge on the A69.
The pub, The Duke of Wellington has recently been refurbished to a gastro pub and hotel.  It is quite big and boasts the most tremendous views of the Tyne Valley from the picture windows of the bar.

This is a first visit for the P&G lunchers, based on two recommendations.  The recommendations were spot-on, the quality of the food is excellent.  Yes, the meals are pricey but the quality far outweighs the cost.

Prices of meals are £9.95 - £12.95 and cover shepherds/steak/chicken and ham pies, steaks, belly pork, fish & chips, duck and many more.  I had the shepherds pie and it was probably the best I have ever eaten.  Complemented by a pint of ale the bad weather was of no matter.

New venues seem to be a magnet for the lunchers as 34 people decided to participate and all had a good day.

September the first month of autumn and summer has arrived - what is going on?  The 15th is hot and sunny, a beautiful day to go for lunch in the countryside.

Our countryside today is Horton Village near Cramlington, Northumberland.  Doesn't it sound cool?  We are in the countryside but still only 2 - 3 miles from the sea just south of Blyth.  The Three Horse Shoes is a very old pub and boasts quality at affordable cost.

They are correct, a varied menu catered for all of our needs, at £7.15, fish & chips, steak pie, curried chicken, and belly pork worked great.  For some the highlight of the menu was faggots (meat balls?) which our Welsh contingent (who all seemed to have them) drooled over.  I had fish & chips which were well cooked with a generous portion.

Once again this was a new venue, by recommendation, and again well supported by 32 lunchers.

The middle of autumn is exceptionally warm some plants think it is spring, butterflies and moths are still flying.  The 10th is dull and damp but as we approach noon the sun comes out and it is like a summer day.

We are at the Poachers Cottage just outside Westerhope on the Stamfordham Road.  This is a repeat visit by popular demand, which is borne out by the 36 attendees.

The normal extensive menu is supplemented by a specials board which includes, game pie, lamb cutlets, poached salmon and liver & bacon with onions.  I had the game pie at £7.95 with a pint of Pedigree Bitter at £2.40 and both were superb.
As usual everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day.

This year the pub lunches are attracting more Associates than ever before with the average attendance reaching 30.

As ever we look forward to welcoming any new Associates.

Thank you for your continued support.

Keith Stokoe

(ph  06/11/2011)

« Back to News