Join our Coffee Club
January 2012
On a chilly winter's day or night, nothing beats a hot cup of coffee and a natter with friends.
Why not join our coffee club and receive a free cup of delicious Rington's Coffee with every six cups you buy. Just pick up one of our Coffee Club cards when you call in.
New manager Ryan leads the way
January 2012
Congratulations to Ryan Thompson who has become the new general manager at our Inn.
Ryan, who has was previously deputy assistant manager, has been appointed general manager because of his hard work and committment to making the Bamburgh Castle Inn the place to eat, drink, stay and relax in Northumberland.
And Ryan, who takes over from Sean Donkin - now Lindisfarne Inns' area manager - is delighted about his new role.
"I am really pleased. This is an excellent opportunity for me and I am excited about the future. The Bamburgh Castle Inn has it all - a great location, a fantastic team and lots of really nice people - locals and visitors - in each day.
"We've got lots of exciting ideas for the future. Look out for our Kids Eat Free offer which will run from Monday to Thursday until March 31 and we're also rolling out our coffee club too. We've got some great menus and specials lined up for up and coming events like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day and we've even got our New Year's Eve band booked too!"
We cream top brewery award
December 2011
Sean Donkin (left) with Matt Simpson of Carlsberg
The Bamburgh Castle Inn has been presented with a gold award by major brewer, Carlsberg.
The Seahouses inn was presented with Carlsberg UK’s coveted Gold Award which reward licensees for high product standards.
Jeff Acton, Trade Quality Manager for Carlsberg who inspected the inn, said: “I was very impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm displayed by the team at The Bamburgh Castle Inn. Their product quality was first-rate and their cellar management and hygiene is exemplary and shows in a fine glass of beer.
“The Bamburgh Castle Inn is definitely somewhere I would be happy to enjoy a pint.”
Carlsberg’s customer marketing director David Scott said "The Carlsberg Gold Awards are all about product quality, cellar hygiene, dispense techniques, glassware and equipment cleanliness.
"These are all areas that help get our products to the consumer at the highest quality."
"We want these awards to be seen as a stamp of quality for all beer in our customers' outlets - we want to enable licensees that put the effort in to serve the perfect pint to shout about the quality of their establishment."
Sean Donkin, area manager for Lindisfarne Inns said: “We’re delighted to have earned this award. We really do make every effort to ensure our customer’s enjoy a first-class drink. It’s nice to be recognised for the hard work we put into maintaining our cellar and giving our customer’s an excellent product.”
The Carlsberg Gold award is the latest accolade for the award-winning inn, which this year scooped the top five-star ranking in the national food hygiene standards, Scores on the Doors.
The Inn is Cask Marque accredited and has joined CAMRA’s new accreditation scheme LocAle for pubs that sell locally- brewed real ale.
Big-hearted duo brave freeze for charity
December 2011
Wearing just trainers and lime green mankinis, brave staff from a Northumberland inn completed a six-mile run in freezing conditions to raise money for charity.
Amid cheers and whistles from a gathered crowd, Ryan Thompson, 24, and Jason Liddell, 19, of Seahouses’ Bamburgh Castle Inn weathered the elements clad in just their skimpy swimwear to raise over £1,000 for Parkinson’s.
And despite icy sleet, bitter winds and temperatures struggling to get above minus, Ryan and Jason completed their run from the inn to Bamburgh and back in just over an hour.
Assistant manager Ryan, from Whitley Bay said: “It seemed to fly by – I can’t believe we did it so quickly, I think the freezing cold made us run even quicker.
“To have raised this much money for Parkinson’s is fantastic and well worth the cold and discomfort. We’d greased up well to avoid being chafed and used body tape to make sure we didn’t scare anyone along the route with anything falling out which wasn’t supposed to.”
Bar tender Jason, of Seahouses, said: “The support we’ve had from people has been amazing – we’ve had so many messages on Facebook and loads of people have been coming into The Bamburgh Castle Inn to make donations and wish us well. People were lined up along our route to cheer us on - we were so buoyed up by it all we didn’t really feel the cold – well at least for a while!”
The pair were inspired to run for Parkinson’s after a friend became diagnosed as having the disease. They have spent the last few weeks training and have become a familiar sight around the village of Seahouses donned in their mankinis.
Ryan said: “It’s a very worthwhile cause and we wanted to do something completely different to capture people’s interest and encourage them to support us. We’d like to say a very big thank you to everyone who gave to our cause and who turned out to support us.”
After completing their epic run, the pair enjoyed a well-earned pint back in the warmth of The Bamburgh Castle Inn.
You can still support Jason and Ryan in their quest to raise funds for Parkinson’s by going to www.justgiving.com/Sami-Liddell or making a donation at The Bamburgh Castle Inn.
Inn duo set to bare (almost) all for charity
December 2011
As temperatures dip below zero, two of our brave staff are preparing to run for charity clad only in socks, trainers and lime-green mankinis.
Confessing to hating running and the cold, Ryan Thompson, 24, and Jason Liddell, 19, will pound six miles of wind-blasted beach during the run.
Wearing the revealing swimwear made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen’s character, Borat, the pair will run from the inn to Bamburgh and back again to raise money for Parkinson’s.
The pair, who describe themselves as ‘pretty mad’ decided to complete the run in mankinis to drum up extra sponsorship for the charity, after a friend was diagnosed as having the illness.
Ryan, from Whitley Bay, said: “We thought it would attract a lot of attention and it certainly is. We’re building lots of interest on Facebook and Twitter and the sponsorship money is pouring in – it’s amazing and worth a little discomfort.”
Ryan, an assistant manager at The Bamburgh Castle Inn said of running in the revealing swimsuit: “We’re a little worried about chafing but we’ll be armed with plenty of Vaseline. We’re also going to be using body tape to make sure we don’t show anything we shouldn’t. We’re more concerned about the cold as the temperatures have been in minus figures this week – we’ll just have to run even faster!”
Jason, of Seahouses, said: “I’m a bit nervous about it because it’s such a crazy thing to do. We decided to do something wacky to raise money for Parkinson’s because a friend of ours has been diagnosed with the disease. It’s a charity which is very close to our hearts.”
The pair will start their run at 10am on Monday December 19. The pair hope wellwishers will be there to cheer them on and join them at the bar on their return for a 'man-keenly' earned drink.
You can support Jason and Ryan in their quest to raise £1000 for Parkinson’s by going to www.justgiving.com/Sami-Liddell or making a donation at The Bamburgh Castle Inn.
Winter breaks back by popular demand
November 2011
Our winter breaks have made a welcome return.
Following great customer feedback and calls from our guests we’ve brought back our popular winter break offers.
Running from November through to March 31 guests can choose to stay with us for individual nights at a special rate of £39.50 per person, per night including dinner, bed and Northumberland breakfast or enjoy amazing value three-night winter break getaway breaks for just £99.50 per person including dinner, bed and Northumberland breakfast.
Our general manager Sean Donkin said: “Our winter breaks are extremely popular. Rates apply across Christmas and New Year too, so people should book as early as they can to avoid disappointment.
“We have a flat winter break rate which applies to sea view and non-sea view rooms, so again, we recommend booking soon to secure views across the harbour towards the Farne Islands which is a fantastic sight to wake up to.”
Winter breaks make excellent Christmas gifts too. We offer vouchers so why not give someone special a short break they will enjoy and always remember? Contact us on 01665 720 283 to arrange.
Why not share a winter break with our sister Inn, The Lindisfarne Inn near Holy Island? You’ll enjoy the same great winter break offers. Visit www.lindisfarneinn.co.uk for more details.
We're proud sponsors of Seahouses under 12s
Our goal is to be a big part of the local community and we're delighted to be sponsoring Seahouses Junior Football Club Under 12 team.
The team has some talented young players and we wish them and their coaches the best of luck for the coming season.
We'll be cheering you on!
Our guests get in for less at namesake – Bamburgh Castle
September 2011
From left, Mark Kennedy, general manager of our sister inn, The Lindisfarne Inn, Sean Donkin and Chris Calvert of Bamburgh Castle
Residents will be able to enjoy reduced entry into our namesake - the landmark attraction Bamburgh Castle.
We’ve teamed up with Bamburgh Castle – once home to the Kings of Northumbria - to join their voucher scheme. As a result, our guests will enjoy 10% off normal admission rates into what is one of the UK’s most iconic attractions, just five minutes’ drive from the Inn.
General manager Sean Donkin said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bamburgh Castle by joining their voucher scheme. We are extremely fortunate to have a world-class attraction like Bamburgh Castle almost on our doorstep. Now our guests can enjoy entry into it for less. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
Guests wanting to take advantage of the discount voucher scheme should ask a member of our team for details.
Find out more about Bamburgh Castle at www.bamburghcastle.com
New chef Marcus joins the Bamburgh Castle Inn
September 2011
Our new second chef, Marcus Van Luttmer
We’re delighted to welcome new chef Marcus Van Luttmer to our kitchen team as second chef.
Marcus, who headed up acclaimed fish restaurant Pescadou in Padstow, Cornwall, is looking forward to working with our head chef David Barella and his team of five kitchen staff and to getting his hands on the great range of produce and ingredients we have in Northumberland.
Marcus said: “Everyone is really nice and friendly here and David runs a great kitchen. I’m looking forward to working with the team here and to introducing some of my own recipes and experimenting with the local produce like venison, game and shellfish.
Marcus, who has been a chef for 16 years, started cooking when he was just nine years old. He specialises in fresh seafood cookery.
Bamburgh Castle Inn general manager Sean Donkin said: “We are delighted to welcome Marcus and his wife, Catherine to the area. Marcus has real flair and enthusiasm for food along with first-rate technical skills.”
Look out for Marcus’s recipes on our daily specials boards.
We win top marks in Scores on the Doors!
June 1 2011
We've been awarded the highest marks possible from Scores on the Doors - a national award scheme that lets customers check food hygiene standards of pubs, clubs, takeaways and restaurants online before they eat.
The website - www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk - pulls together local council ratings on how hygienic and well-managed a food business is as part of the Freedom of Information laws.
Our standards wowed Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner Graham Exeley who said: " I was very impressed with The Bamburgh Castle Inn staff's knowledge and committment to food safety and hygiene and their willingness to learn. The support their manager Sean Donkin gives them means they are able to bring in robust systems which has resulted in their five star status.
The Scores on the Door scheme looks at the whole organisation and how food is looked after from the farm to the fork. Where food has come from - how it is delivered, cooked and served all comes under scrutiny during inspections carried out by Northumberland County Council.
Our general manager Sean Donkin said: "As well as enjoying great tasting food, customers can rest assured that what they are eating has been produced in a carefully controlled quality and safety system. The food here tastes amazing but it has also been produced in an extremely safe and hygienic environment by a team who know and understand the importance of food safety. Scores on the Doors is a very good scheme and I would advise people to check the website for themselves."
Surf while you surf
May 17 2011
We've got free Wi-Fi inn!
Customers can now surf the net while watching the surf come up at The Bamburgh Castle Inn.
We've invested in the new Wi-Fi service so guests can go online, download music or keep in touch on the go, whether they're staying with us or popping in for a bite to eat.
Our manager Sean Donkin said: "Wi-Fi used to be a luxury service. Now it's something customers expect as standard. As soon as the opportunity arose for us to be able to install W-Fi in we jumped at the chance. All guests need to do is ask for the password behind the bar and they can connect for free!"
Cuppa for a Cause
March 5th 2011
We’re proud to be hosting Seahouses and District Cancer Research and Relief Fund’s annual coffee morning once again.
The charity, which raises vital funds to support people from the Seahouses district suffering from cancer or other life threatening illnesses, is hosting the coffee morning this Saturday – March 5th, which will feature stalls including cakes, savouries, a raffle and grand tombola.
Join us for a cuppa with a cause from 10am until 12 noon. Admission is £1.50 including coffee and a scone.
Pubs game for Valentine's day
February 2 2011
A brace of Northumberland pubs will be dishing up game this Valentine’s Day.
The Bamburgh Castle Inn at Seahouses and Lindisfarne Inn, Beal, who source naturally-reared pheasant and partridges from the Bamburgh Castle and Cragside Estate and venison from Northumberland Estates are giving game a romantic twist for their Valentine’s menus.
Diners will be able to tuck into pheasant breast with a mustard, tarragon and red wine sauce at the Bamburgh Castle Inn while the Lindisfarne Inn is dishing up Venison with confit potatoes and Rosemary jus.
James Watson, the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s sous chef said: “We love eating and using game so it easily won a place on our Valentine’s menu! We like to feature local produce in our menus. As well as having good supplier contacts with local fish, shellfish and producers, we’re lucky enough to have really good game suppliers nearby like Bamburgh Castle and Northumberland Estates.
“Game is a very versatile and tasty local product which people will love this Valentine’s Day.”
Mark Kennedy is manager at the Lindisfarne Inn. He said: “Our customers like to eat local ingredients – for many people this is all part of their eating out experience, trying something new and unique to that area.
“While we always have the traditional pub favourites on our menu we use whichever locally sourced and seasonal products are available to us on our specials board. In season you’ll find plenty of game dishes like our Valentine venison.
Francis Watson Armstrong of Bamburgh Castle and Cragside Estates said: “Game is often underrated but is a delicious and healthy British food. The fact that pubs and restaurants like the Lindisfarne Inn and Bamburgh Castle Inn are using local Northumberland game so more people can taste and enjoy this delicious and versatile meat is fantastic.”
The Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne Inn’s Valentine menu featuring Northumberland game is being served from Saturday February 12 to Valentine’s Day on Monday. A three course meal including bottle of wine per couple is £14.95.
Father Christmas is inn town
December 20 2010
Father Christmas has managed to squeeze in a festive visit to the Bamburgh Castle Inn this week to give presents to children and raise money for the Seahouses lifeboat and RNLI.
While the elves are loading up the sleigh with presents in time for Christmas Eve, Father Christmas is making himself comfortable at the Bamburgh Castle Inn in a big, comfy armchair with a glass of brandy – he even has some carrots and apples for Rudolph and the other reindeer.
Next to Father Christmas is a big pile of presents which he is giving to well behaved children in the build up to the big day and to help raise money for the RNLI, the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s chosen charity for 2011.
Sean Donkin, general manager at the Bamburgh Castle Inn said: “We are very honoured that Father Christmas has found the time to call in and help us make Christmas special for boys and girls coming to the Inn. We’re very pleased he has found time in his busy workload at this time of year to help us raise money for the RNLI and Seahouses Lifeboat.”
Meet Father Christmas and his elves every day at the Bamburgh Castle Inn from 12 noon until 3pm until December 23 when Father Christmas must return to his duties at the North Pole.
Spangling New Year
December 20 2010
Popular live five-piece music band the Spanglers will be helping revellers celebrate the New Year at the Bamburgh Castle Inn.
Playing covers of well known rock, pop and soul songs, the Spanglers will be filling the dance floor from 10.30pm onwards at the Inn.
Food service will take place as usual, with delicious home-cooked and seasonal meals being served up until 9pm before the free entertainment begins.
Great British Pub Awards Win
September 2010
The Bamburgh Castle Inn has been voted one of Britain’s best pubs in country for its year-on-year performance.
Competing against pubs from across the country, The Bamburgh Castle Inn at Seahouses was a finalist in the coveted Great British Pub Awards’ Best Turnaround Pub category at a glittering ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel on London’s Park Lane.
The section – new this year to the awards organised by industry publication The Morning Advertiser – recognised the Inn’s successes in growing trade during the recession. And although the Bamburgh Castle Inn didn’t win its category, it was one of just two in Northumberland to reach the finals where inns were judged in 16 different sections.
Bamburgh Castle Inn general manager, Sean Donkin, said: “The Great British Pub Awards are one of the most important in the industry. Being up there competing against the best in the country is a massive pat on the back for our staff and recognises all their hard work in turning the Bamburgh Castle Inn from a ‘sleeping giant’ into the village hub it is today.
“These are difficult times in our industry but ours is a thriving business. We have put our heads above the parapet and are proactive in securing new business, being innovative and responsive in our offer, looking after the customers we have and keeping them loyal.”
The Bamburgh Castle progressed to the national finals after winning the North East and Yorkshire regional Turnaround Pub Award.
The 30-bedroom Inn underwent a stringent judging process, which involved a detailed paper application, followed by a site visit and interview session with the judging panel.
Once a residents-only hotel, it is now a thriving Inn, offering first rate food, real ales, quizzes, coffee mornings and art and photography exhibitions. It also caters for parties, functions and is used as a venue by more than 50 groups, organisations and clubs.
Innovations, including a courtesy bus to collect and drop off guests from bus and railway stations or to transport walkers and golfers, helped set the Bamburgh Castle Inn apart from its competitors.
Local food especially shellfish and fish landed on the quayside opposite is a real draw for the Inn, which is also a must-visit for fans of real ale. The Inn has both a Cask Marque accreditation for serving the perfect pint of cask conditioned ale and a locAle accreditation from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for serving ales sourced within a 30-mile radius.
And during what is often the ‘dead’ off-season in tourist centres like Seahouses, the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s policy of winter break rates and dining offers meant its rooms were 95% filled in February last year. The statistic was picked up by BBC News and the Inn was featured on national breakfast television, leading to a surge of additional bookings.
Isaac Sheps, chief executive officer at Carlsberg UK, sponsor of the Best Turnaround Pub category, said: "Turning an under-performing pub into a thriving one is no mean feat, especially in the current economic climate. Sean has achieved it through hard work and determination.”
We get ready, get set and go to welcome Run participants
September 2010
As the run up to this year’s Great North Run gets underway, the Bamburgh Castle Inn is offering competitors and their supporters the chance of a great night’s stay to recharge their batteries ahead of the big event on Sunday September 19.
With its 30 modern rooms with comfy beds, great views and home-cooked foods with athlete in training heart portions, the Bamburgh Castle Inn is a great place for people travelling to the event to stay before and enjoy after they have raced.
Sean Donkin, general manager at the Lindisfarne Inn said: “If race participants and their supporters are looking for somewhere peaceful to stay that’s just an hour’s drive from the big race they should look no further than the Bamburgh Castle Inn to stay before the big event.
“We’ve got miles of beaches on the doorstep, ideal for putting in last minute training runs, plus our guests can enjoy exclusive access to the nearby Ocean Leisure Club for some pampering before or after to ease aching muscles and feet.”
All aboard the Bamburgh Castle Inn's new courtesy bus
July 12 2010
We have invested in a great new courtesy vehicle to help our customers get out and about.
As a rural pub and with customer service a key priority for us, we decided to purchase our new courtesy vehicle so we can offer an improved travel service to our customers.
Sean Donkin, our general manager said: “Looking after our customer’s needs is very important to us and getting out and about easily is part of that.
“One of our greatest assets is the fact that we are located in a rural area, but this can mean restricted transport options for visitors.
“Thanks to our new courtesy vehicle we are able to pick up and drop off guests from train and bus stations, transport golfers and people on walking trips and collect or take their equipment to their next locations. We also transport guests to the many attractions we have in the area too.
“The courtesy vehicle is subject to availability – we can’t provide a taxi service – but we do want to provide a great customer service wherever we possibly can.”
Ready, steady, cook...
July 12 2010
Youngsters cook up new skills in pub kitchen
Youngsters have been stirring things up in the kitchen and trying tasty local produce inspired dishes at the Bamburgh Castle Inn.
Budding Nigella Lawsons and Gordon Ramsays headed to the Seahouses inn to learn about the local produce on their doorstep and discover how the inn turns raw ingredients into tasty dishes for customers to enjoy.
Youngsters from Seahouses Middle School learnt how to prepare and make dishes using local meat, shellfish, vegetables and dairy products as part of a week-long learning challenge project on tourism.
Learning that food forms a big part of people’s holiday experience, the youngsters, helped by Bamburgh Castle Inn head chef David Barella, cooked up dishes using local produce including Pheasant Breast stuffed with Smoked Northumberland Cheese and Banoffee Tart with local cream.
The learning challenge, run by Seahouses Middle School teachers Jane Patterson and Annette Monelly, helps children understand the importance of tourism in the area and how local produce, along with attractions to visit and things to do are all part of making sure people have a great holiday experience.
Mrs Patterson said: “Our pupils are lucky to live in an outstanding part of the country, which is a growing visitor destination.
“This project has helped children to realise just how important tourism is to the area. They have looked at what different businesses do to enhance the experience people have when they come to our area, so hopefully they want to come back again.
“The children have discovered more about the benefits of local food for themselves as well as for visitors and have learnt more about how it is made or grown and how by buying and using it as consumers they are helping the local economy.
“The children had great fun visiting the Bamburgh Castle Inn and getting hands on in the kitchen with some of the fantastic local produce we have here. It was a great opportunity for them to see how a professional kitchen works and learn lots of cooking tips from a top chef.”
David Barella, head chef at The Bamburgh Castle Inn, said: “It’s really important young people get a feel for food and drink grown, reared and caught locally and how we use it in our menus. Of course there’s a place for it, but kids need to know there’s more to food than fast food outlets and how to cook it too.
“We try to use as many local ingredients in our menus as we can, like scallops and prawns caught by fisherman from the harbour opposite, game from the Bamburgh Castle and Cragside estate and Northumberland sourced dairy produce.
“The kids were really keen and interested in making the dishes and tasting different ingredients as well. They liked watching what happens when we take a food order and saw how the dish was put together and sent out to customers. There were definitely some aspiring young cooks in the kitchen that day!”
James Winter, 13, learnt how to make Stuffed Pheasant Breast. He said: “I hadn’t tasted pheasant before. It was really nice. I learnt how to roll it up in cling film so it kept in the right shape when you cooked it.”
Toni Mallen, 13 said: “It was good going into a real kitchen. I really enjoyed tasting all the different things and learning how to cook with them.
The children are making a recipe booklet featuring local produce including the dishes they made at the Bamburgh Castle Inn.
Drinkers get a taste of Northumberland at beer exhibition
June 01 2010
Glasses were raised to Northumberland beers at a Seahouses ale exhibition last weekend.
Drinkers sampled ales from independent Northumberland microbrewers including Hexhamshire Brewery, Allendale Brewery, High House Farm Brewery, Wylam Brewery and Northumberland Brewery at the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s first Northumbrian Ale Exhibition.
Real ale enthusiast Doug Fletcher – on the left of picture, above right – of Derby, made a beeline for the exhibition at the Seahouses inn. Supping a pint of Auld Hemp, brewed by High House Farm Brewery at Matfen, Northumberland, he said:
“I didn’t know Northumberland had so many microbrewers. It’s surprising how many there are now. I’m a big fan of real ale. We’re here on holiday and I always like to sample the local ales when we come away and these are first-class.”
And of Auld Hemp, Doug said: “I like the hoppiness in it – it’s a nice malt.”
The exhibition, held in a marquee inside the inn’s beer garden overlooking the Farne Islands, coincided with confirmation of the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s LocAle accreditation, awarded by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). LocAle accreditation is awarded to pubs stocking at least one Northumberland-produced real ale, which in turn supports the local economy around the pub.
Bamburgh Castle Inn general manager Sean Donkin said: “The exhibition has gone down a treat with people. We’ve had a great weekend celebrating the best Northumberland has to offer in real ale and championing its independent micro brewers.
“We ran a regional real ale festival at Easter time, but we closed the net this time and presented just Northumberland ales or beers with their roots in the county to customers. With 16 hand pull ales to try, I think we’ve definitely given people a true taste of Northumberland.”
He added: “Customers are showing an increasing interest in real ales. They’re also more interested in where they’ve come from and how they’re brewed as well which is something we want to develop further. It’s why we’ve gone down the route of offering Northumberland beers to customers. We’ve gone from having no real ales at all to becoming LocAle accredited.
“We’ll keep on showcasing local ales to customers and fly the flag for distinctive Northumberland beers.”
Cheers for Northumbrian beers
May 20 2010
Above (left): "Cheers!" – Ryan Thompson of the Bamburgh Castle Inn which is hosting a Northumbrian Real Ale Exhibition, and (right) a real ale fan at the Bamburgh Castle Inn raises a glass to the inn’s first Northumbrian Ale Exhibition.
Ales from independent Northumberland microbrewers will be toasted at the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s local beer exhibition this Bank Holiday Weekend.
The Seahouses inn has teamed up with six microbrewers from across Northumberland including High House Farm Brewery, Northumberland Breweries and Wylam Brewery to host the exhibition.
Taking place in a marquee inside the inn’s beer garden which overlooks the Farne Islands, the exhibition will feature hand pumps presenting real ales from close to home. Tasting notes as well as ‘beer miles’ will be chalked up on boards for drinkers as well as samples to try.
The Bamburgh Castle Inn, which holds a Cask Marque accreditation for serving the perfect pint of cask conditioned ale, is now locAle accredited with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) organisation. To qualify, the Inn has to sell at least one locally produced real ale at all times.
Manager Sean Donkin said that the Northumbrian Ale Exhibition will give more people the chance to try the eclectic mix of flavours Northumberland is brewing up.
He said: “Customers show a lot of interest in the real ales we have at the Inn, especially the local ones. People are much more interested in the beers they’re drinking and where it comes from. We want to develop this further by offering people more choice and drinking experiences they won’t come across every day.
“We held a very successful regional beer festival last month. This time we want to close the net even further and showcase only beers from Northumberland-based microbrewers and lay on an interesting mix of styles and tastes from our doorstep for drinkers to enjoy.”
Mr Donkin added: “The real ale scene is alive and well with beers to suit everyone’s liking from milds to pale ales, fruit beers and stouts. We’re hoping to attract real ale enthusiasts and convert a few non-beer drinkers to real ale too!”
The Bamburgh Castle Inn Northumbrian Ale Exhibition follows on from the inn’s successful regional real ale and cider festival in April and runs over the May Bank Holiday weekend (Friday May 28 – Monday May 31) from 12 noon onwards each day in the beer garden.
Beer festival ‘aled’ a success
April 6 2010
A Seahouses beer festival has been ‘aled’ an overwhelming success by drinkers last weekend.
Drinkers attending the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s first ever beer festival raised a glass to 15 locally-produced ales and two ciders served in a marquee in the Inn’s beer garden overlooking the Farne Islands over the four day event.
Teaming up with Newcastle-based Hadrian & Border Brewery plus County Durham micro-brewers Consett Ale Works and Scottish cider maker Thistly Cross Cider to lay on the festival, manager of the Bamburgh Castle Inn Sean Donkin said the event had proved a hit with locals and visitors alike:
“We were really pleased with the response we had to the beer festival. As a Cask Marque accredited pub, we’re passionate about serving quality real ales in peak condition to our customers and we’re always looking to offer real ales that are just that little bit different. We’re also keen to ramp up the amount of local food and drink we serve here. As well as supporting local suppliers we want to offer visitors a taste of the North East and Northumberland too.
“We’re delighted Hadrian & Border Brewery launched their new ale, Byker Light at the Bamburgh Castle Inn. It proved to be a hit with drinkers, especially those who like the flavour and taste of a real ale but want a lower alcohol level.”
Hadrian & Border managing director, Andrew Burrows, said: “The Bamburgh Castle Inn Beer Festival was the ideal opportunity to introduce our new ale Byker Light. We have trialed it in January and the excellent response has encouraged us to include it into our regular range of beers.
“We have brewed a “full strength” flavour beer and kept the alcohol level down to 3.5% to meet the demands of the customers who love the flavors of Real Ale but want that combined into a low alcohol beverage.
“Usually a low alcohol beer is a cheap product with insipid taste, brewed to produce a low priced beer. Byker Light is positively bursting with flavour.”
Also popular at the beer festival pumps was Hadrian & Border’s beer of the month “Noggins Nog”.
Visitor Vicki Clark said: “I’m not usually a big real ale drinker but I’ve really enjoyed trying the different ales and ciders and reading the drinking notes that come with them. I’ve become a convert!”
Following the success of the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s first beer festival, Sean is already preparing for the next festival which will take place over the May Bank Holiday (28th to 31st May).
Inn aid of charity
March 9 2010
Big hearted patrons and staff at the Bamburgh Castle Inn have handed over a cheque for over £500 to a local cancer charity.
Manager Sean Donkin presented the cheque for £535.87 to Joan Turnbull, fund chair of the Seahouses and District Cancer Research and Relief Fund, at the charity’s annual coffee morning, held in the Bamburgh Castle Inn last Saturday boosting the amount raised that day to over £3,400.
And staff at the Seahouses branch of Barclays Bank have pledged a further £750 to match funds raised on the charity’s ever-popular cake stall.
Accepting the cheque on behalf of the fund which helps support people from the Seahouses district suffering from cancer or other life threatening illnesses, Mrs Turnbull said: “The fund relies entirely on donations therefore we value the support of businesses like the Bamburgh Castle Inn and Seahouses Barclays who are working with the community like this.
“Our charity urgently needs funds to carry out the services we offer people in our community like taxi fares and travelling expenses for patients going to and from hospital appointments, carer relief and equipment. We also make donations towards hospices and cancer research.”
Joan said: “The Fund started in the 60s and we held our first coffee morning in what was then the Bamburgh Castle Hotel over 40 years ago. To have the coffee morning back to its original venue is fantastic. Sean and the staff are absolutely wonderful. They have been so helpful and cheerful and very, very supportive.”
Sean said: “The Seahouses and District Cancer Research and Relief Fund is our dedicated charity because we feel it is such a worthwhile cause to support. It is beneficial to the entire community. A lot of our customers have had call to use the service directly or have family and friends who have."
Game from our namesake on the menu
February 26 2010
Above: Sourcing locally; The Bamburgh Castle Inn’s Sean Donkin (left) with chef David Barella (right) and Francis Watson Armstrong of Bamburgh Castle and Cragside Estates.
Game sourced from our namesake Bamburgh Castle Estates is on the menu.
The Bamburgh Castle Inn has sourced naturally-reared pheasant and partridges from the Bamburgh Castle and Cragside Estate for its winter menu this year.
Diners can enjoy the game in dishes like oven roasted breast of pheasant with rosemary and thyme and in game casseroles with herb dumplings.
Sourcing the game is part of a drive by the Inn to feature tasty and affordable local produce on its menu boards.
Sean Donkin, general manager at the Bamburgh Castle Inn said: “We’re very keen to source and use local produce in our dishes and are delighted to be growing the contacts we have with suppliers.
“Game is a great ingredient. It’s wild, natural and free range. It’s a great alternative to chicken and has a lovely subtle flavour and being very low in fat and cholesterol makes it a healthy option as well.”
Francis Watson Armstrong of Bamburgh Castle and Cragside Estate said: “We are delighted local businesses like the Bamburgh Castle Inn are using game on their menus. Game is a delicious local produce which is enjoying a rise in popularity. I’m certainly looking forward to sampling some of the dishes.”
Getting it fright! Youngsters get inn-to Halloween spirit
October 23 2009
It’s a Halloween hat-trick for pupils at Seahouses Middle School with help from the village’s Bamburgh Castle Inn.
Thanks to a 60-strong pumpkin pile, donated to the school by the inn and G S Clark of Bamburgh, pupils will learn hauntingly-good Halloween recipes and take pumpkin flesh home to recreate spooky savouries for their families.
Head chef at the Bamburgh Castle Inn, David Barilla, will be coming into the school to show youngsters how throwing away tasty pumpkin flesh could mean missing a treat.
David said: “While pumpkins make great Halloween lanterns there’s so much you can do with the scooped-out flesh that usually just ends up in the bin.
“Pumpkin is very good for you as it’s packed full of vitamins but it’s also a great ingredient for lots of recipes like soup, casseroles and of course, pies.”
Youngsters will also be carving out lanterns with the pumpkins to enter into the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s Halloween lantern competition. The competition takes place on Saturday, October 31 and is open to all children from the district or who are holidaying here.
Children wanting to enter the competition can take their lanterns along to the Bamburgh Castle Inn at 6:00pm. The prize for the winning lantern is a family meal for four at the inn.
Above: Treating it; Seahouses Middle School pupils get round ways
to use pumpkins with the Bamburgh Castle Inn’s David Barella.
Seaside inn pulls top award for ale quality
June 17 2009
Licensees at a popular Northumberland inn are celebrating this week after pulling a prestigious award for the quality of their beer.
Sean Donkin, who runs the Bamburgh Castle Inn in Seahouses, has been awarded Cask Marque accreditation for serving the perfect pint of cask conditioned ale.
Sean said: “This award is a great endorsement for us. We are getting a growing number of customers who visit the inn especially for its cask ale. It is rewarding and a testament to the hard work and effort our bar team puts into looking after our ale to know we’re getting the formula just right.”
Backed by 34 of the country’s leading brewers and pub companies, Cask Marque accreditation is only awarded to licensees whose ale passes a series of rigorous independent beer quality audits.
Since its foundation in 1997, Cask Marque has inspected over 100,000 pints of beer and accredited over 5,000 of the country’s 36,500 pubs estimated to serve one or more cask conditioned ales.
Cask Marque director, Paul Nunny, said: “Sean and his team should feel justifiably proud of this excellent achievement, which not only recognises the effort they put into serving the perfect pint but also acts as an independent guarantee of quality for customers.
“All too often, publicans don’t appreciate the care and attention cask beers require and then run the risk of losing custom by serving pints that are below par.”
Fittingly for a pub with panoramic views towards the Farne Islands, The Bamburgh Castle Inn serves Farne Island ale and Black Sheep ale along with a variety of lagers, wines, spirits and soft drinks.
Diners treated to dolphin display
A pod of 12 dolphins, believed to be the Bottlenose species, were watched playing in the waves by guests and staff at the Bamburgh Castle Inn from the hotel’s first floor bar which overlooks the harbour and sea.
Manager Sean Donkin said: “We watched the creatures for over half an hour looping around in the water before they headed slowly southwards. They were coming quite close in to the shoreline. It looked as if they were feeding as they weren’t travelling very fast and spent a while circling in the same spot. It was a very high tide which made them seem even closer to the inn which looks out over the harbour towards the Farne Islands beyond.
“I’ve seen dolphins and porpoises out to sea but never as close in as this. They looked very relaxed and were certainly in no hurry to move on.
“At first we thought they were killer whales because they were so large and dark in colour. You could just see their fins and backs coming out of the water but one of the party boats closer to the pod identified them as Bottlenose dolphins.”
Sean added: “It was an amazing sight and really made the day for our customers who were watching during the lunchtime service. Observing a pod of dolphins from your hotel window or while you’re having lunch isn’t the sort of thing that happens every day. We were lucky to witness them.”
More news...
The Lancashire Evening Post: A Tour of the North East
The Sunday Mirror: Travel – Wish You Were Here (Dog-Friendly Hotels)
The Independent: National Cask Ale Week
The Evening Chronicle: Review – The Bamburgh Castle Inn
The Evening Chronicle: Review – The Bamburgh Castle Inn, Seahouses
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