Our favourite Northumberland seaside eateries from easy-going crab shacks to cosy pub restaurants

The Jolly Fisherman, Craster

Mark and Lucia’s family have farmed in the area since 1946. They run Brunton House and Cottages, a dower house and two bright self-catering cottages. For a slap-up meal they always choose The Jolly Fisherman in Craster. Known as the home of the kipper thanks to the award-winning Craster Smokehouse, it’s also home to this attractive pub with wild sea views over Dunstanburgh Castle. If you time it right you could be eating as a spectacular sunset sinks over the horizon. Inside, the feel is cosy with flagged floors and low beamed ceilings. The owners work with local suppliers to bring you the freshest catches; try crab soup, Craster-landed lobster or a plate of Lindisfarne oysters. There’s also plenty of choice for non-seafood loving folk. Everything is made from scratch and they have a wide selection of local ales at the bar. 

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The Potted Lobster, Bamburgh

Mhairi, owner of elegant Chillingham Manor B&B recommends The Potted Lobster in Bamburgh. With imposing Bamburgh Castle rising up as its backdrop, this light and airy restaurant with a Scandi nautical feel is a welcoming place to stop for lunch or dinner. Whether you arrive to glorious sunshine and sit out on the terrace with a platter of langoustines and a few glasses of cold, crisp rosé, or you visit off-season and hunker down in the restaurant with a warming seafood chowder, the menus are always a delight. Head chef Richard Sim, has achieved his mission to serve fresh, local ingredients from surrounding harbours and farms, in a relaxed setting. And best of all, they’re dog friendly too. 

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Featured places to stay in Northumberland

The Joiners Arms, Newton-by-the-Sea

Stone-flagged floors, a roaring log fire and artfully mismatched furniture make this seaside gastro pub a delightful place to grab a bite and a drink after a windswept walk. In the heart of Newton-by-the-Sea, a tiny fishing village with a curved, sandy beach and a pretty grass square hugged by whitewashed cottages, the pub menus burst with honest, home-style cooking with a Northumbrian twist. Try Lindisfarne oysters to start, followed by the catch of the day or a North Sea battered cod served with chunky homemade chips. With five smart bedrooms upstairs, The Joiners is well-liked by both visitors and locals. 

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The Fish Shack, Amble

Once a simple fishing port, Amble has been put on the foodie map by top chefs, husband and wife duo, Martin and Ruth Charlton. After the runaway success of their fish restaurant, The Old Boat House, they’ve hit upon another winner with this laid-back shack. Purpose-built from an old boat named ‘Sea Quest’, The Fish Shack has a cosy rustic feel and watery harbourside views to tempt everyone from fresh-air fanciers to dog-walkers. Run with an independent spirit, the focus is on serving expertly prepared, local-as-can-be seafood, at prices that won’t break the bank. This friendly place is the perfect stop off before or after you hit the spectacular sand dunes in nearby Druridge Bay​​. 

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Craster Smokehouse & Restaurant, Craster

The deliciously remote and craggy town of Craster is a refreshingly unpretentious place made famous by kippers. L Robson & Sons, an authentic family-run smokehouse, have been busy producing some of the world’s finest smoked salmon and kippers for over 100 years. The smokehouse overlooks the harbour, and, if you follow your nose, the smell of woodsmoke should lead you to the very courtyard that transforms the humble herring into a smoked kipper. With a bustling shop attached you can pick up scrummy smoked goods to take back to your self-catering cottage, perhaps smoked salmon fishcakes, kipper fishcakes, kipper pâté or a side of smoked fish. And the small restaurant is a super spot to enjoy a leisurely lunch after a coastal stroll.

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