Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant, Northumberland

Address: Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant, Wark on Tyne, nr Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 3LS

On our drive to our stay at the Battlesteads hotel, we were delighted with the picturesque views of the vast countryside and the low flowing rivers that twisted and turned throughout.

When we arrived we were greeted at the reception by one of the wonderful members of staff which were happy to give Yianni and Yoko the attention that they wanted  – one of their top 3 things in life! We were then shown to our eco-friendly luxury lodge which is situated at the back of the hotel and restaurant.

On the outside of the lodge, we had a lovely little decking area with seating - which was perfect for us later in the evening as we were able to sit and gaze at the stars in the clear night sky.

Inside the dog-friendly lodge, there is lovely high ceilings and simple clean interior. In the room was an exceptionally large, comfortable bed with super soft cosy bedding. There was also a sofa where you can chill with your coffee and biscuits after a long day of dog walking (it also is great if you are visiting with children as it pulls out into a sofa bed).

While we were shown around the lodge Yianni and Yoko commenced on their own investigation which included a lot of wagging tails and hunting for any treats that may have been left for them.

To their delight, the hotel had left care packages for their stay which included dog treats and a box containing some luxury dog biscuits and wet food. They also provided some towels for after those muddy dog walks - something we really appreciated as it was the one thing we had forgotten to pack in their travel bag!

It is always nice when you go away with your dogs and feel they are being looked after as much as you are. They also have a mini fridge which is perfect if you have a raw fed dog.

Now the bathroom! Well, I could have spent the day moving from the shower to the bath! The bath is a super-sized spa bath which takes any stresses and tensions away the moment you get into it, even Yianni and Yoko looked eager to give it a go. The beautiful shower is a separate walk in that is sure to make your stay in it for longer than you normally would. They also have his and hers wash basins with toiletries which are all organic and sourced from local businesses.

We at Aurora Pets are lovers of the planet as well as dogs so going to stay at the greenest hotel in Northumberland where sustainability is at the heart of everything they do was an absolute pleasure.

From their carbon-neutral heating and hot water system, solar panel power, to their garden where they grow their own fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and salads for their restaurant, their drive to act as green ambassadors in the hospitality industry is one to be admired and followed.

Not only do they make these large steps to be green but they also incorporate it in small ways such as using the empty toilet roll inners to pot new seedlings and having wormeries which eat through kilos of food waste turning it into compost!

We were lucky enough to book a table in their restaurant – I say lucky as the food was delicious. We were free to take Yianni and Yoko as they have areas of the restaurant which are dog-friendly and throughout our meal the wonderful staff would visit to give them treats and say hello.

We started our meal with an appetiser of cauliflower soup topped with truffle oil and it was a taste sensation! To follow we enjoyed the restaurant's mains of own farmed shitake and oyster mushrooms, tagliatelle with wild garlic pesto, Brinkburn and chicken and Braised beef cheek with buttery mash and seasonal vegetables - every part of both dishes were thoroughly enjoyed.

During our meal, we were lucky enough to speak with head chef Eddie who talked to us about the food and the processes they use from smoking their own fish, bacon, and cheese to their fruit and vegetables. His passion and love for cooking are truly shown in his food.

To end our lovely meal we enjoyed the cheese board which was filled with four of the local cheeses and accompanied by several different crackers and homemade chutney – we were in food heaven. Even better than that we were able to purchase the cheeses and take them home to enjoy!

After our meal, we sat in the bar area where Yianni and Yoko continued to receive even more attention and meet other dogs which were enjoying their family trip away. The atmosphere was everything you want to wind down your evening– friendly, relaxing and comfortable. The décor of the restaurant and pub is a very fresh modern country which is always a hit with us and fits perfectly with its outside surroundings. There are several local lagers and ales and if you are a gin fan they have their very own gin which comes in several different flavours which you can buy by the bottle to take home.

As well as the amazing restaurant and bar they also have a public astronomical observatory where they offer talks, stargazing and Astro courses. The only downside is that you cannot take your dog’s, but if your dog is comfortable to stay in the room unattended this is definitely an attraction which cannot be missed especially as they cater to anyone from the absolute beginner to the professional. If this is something you would like to do during your visit make sure to check with the hotel as it is not open every night and you will need to book tickets - https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory

Following a night of our own stargazing from our front decking and a deeply restful night’s sleep, we returned to their dog-friendly restaurant area to enjoy our freshly cooked to order breakfast. We both enjoyed their full cooked breakfast, which again did not disappoint! If you’re not one for a full cooked breakfast do not worry they had continental options or other cooked options from creamy omelettes to scrambled eggs and smoked salmon.

After breakfast, we went to relax in the garden with a coffee while Yianni and Yoko had a walk around. We imagined how lovely the garden will be in the summer sunshine.

So would we visit this dog-friendly hotel and restaurant again? Yes!!! Welcoming staff, great food and very dog-friendly! Plus you will never struggle to find somewhere to walk your dog! Please check out our dog directory for the walks available in the area.

Battlesteads website - https://www.battlesteads.com

If you have stayed at The Battlesteads Hotel or have any other recommendations please share below.

Love from the Aurora Pets Team x