Seasonal Food & Drink During Your Northumberland Winter Break
December is often a month that revolves around food – comforting dinners, relaxed lunches and a few well-earned treats along the way. If you’ve booked a Northumberland winter break with us, there are plenty of local food and drink options to enjoy during your stay. We’ve pulled together a few ideas to help you plan easy, enjoyable days around where to eat, shop and unwind.
Whether you’re visiting with family, friends or as a couple, there’s something to suit every taste — from a relaxed lunch in a market town café, to a hearty pub dinner in a village, or a self-catered evening with ingredients sourced from a farmers’ market, farm shop or local deli.
The First Night In
After travelling to your cottage, many guests like to keep the first evening easy — especially in winter, when arrivals are often after dark. A stop at a nearby farm shop or deli can provide everything you need: fresh bread, local cheese, seasonal pies or a comforting ready-made meal to enjoy by the fire. We’ve shared more detail in our dedicated blog post on farm shops and markets across Northumberland for those who’d like to plan ahead.
There’s also the option of ordering a takeaway, which can make the first night even simpler. Guests staying in Hexham or Corbridge will find a wide choice, while Bellingham offers several popular options, including Indian, Chinese and pizza takeaways, along with daytime café takeaways such as Rocky Road.
For cottages in more rural locations, local independent shops and butchers are often the most convenient option, alongside nearby supermarkets for everyday essentials. Hexham has a full range, including Tesco, Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl. Bellingham has a well-stocked Co-op, while Ponteland and Morpeth offer larger supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Morrisons.
Many of the larger supermarkets also offer home delivery, which can be arranged to arrive shortly after check-in — an easy way to ensure you’re well stocked for the first few days.
Lunches; Northumberland Market Towns
Once you start planning day trips, Northumberland’s towns and villages provide plenty of options for a relaxed winter lunch. Market towns such as Hexham, Corbridge, Alnwick and Morpeth are home to excellent independent cafés, delis and small restaurants serving seasonal soups, sandwiches and light lunches made with local produce. They’re ideal stopping points between exploring shops, visiting local attractions or heading out for a winter walk.
In Bellingham, cafés such as Fountain Cottage Café — recently recognised with a 2025 Travellers’ Choice award — are popular with both visitors and locals. Nearby village pubs, including The Pheasant Inn at Stannersburn, are well known for their welcoming atmosphere and hearty winter food.
Evenings: Fireside Dinners & Seasonal Menus
Northumberland’s pubs come into their own during winter. Many offer seasonal menus showcasing local ingredients, from game and root vegetables to freshly baked bread and comforting desserts. Open fires and relaxed dining spaces make them ideal after a day outdoors or for an easy evening out.
Whether you’re dining as a couple or as part of a group, there’s a strong choice of well-regarded pubs across the county, many featured in the Good Pub Guide. Notable options include The Rat Inn just outside Hexham, The Pheasant Inn at Stannersburn for those staying near Bellingham or Kielder, and The Ship Inn at Low Newton — a popular stop when combining a winter walk on the coast with good food.
In addition to great food, Northumberland has a strong reputation for locally produced ales, craft gins and small-batch spirits. There’s a variety of breweries, including Twice Brewed, located along Hadrian’s Wall, which offers a tap room showcasing award-winning beers, including gluten-free options. Next door, The Twice Brewed Inn serves food, making it an excellent stop during a day exploring the area. In recent years, the region has also welcomed a new multi-million-pound distillery Ad Gefrin located near Wooler, complete with a museum, offering visitors insight into local spirit production alongside tastings.
For evenings when you prefer to stay in, local delis such as The Corbridge Larder stock a wide range of regional produce, perfect for sampling back at your cottage. Picking up a few local ales, a bottle of craft gin, or fresh produce is a great way to create your own cosy fireside experience — balancing nights out with relaxed, self-catered evenings.
Self-Catering at the Cottage
One of the advantages of a winter cottage stay is the flexibility that self-catering brings. Many guests like to plan one or two evenings around cooking at the cottage, balancing meals out with relaxed nights in.
All of our cottages have well-equipped kitchens, making self-catering easy and enjoyable. Combined with the excellent choice of local farm shops, delis and butchers, it’s simple to stock up on good-quality ingredients — from fresh vegetables and prepared pies to artisan cheeses and baked goods.
It’s an ideal way to make the most of the kitchen space and enjoy the comfort of being back at the cottage, without the need to head out again once the day draws to a close.
Enjoying a Northumberland Winter Break with Wooden Star Cottages
From easy first nights in to relaxed lunches in market towns and seasonal dinners by the fire, Northumberland’s food and drink scene plays a big part in what makes December such an enjoyable time to visit. Independent cafés, farm shops and welcoming pubs offer authentic local experiences, while self-catering allows you to shape each day around what suits you best.
Whether you’re here for a short break or a longer stay, enjoying a Northumberland winter break through it’s local food and drink is sure to help create a memorable stay.
Wooden Star Cottages offers the perfect base to experience the beautiful county of Northumberland. Book your stay at Wooden Star Cottages today and prepare for an unforgettable escape into the heart of one of England’s most beautiful regions.