ANOTHER North-East pub has joined the list of venues that have upgraded their outdoor space ahead of reopening on Monday.

Foodies invited to enjoy al fresco dining whatever the weather, thanks to new additions at The Blackbird.

The Ponteland pub is getting ready to reopen on April 12, this Monday, with three outdoor tipis to help diners enjoy their food come rain or shine.

But it will cost you a £10 deposit to bag a table. 

To celebrate opening its doors to customers, the pub has also launched a new menu featuring pub favourites, street food, vegan options and its popular Sunday roasts as well as a range of light bites and mains.

Artisan bakery Kennedy and Rhind will also sell popular goodies from its pop-up shop at one of the pub’s smaller tipis on a Saturday morning and you will still be able to order takeaway food for collection throughout the week.

There is also an uncovered outdoor seating area that will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The rule of six will apply.

Stuart Young of the Northumberland Pub Company, which owns the Blackbird, is looking forward to welcoming customers back to the venue.

He said: “While we’ve been fortunate to continue serving patrons with our takeaway orders and popular themed boxes over the last few months, we’re delighted to be given the green light to open up outside.

“We’re lucky enough to have a huge outdoor space and we’ve really made the most of this, extending our current tipi and acquiring two smaller ones, so that diners can enjoy a meal al fresco without worrying about the weather.

“Safety is our utmost priority and we are taking extra precautions to look after our staff and customers, with social distancing measures and enhanced cleaning in place.”

To book a tipi seat, call 01661 822684 between 10am and 1pm daily, with a £10 deposit per person to secure a booking.