A country gastropub tucked away in a tiny Northumberland village has earned the kind of praise that makes people plan a detour just to eat there.
The Apple Inn, in Lucker, has a Tripadvisor rating of 4.5, and has also earned itself a Travellers’ Choice award, with the site ranking it among one of the best country pubs in the region, and the best in its village.
Set a few miles inland from Bamburgh, the pub has become a popular stop for people heading to the coast, Holy Island and Budle Bay, with visitors regularly praising its Sunday lunches, generous portions and welcoming atmosphere.
The Inn serves bar, British, pub and gastropub food, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, while features include free off-street parking, outdoor seating, table service, free WiFi, and those all-important dog-friendly areas.
The pub sits at Apple Inn Row in Lucker, around five miles from Bamburgh, making it an easy lunch or dinner stop after a beach walk, a castle visit or a day on the coast.
And if you want to turn a meal into more of a day out, there is plenty nearby.
St Aidan Beach, the RNLI Grace Darling Museum and Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours are among the best nearby attractions, while local walking guides point to routes such as Bamburgh Castle and Beach, the Lucker to Waren Mill loop, the Budle Bay to Bamburgh coastal trail and part of St Oswald’s Way.
That means you can easily build a full Northumberland day around it: breakfast or lunch at the pub, an afternoon at Bamburgh Beach, a walk around Budle Bay, or a longer stomp along the coast before heading back for dinner and some of The Apple Inn's local ales.
The Apple Inn also offers dog-friendly accommodation including shepherd’s huts and rooms in the village, with breakfast included and parking on site.
The accommodation is within reach of some of Northumberland’s best-loved castles, beaches and coastal walks, which is exactly why the place works as more than just somewhere to eat.
One of the clearest themes running through reviews is that people arrive expecting a smart country pub and leave talking about the food.
One diner who visited for Sunday lunch called the turkey roast a “bargain” and said both it and the beef came with “the most delicious roast potatoes”, adding that the meat was tender, the portions were huge and the meal was “a very reasonable price”.
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Another reviewer described The Apple Inn as a “lovely quiet village pub with hearty food”, saying the staff were “extremely attentive” and that diners left “satisfied and with a smile”.
Families appear to be a major part of the pub’s appeal, with another review pleased that children were given colouring packs and again praising the Sunday roasts.
Another couple staying nearby said they had eaten there three times during their break and described the fish and chips, pie and mash, and roast turkey dinner as “fantastic”, while also praising the welcome from staff and the relaxed atmosphere.
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