Corbridge is a quaint village in southern Northumberland packed full of Roman heritage. The 13th century Pele Tower immediately caught my attention after being moulded into a pub, with a Game of Thrones-esque design.
I remember visiting Corbridge when I was young, but the specifics of what I thought of the place escape me. It was this lack of memory that prompted me to return to the village, in order to see what was so special about it.
As I arrived and got parked up, I was immediately greeted by the arches of the Corbridge Bridge, which was built in the late 17th century, replacing its original 13th century predecessor that was the great asset of the town at this time.
The weather was mild, so I was able to take a laboured stroll across, taking in the sights of the River Tyne at either side, and the Grade I listed building that I was walking across.
I first arrived at Craft Works Gallery, where I spoke to owner Jean Dobson about her experiences working in the village, and why she feels that it stands out from similar places in the North East.
"Corbridge is lovely, and it is a great place to have a shop," she said. "We are still busy even with the current climate, as the accommodation in the village means that we get tourists as well as the usual residents who come in to visit.
"There is a really great mix of different independent businesses here, from the greengrocers, to the butchers, to the fruit shop. It can be unusual to have a place still like this so its important that we appreciate it and keep coming back to them."
I then decided to walk down the main shopping street in Corbridge, popping in and out of the shops to see what they had on offer. Everyone working in the shops were kind and welcoming, and on my way out of one, I had a chat with Samantha Brown, a former resident of Corbridge who now lives nearby, and frequently visits due to the businesses she found when she lived there.
She said: "I only lived here for a few months but I absolutely loved it. I used to love running on the river banks and visiting the Pele Tower bar, which has actually recently been revamped.
"The Pele, as well as many other places, is so full of character and these types of businesses that I became so fond of are why I have stayed so close. It is really accessible and I visit all of the time."
I decided to go and explore some of the secret streets that I had heard about before I arrived. There is a real sense of not knowing what is around the corner present in the village, with this intrigue staying with me as I walked through the winding pathways, and back onto the main street.
After an inspiring walk, I thought it was time for a pitstop, so I visited Coffuffle, a coffee shop which also sells delicious chocolate truffles in all kinds of different flavours. The owner Phil Weddle gave me his thoughts on the area he works in, and told me a bit more about the community in Corbridge.
"I've now been based here for two years, and its clear to see that Corbridge is a brilliant, chilled out place with lots of independent businesses such as this one. There's a real sense of community amongst all of the residents.
"It is also a great place for tourists, as folks come here for Christmas shopping, especially later on in the day. This community organised late night shopping events which were really successful and I'm grateful to be a part of such a wonderful group of people", he said.
The next place on my whistle-stop tour of the village was Forum Books, ran by Helen Stanton who has been in Corbridge for over a decade. She talked about her view on the area and why it is so special to her.
She said: "Corbridge is a beautiful place with so much heart and soul due to the independent businesses here and the passion with which people run them. I have been here for over 10 years and it doesn't feel like it has been that long.
"Its amazing to wake up and come to work having so much love for what I do. The community is so great and I couldn't ask for better customers, on top of the tourists who visit when they stay in the village."
My final destination was also my most highly-anticipated, after hearing about it online, as well as from other residents throughout my visit. The 13th century Pele Tower was amazing to see from the outside, but the interior was even more spectacular.
I marvelled at how this fantastic historical building had been transformed into something that would not look out of place in Westeros, and was shocked at the fact that it had three floors of seating. There had been no wasted space, and a brilliant job has been done at combining the classic with the modern in putting this together.
I had a chat with a few of the staff inside this incredible Game of Thrones-style pub, owners Shaun and Jane Cutler and manager Tegan Marley, who were more than happy to give me a tour of the building, and talk to me about why Corbridge is the perfect place for this kind of bar.
Shaun said: "It has been amazing to restore this building and get everything up and running. It has all been completely refurbished and we have a new management team who are so passionate about delivering people the best possible experience.
"We use local breweries to source our drinks to consolidate our links with the local area. The tagline for us is historically intimate and exclusive, which really exemplifies what this place is all about.
"This is not just another bar, it is a fantastic all encompassing experience, as we often have musicians and other performers in to entertain customers. We really wanted to build on the historical aspect of the building whilst keeping it alive as an attraction, and I think that's exactly what we have been able to do for the people of Corbridge."
After spending the day in Corbridge, it is clear to see why this village has such a wide appeal. It is filled with local businesses that all offer so much to residents and visitors which have created such a feel of community and soul that a lot of places don't have. Corbridge seems to go under the radar in favour of other similar places in our area, but I think that is doing it a disservice.
The main attraction of the Pele Tower bar is one which I will be heading back to and I would encourage anybody in the area to visit Corbridge if they get the chance. I left the village in a better mood than I had arrived, imbued with a community spirit that is amazing to see. Next time, I'll visit outside of work hours, so I can have a drink or two at that wonderful establishment.
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