The Beehive in Earsdon was named one of the 30 best places for a roast dinner in the UK by the Guardian back in October.
This review would have come the weekend after the news was announced - had there not been a waiting list of several weeks when I attempted to book. But this frosty Sunday just gone, the day finally came and it was well worth the wait.
The former 18th-century coaching inn on Hartley Lane was described in the Guardian article as having a "stunning" setting and being an "idyllic spot for a laid-back lunch" - you can see St. Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on a clear day. However, at 5pm on one of the coldest days of the year so far, snow and fog scuppered that, but at least the interior is warm and cosy.
Read more: Tyneside pub named one of best in UK for Sunday lunch by The Guardian
Though the Beehive was almost full when we arrived, it's split into several small rooms which give a country cottage vibe and it doesn't feel crowded at all. Most of the rooms have low ceilings, the one next to where we were seated had a lovely, log burning stove.
We were put in the dog house (not the punishment that it sounds), a much airier space that still feels cosy as there are lots of twinkling fairy lights, while it's festooned all things dog. There are portraits of dogs in suits, a whole manner of dachshunds made from different materials, and a borderline terrifying bulldog with a cigar in its mouth warning us not to follow its lead and smoke - there's even a doggie menu if you've brought your pet along.
Unsurprisingly, we were more interested in the human menu - and because we visited just two Sundays before Christmas, it had a festive theme. For starters, I chose the warm winter beetroot and goats cheese tart with a rocket and walnut salad (£6.95 and a vegetarian option), while my partner had homemade soup of the day (butternut squash and ginger, £5.80, vegetarian and gluten free).
The beetroot and goats cheese tart isn't what I'd usually pick, but this might have changed my mind for future meals out. The sweet and juicy beetroot combined beautifully with the springy goat's cheese, while the tart's crunch pastry case was almost like a biscuit - a perfect combination of texture and flavour.
My partner's ginger and butternut squash soup was the exact sort of winter warmer you'd dream about on a cold December day, with the spice of the ginger giving it a slightly curried feel. However, it was the bread that came with it that was the real star - two crusty slices with a fluffy white centre, one of sundried tomato and another of onion, made on the day at Bread and Roses artisan bakery in Alnwick.
The portions were a decent size too and we were given ample time to digest and guess which horrendous Christmas song would come on next - not a complaint, I'm just a grinch - before the main event arrived. And if being crowned one of the best places for Sunday dinner was for size alone, it's zero surprise that the Beehive made the list.
I picked the roast beef and pork duo with stuffing and crackling (£16.95) and my partner had homemade nut roast (£14.95). All courses come with a Yorkshire pudding, swede mash, seasonal vegetables and greens and roast potatoes (duck fat with non-veggie meals).
We both swapped out our swede mash for honey roast parsnips, partly because it's Christmas but mostly because for me, swede mash does not belong anywhere near a Sunday roast (or any plate of food for that matter). Three huge slices of pork and beef were cooked to perfection, duck fat roast potatoes were crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, and the Yorkshire pudding took me back to being a kid and my mam's delicious home-cooked roast dinners.
For my partner, the nut roast was peppery and packed with flavour - it even gave the beef a run for its money in my opinion - though there's no option to combine the veggie option with meat. My partner's only complaint was that my course was a lot bigger, though that size difference is reflected in the price with the nut roast coming in £2 cheaper.
Absolutely stuffed to the gills and both of us feeling like we'd need to be rolled to the car, we had a dessert anyway, because as everyone knows it's not a proper review if you don't try each course (that may or may not be true). We both went for sticky toffee pudding (£6.95), which usually comes with banana ice cream but since I'm allergic, got gingerbread flavour instead - which I'd recommend asking for.
The caramel pool that the cake sat upon was a delight, while the toffee pudding itself was fluffy and rich. According to my partner, it was up there with the best desserts they'd ever had - I wouldn't go that far, but only because I'd usually pick a chocolate dessert and that wasn't an option when we visited.
Overall, we paid £66.05 (service charge not included) for three courses and two soft drinks each. It's not the cheapest Sunday dinner I've had but it's also not the most expensive, and I'd say it was worth the price.
Whether or not it was one of the best Sunday dinners in the country, I couldn't possibly say. But I'm already planning a trip back to The Beehive in the new year to sample their regular menu, since the pub has known as a foodie hotspot and has inspired others nearby, such as Ye Olde Fat Ox Inn in nearby Holywell.
For more information on The Beehive in Earsdon, visit its website. The pub doesn't take bookings online, you'll have to give them a call instead to make a reservation on 0191 252 9352 - don't expect to get one for the Sunday coming, or even the one after that!
Where's your favourite place for Sunday dinner in the North East? Let us know!
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