The Elks Head Inn

Really not a very nice breakfast. Dinner was only ok, the chicken burger was mushed chicken not a crispy breast or thigh Service more efficient than warm. Rooms functional. We were a bit disappointed as they were very nice when we were booking.

We stayed at the Elk's Head, Whitfield recently; during mid-December 2024. This was our fourth visit there – so clearly we like it – but this time the hotel/pub is with a new team: a new Landlady: would it be as good as it had been? A bit of a concern I suppose, and a bit of a worry it has to be said, because you never know what might happen when an establishment – however good previously – changes hands. But, what the heck, we'd give it a go ... nothing ventured, nothing gained, and all that! ... yeah, right ... all that aside, as we swung into the car park late on a Friday evening (the M1 had just been hell) two hours late, pushing at the very limits of a late dinner ... well, the trepidation returned —this was testing things out considerably; and the fault for that was entirely ours. Beth was tending the bar, coming to the end of a busy evening shift no doubt —and she couldn't have been more welcoming. Charming, professional and kind; efficient, sharp as a tack, and completely accommodating. Just the kind of person you wish to see behind the bar of a good country pub after 6 hours on the road! Everything taken care of, signed in, luggage in the room and sitting down for a pre-dinner drink in under 15 minutes! Not everyone has a flair for hospitality, relatively few thrive within it – it takes effort and not an inconsiderable amount of talent – well, I can tell you this young lady has it in spades! Rooms are clean, well-provisioned and well-tended; comfortable right from the get go. Well heated – important during the winter time in Northumberland! – but manageable; some of us like a coolish, ventilated bedroom. Certainly not the thermo-nuclear sauna that seems to be the norm with hotel rooms today. And if the gentle burbling tones of the River Allen doesn't invite you to slumber, well, then, you are beyond any hope. Relax. It will, let go; you know you have to give in to it no matter how stressed you are when you get there! The food is excellent; menu extensive; wine list is pleasingly long. We had planned to essentially base ourselves at the Elk's Head, have breakfast there, but eat dinner out. You know, don't bother: we had dinner there each evening and were both heartily impressed. Oh, and a bit of a top tip here: when Hollie, our fantastic waitress for the weekend, (a young lady with a liking for motor-bikes and the science of volcanology) recommends something go for it straight away. I held out on the pana-cotta for two whole days, gave in at lunch on the Sunday, and have kicked myself ever since —quite literally, sublime! Jenifer, the new Landlady of the Elk's Head introduced herself on the Saturday evening. She came over specially during a busy Saturday night – no doubt after a busy Saturday all-round, to do just that. Again, it is touches like this that mean such a very great deal to customers. With pubs, hotels and restaurants it is the person at the very top that drives everything —and that's often far from being a simple t

We booked last minute whilst touring the area. The location in a quiet village by the river gave us a peaceful night’s rest in a lovely room overlooking the garden and river. The food was the star of the stay. We had three courses from the menu and specials board. What a treat! Hearty yet presented with a touch that evinced a real skill by the chef. Service throughout the stay was excellent. Definitely worth including on your itinerary if you are touring the North Pennines.