Listed Sword Makers Cottage in Shotley Bridge

Vast and characterful, this rustic restaurant is housed in a former merchant’s house on the historic quayside. Flagged floors, cast iron pillars and exposed brickwork feature downstairs, with equal amounts of character upstairs courtesy of sloping floors, wonky ceilings and carved beams. Detailed, original dishes – such as chicken strozzapreti with spinach, peas and parmesan – are based around fine produce and offer punchy flavours, while also maintaining a lightness of touch. The Sunday Feast menu offers a refined, well-priced take on the traditional Sunday roast.

This intimate, personably run restaurant is just around the corner from the eponymous chef-owner’s flagship, House of Tides, and serves a multi-course tasting menu of well-balanced, highly intricate and complex dishes. The kitchen’s skill allows top-drawer ingredients to shine, whether that be scallops or pigeon, and the meal ends on a high with the varied, exquisitely constructed desserts. The chefs present the plates to guests themselves and provide detailed descriptions of their make-up. Go for the wine pairing for the ultimate dining experience.