I feel that this perhaps isn’t so much a review as a public-service announcement.
The Plough, an exclusive boutique hotel and restaurant, offering a perfectly prepared dining experience in the most luxuriously relaxed surroundings is a not-to-be-missed experience.
Established for years, the Plough has been there all along nestling in the heart of the historic Northumbrian market town of Alnwick. Perhaps you’ve just forgotten about it or haven’t come across it yet; but it’s there patiently awaiting your arrival.
And what a lovely reception we received upon our arrival. Running late, as ever, I turned up for a Mother’s Day lunch with my parents and son a disgraceful 20 minutes late.
We were escorted by the Michael, the manager, and made comfortable in the upstairs dining area. With my tardiness guilt assuaging rapidly, we settled down in the contemporary upstairs dining area which is tastefully decorated and simply charming.
Large windows offer plenty of light, while fixed to the ceiling is chandelier style lights, and the walls are home to a gleaming display of wine bottles and ornate clocks.
The Mother’s Day menu offered a selection of local fish and meats from Northumberland’s farmlands. A great wine list and a good range of beers are also available.
To start with, I opted for oak smoked salmon with lemon and caper berries. I can eat capers by the spoonful straight out of the jar, so this was a seventh heaven delight for me, and the salmon was excellent quality.
My son and father both chose sautéed fresh chicken livers, smoked bacon with toasted running fox artisan bread. As a pescetarian this doesn’t float my boat, but I was assured it was delicious and both plates were certainly swiftly cleared.
The twice baked Doddingtons Admiral Collingwood cheese soufflé tempted my mum, and a delicious treat it was too.
My son can never resist lamb and was thrilled to find herb crusted loin of spring lamb with roasted garlic and rosemary jus available as a main. Beautifully presented, my boy was super happy with this culinary delight.
The rest of us selected grilled fillet of sea bass, warm salad of new potatoes, roasted fennel with a lobster butter sauce. The sea bass, the skin of which crisped to a crunchy delight, was set upon crushed new potatoes and a tasty lobster sauce.
This meal was one of the best I’ve had for a long time. My only trouble was finishing it as the portions are healthily generous.
Replete, we decided to share two desserts between the four of us and the homemade banoffee pie with vanilla pod Doddingtons ice cream and the homemade melt in the middle chocolate fondue with raspberry coulis made the grade.
Both deliciously sweet they were the perfect round-up to an enjoyable Mother’s Day feast.
For a family dining experience that you’ll all enjoy, a great night out with friends, or an intimate dinner for two, The Plough offers the perfect setting and boasts beautiful food that is locally sourced, homemade and reasonably priced. What more can you ask for?
Get there now!
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Jennifer Clair Robson 