Award-winning pub by river is creating a splash

An old country pub in a unique spot, near where the north and south Tyne rivers meet, is making quite a splash in the food trade with a boatload of new awards.

- BARBARA HODGSON

And its big scoop is a measure of success for its owners, who have been hard at work since taking it over just under two years ago.

The Boatside Inn - also a guest-house - at Warden, a hamlet not far from Hexham in Northumberland, is 243 years old, and owners Emma and James Middleton, with their new team, have revamped its decor and boosted its menu, building up a reputation for a diverse menu showcasing quality ingredients.

And its range of food, which has seen the likes of its Sunday lunches and 'Boatside Pies' hit the mark with hungry diners, has now earned it top awards.