Hi, I'm Angela. In this blog, we hope to share the highlights of running a Northumberland country inn and introduce you to some of the people we are lucky enough to meet along the way.
Did you know that an estimated 85% of people in the UK have never experienced the breathtaking beauty of a truly dark sky?
Here at the Pheasant Inn on the edge of Kielder Water and Forest Park, our skies have been awarded Gold Tier Dark Sky Park status by the International Dark Skies Association. That makes us the biggest Dark Sky Park area of protected night sky in Europe, and if you step out of the Pheasant Inn and look upwards you are looking at what is now officially named Northumberland Dark Sky Park.
We feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country. On an average night we might see between 1,500 and 2,000 stars, and on a clear night we can sometimes even see the Milky Way.
The Hexham Courant, the Journal and other regional newspapers and magazines have been full of the news that Kielder Observatory has launched a bid to launch an £8.5m Astronomy Village project that will include a 60 seat planetarium, glass topped pods, a telescope with a one metre wide aperture accessible to wheelchair users, and an accommodation block for visiting astronomers.
The observatory draws around 25,000 visitors a year, from professional and amateur astronomers to couples and families with children, and some of them travel thousands of miles to admire our beautiful Northumberland skies.
We are only a 10-minute drive away from the observatory and lots of visitors choose to stay overnight in our comfortably-furnished Northumberland B&B accommodation. We’re glad to go the extra mile for our stargazing visitors, for instance providing early dining for those leaving for the observatory between 5.30 and 6 pm.
Northumberland Dark Sky Park is now officially one of the best places to stargaze in the whole of Europe. And after an evening spent wondering at the majesty of the galaxy, many of our visitors tell us there are few things nicer than sinking into one of our comfy beds and dreaming of the hearty Northumberland breakfast that awaits them in the morning.
Here at The Pheasant Inn Kielder we believe it’s never too early to mention the Christmas word, and we’re pleased to say we have just put the finishing touches to our special Christmas menu, available on a pre-booked basis from 28th November to 20th December.
Robin has put together a mouth-watering three course set menu which as well as including traditional juicy turkey with all the seasonal trimmings also features our famous slow roasted Northumbrian lamb with a rosemary and redcurrant jus, or steamed fillets of plaice filled with prawns served with a lemon and parsley sauce, or a vegetarian option of baked aubergine stuffed with roasted vegetables, feta cheese and walnuts.
On the starters menu we are offering home-made chicken liver parfait with apple and ginger chutney, mildly spiced parsnip soup or twice baked Northumberland cheese soufflé that I can promise you will just melt in the mouth.
Diners who have room to squeeze down a dessert can choose from traditional Christmas pudding and brandy sauce, warm chocolate cake served with cream or Beckleberry’s clotted cream ice cream, or an absolutely delicious panna cotta with caramelised oranges and Cointreau – pudding heaven.
The Christmas bar will as usual be featuring our expertly-kept real ales, fine wines, a 50-strong range of fine malt whiskies and eight different types of gin, to tempt our diners to linger by the open fires until long after sensible people are in bed. Speaking of which, with eight very comfortable ensuite rooms we can accommodate up to 18 people overnight, which means no one has to drive.
The three course menu is priced at a very reasonable £22.50 and includes coffee and after dinner mints.
If this has got your mouth watering and you’re looking for a relaxing Christmas evening away with a group of family or friends, give us a call to check availability. Christmas is the season of goodwill and hospitality, and you won’t find a warmer Northumbrian welcome than our great team offers at The Pheasant – come and see us soon.