Celebrated table

The Rat Inn

Name: The Rat Inn
Address: Anick, Northumberland, NE46 4LN, Hexham, GB
Telephone: 01434 602814

Head chef Kevin Maclean turns Northumbrian harvests into award-winning gastropub fare inside a charming 18th-century drovers’ inn.

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The story

The Rat Inn, Hexham: Seasonal British Cooking in a Historic Tyne Valley Inn

The chef and local sourcing

The Rat Inn in Hexham builds its reputation on seasonal British cooking rooted in Northumbrian farms and herds. Head chef Kevin Maclean arrived from the Isle of Skye in 2015, bringing a technique honed at Michelin-starred kitchens to a pub that prioritises provenance over pretence. His disciplined approach has earned consistent praise, including a spot at number eight in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs for fourteen straight years.

From history to the plate

Originally an 18th-century drovers’ inn, the building holds tales ranging from Jacobite spies to local rat catchers. This British kitchen channels that grounded heritage through a daily changing menu built around regional suppliers. Diners can order steaks sold strictly by weight alongside the pub’s own signature sauce, while daily specials rotate between pork and black pudding terrine and griddled sea bass with roasted cauliflower.

A cosy, character-filled setting

Sandstone walls frame a cosy interior defined by polished oak beams, stone flagstones, and open fires. Quirky details like a collection of antique chamber pots hanging from the ceiling add genuine character without tipping into theatricality. Guests choose between the intimate bar, a sunlit conservatory overlooking the Tyne Valley, or a dedicated dining room.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026

The Good Food Guide

Good

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Good

Cuisines British, Seasonal

Services Bar, Catering, Cocktails, Dinner, Fine Dining, Gastropub, Lunch, Outdoor Seating, Private Parties, Takeaway, Wine Pairing

History

On the record

2026

The Good Food Guide — Good

‘Great food, great atmosphere, proper pub,' declared one reader who lives locally. This revamped 18th-century drovers’ inn atop a hill also offers spectacular views of the Tyne Valley and proves its worth as a local watering hole, with an atmospheric bar, up to six ales from North Country microbreweries on tap and 'lots of quirky items to look at'. The cooking has real character too, and it's obvious that the kitchen is passionate about provenance and Northumbrian produce – check out the board detailing the local farms and herds that supply its meat. You can sample the results by ordering from the regular ‘seasonal menu’, which puts the emphasis firmly on steaks – sold by weight and served with the pub’s own ‘steak sauce’. Even more alluring is the list of daily specials, which might run from pork and black pudding terrine to griddled sea bass with roasted cauliflower, lemon and caper butter. Skilfully fashioned desserts could be anything from Basque cheesecake to Manchester tart, although the rhubarb crumble with homemade ice cream has also gone down a treat. The personally selected wine list includes a dozen selections by the glass.

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Established

Location

Find us

Anick, Northumberland, NE46 4LN
Hexham, United Kingdom
01434 602814
info@theratinn.com
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