To all our customers

Further to the Prime Minister’s recent announcement we have taken the sad but necessary decision to close Battlesteads at 11.00am tomorrow (Wednesday 25th March 2020) for the shortest period as possible, whilst adhering to UK Government guidelines.

We appreciate there will be people with general enquiries and ask you to get in touch via info@battlesteads.com to discuss anything further.

We want to do what we can to lighten the mood in these sombre times, so please keep in touch through our social media channels.

May I take this opportunity to thank the team at Battlesteads for their sheer determination to keep the lights on as long as possible. You are the epitome of customer service.

Stay safe, keep well and we shall be back, stronger than ever, as soon as we can.

Best Regards,

Katie Meyrick-Scott
General Manager

With the rapid global development of COVID-19 we would like to let you know where we stand.

As of midnight on Friday 20th March we are closed to all non residents of the hotel. This measure will stay in place until we are advised otherwise by the UK Government.

We are still open for residents of the hotel, and this will remain so until the UK Government announces guidelines for hotels.

If you feel that you still wish to support us during these testing times, we have a full range of gift vouchers available via our website, which can be purchased and emailed to you, for a loved one or friend who can spend it with us after normality resumes.

Stay safe, stay healthy and we will update you with any changes as and when the information becomes available to us.

Team Battlesteads

TO OUR CUSTOMERS, FRIENDS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY

With the rapid global development of COVID-19 and yesterday's statement, we would like to let you know where we stand.

First and most importantly, we intend to remain open through this difficult time.

We will continue to follow guidance from the Government and as long as the business is safe for all, we will remain open. Our priority is to continue to support our Battlesteads family of staff and suppliers, we will do whatever we can to achieve this.

As business begins to slow down, we are adapting our operations day to day, thus enabling us to continue providing our guests and customers with great hospitality for as long as possible.

From Wednesday 18th March, we are making temporary changes to our current opening hours which will see us closing for restaurant service Monday to Friday during the hours of 10am to 6.00pm and 10am to 2pm for bar service. Additionally, we will be offering a takeaway service during the evening, 7 days a week, This will be a new venture particularly with those in mind that are in isolation, a post regarding this will follow shortly.

We hope that you all will still be able to visit us, so we can continue to provide the hospitality we have built our reputation on over the last 15 years.

If you feel that is not currently possible and still wish to support us during these testing times, we have a full range of gift vouchers available via our website, which can be purchased and emailed to you, for a loved one or friend who can spend it with us after normality resumes.

Stay safe, stay healthy and we will update you with any changes to our services as necessary.

Team Battlesteads

Eco-friendly Northumberland hotel Battlesteads, near Wark, has been shortlisted in three categories of the North East England Tourism Awards 2020.

The hotel, restaurant and observatory will be competing in the categories of 'Small Hotel', 'Taste' and 'Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism' at the regional awards ceremony, which takes place on Tuesday 24 March.

Nearly 150 applications were received for this year’s awards, which are organised and delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative in partnership with the Northern Tourism Alliance.

The awards play a key role in highlighting the importance of tourism in the region, which continues to be the fourth largest sector in the North East economy.

Battlesteads' success in the shortlisting for these awards is thanks to a combination of its industry-leading sustainability credentials, championing of home grown and local produce and boosting year-round tourism in the region through its onsite Dark Sky Observatory.

General manager of Battlesteads, Katie Meyrick-Scott, said: "We are thrilled to have been shortlisted in three categories at the 2020 awards, especially as the three categories represent the key pillars of our business – warm and welcoming hospitality, delicious local food and drink and an inspiring eco-friendly experience. We are looking forward to celebrating with all of the other fantastic local businesses who have been shortlisted at the ceremony next year."

Sarah Stewart, chief executive at destination management and marketing organisation NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: "Having launched the new look Tourism Awards for 2020, it's great to see the number and quality of applications that we have received. The refreshed format aligns the Awards more closely with the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence and gives a wider range of businesses a chance to be successful thanks to the new categories."

Our resident astronomers, astrophotographers & guests have been busy taking some great new photos at the Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory. Check out the Observatory Gallery to see what they have been up to. 

If you are interested in astrophotography why not check out one of our upcoming astrophotography events.

Northumberland hotel and restaurant Battlesteads, near Wark, is Brexit-proofing its new eight-course tasting menu, with a focus on home-grown produce and UK seasonality.

To ensure the availability of all dishes on the hotel’s tasting menu, which aims to offer guests a true taste of Northumberland, Battlesteads has specifically designed the new autumn/winter menu to have no reliance on ingredients or products from the EU, in case a ‘no deal’ scenario results in food and drink shortages.

The award-winning eco hotel grows much of the green vegetables, salads and herbs on the menu in its onsite gardens and polytunnels. Last year Battlesteads also introduced a temperature and humidity-controlled mushroom farm to grow oyster and shitake mushrooms all year round, and head chef Eddie Shilton also home-smokes meats, fish and cheese sourced locally.

Dishes on the new menu include a selection of in-house produced charcuterie, including Wark forest ham, saucisson sec, smoked duck, smoked brie and speck, with pickled courgettes from the garden; semi freddo and carpaccio of beetroot, with micro-herbs grown under LED lights; home-smoked salmon with lemon jelly; duck breast with savoury granola, black pudding 'prune', charred cauliflower floret and cassis jelly; a regularly changing dessert and Northumbrian cheeseboard.

The menu can also be accompanied by a flight of wines, sourced from outside the EU, and finishing with Battlesteads owner Dee Slade’s homegrown and homemade sloe gin.

Head chef at Battlesteads, Eddie Shilton, said: "Our focus has always been on showcasing the very best local and home-grown produce, and our tasting menu offers the perfect opportunity to show diners just how fantastic seasonal UK food can be. Our gardening team, grows an amazing range of vegetables, herbs and fruit, and we are lucky to have some of the best producers in the country right here on our doorstep. UK-wide, 28% of what we eat comes from the EU, but our tasting menu is a true taste of Northumberland that won’t be impacted by Brexit or our relationship with Europe."