I live by the idea that a weekend well-spent brings a week of content, and this past weekend held true to that. After a birthday meal in Newcastle for my fiancée followed by a long lie-in, what better way to end the weekend than with a delicious Sunday lunch in glorious Northumberland?
I’d been invited to review Sunday lunch at Close House and to be completely honest, this invitation was the first I’d ever heard of the place. Tom and his Dad knew all about Close House though: the golf resort is a favourite among North East golfers thanks to the two Lee Westwood golf courses there.
It turns out that you don’t have to play or even have an interest in golf to dine or stay at Close House. Their No.19 restaurant is open to non-members for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and Sunday lunch. I was pleased to find that it’s a modern establishment, without the strict dress code and rules you might find at other golf resorts.
So, is Close House’s Sunday lunch worth making the short journey from Newcastle for? Absolutely. Here’s my review of the restaurant at Close House.
Sunday Lunch at Close House
The No.19 restaurant has a laid-back atmosphere and there’s a good amount of space between tables – probably the most space I’ve seen anywhere since places re-opened.
I noticed a laminated piece of card on the table and asked what it was for. When the red side is showing, staff know that table hasn’t yet been sanitised. Green means the table is clean and ready for diners. What a great, diligent system!
If you book, be sure to request a table by the window or even on the outdoor terrace if the weather allows. The views over the golf course and out across the Northumbrian hills are very impressive!
Service was quick, which was a good thing because we were both hungry after the drive from Sunderland. Sundays at Close House are all about the roast dinners and there’s a choice between pork, beef, chicken, nut roast and fish. I was impressed at the variety, especially for non-meat eaters.
I opted for the prawn timbale to start. It’s served in a light lemon mayonnaise with roquette. It’s not something I’d usually order but the prawns were fresh and the lemon dressing made it a very refreshing way to start Sunday lunch.
Tom’s mam Angie ordered forest mushrooms ‘on toast’. They were delicious! The poached hen’s egg yolk was slightly on the hard side so we missed out on that satisfying ooze spilling over the bread, but it wasn’t completely solid.
For the main event, Angie went with roast loin of pork (my idea of roast dinner hell) and I ordered the roast sirloin of beef. If you’re extra hungry, you can order a ‘multi roast’ with all three meats.
Both roasts are served with lashings of proper gravy, large Yorkshire puddings that are pleasingly fluffy rather than crispy, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables, which arrived at our table separately. I was impressed with the selection of vegetables, all of which are cooked to perfection with a slight bite.
The meats were succulent and the pork had a thick piece of juicy fat and crispy crackling (again Angie’s food heaven, my hell). You also get sausage meat stuffing with the pork or chicken, which was very tasty.
We ordered a side of cauliflower cheese. It was a generous portion size and one of the cheesiest I’ve had.
For dessert, I just had to try the sticky toffee pudding. Now, I’ve tried A LOT of sticky toffee pudding and it may just have been the best. There was enough butterscotch sauce to swim in and the pudding itself just melted in the mouth.
Angie had the crème brûlée which was served with homemade shortbread. Both desserts were seriously indulgent and absolutely worth the calories.
The price for three courses is £24.00. One course is £16.50 and two is £21.00. It felt like a great value price for the quality of the food and surroundings.
Oh, and there was live music! The acoustic musician had a voice like honey (but like, gruff, sexy honey). It was just loud enough to provide a soothing backing track to Sunday lunch, while we could easily hold a conversation.
A walk through the countryside might be called for after three courses and you’re in the perfect place for it. Close House is on the Hadrian’s Wall route – in fact, the walking trails cross through the grounds!
I’d definitely recommend the No.19 restaurant for a family Sunday lunch or even a meal out during the week. The new menu launches soon and it’s full of ciabattas, burgers, mussels, salads, pasta and mains like pan fried trout fillet on linguini and wholetail scampi.
Accommodation at Close House
We had a tour of the accommodation at Close House and I’d love to have a staycation there one day. The 16 Courtyard rooms are elegantly decorated and each is named after a golf course designed by architect Harry Colt. The artwork in the room depicts the golf course it’s named after.
Those roll-top baths!
Nestled in the heart of the estate, the Pavilion was my favourite of the accommodation options at Close House. Tastefully decorated in Ralph Lauren and whitewashed wood with its own kitchen, the Pavilion sleeps four and transports one to the US coast.
There’s also The Lodge, which makes for the most idyllic hideaway in Northumberland. It has its own hot tub, which is tucked into a shed so you can use it in privacy come rain or shine.
Would you like to stay and dine at Close House this year? There are a few deals you can take advantage of at the moment!
Courtyard suites
Dinner, bed and breakfast with a free upgrade (subject to availability) and complimentary bottle of prosecco in your room.
Monday – Thursday: £170 for two people
Friday and Saturday: £200 for two people
Lodge and Pavillion
Dinner, bed and breakfast with a complimentary bottle of prosecco in your room.
Monday – Thursday: £350
Friday and Saturday: £400
More North East England travel inspiration
Luxury rentals for couples in Northumberland
How to have a perfect weekend in Newcastle
What to do in Durham: countryside, city and coast
Dog-friendly things to do in Tynemouth
The best North East spa hotels
Guide to visiting Finchale Abbey in Durham
Best glamping spots in NE England
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, I was invited to review Sunday lunch at Close House in exchange for a complimentary meal. Views are my own and this blog post is not sponsored.
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