Just a short stroll from Alnmouth's sweeping beach, The Whittling House combines the comfort of a traditional Northumberland inn with a restaurant that takes local produce seriously. Set within a handsome village property and home to ten individually designed bedrooms, it has become a popular destination for everything from post-coastal walk lunches to special occasion dinners and relaxed weekend escapes.
The atmosphere strikes an appealing balance between refined and unfussy. Roaring fires, comfortable interiors and a warm welcome create the sort of setting that you'd hope to get from a wholesome, countryside in.
Seasonality sits at the heart of the kitchen's approach. The menu celebrates Northumberland's rich larder, with local suppliers featuring prominently throughout. Starters offer a glimpse of the restaurant's creativity, from roasted cauliflower houmous with Lebanese flatbread, pomegranate and toasted almonds to cured venison paired with a hen's egg, asparagus and black pudding crumb. Elsewhere, cured and scorched North Sea mackerel is served with mango and fennel escabeche, while ox cheek and mozzarella croquettes provide a comforting alternative.
The main courses continue the local theme. Fresh seafood is particularly well represented, with pan-fried North Sea red bream served alongside parsley velouté, Roscoff onion and crispy black pepper gnocchi, while the local lager-battered fish and chips offers a more traditional option. Meat dishes include a maple-glazed rare breed bacon chop with caramelised apple and a ballotine of corn-fed chicken wrapped in air-dried ham. Vegetarian diners are equally well catered for, with a carefully constructed pavé of cep, oyster and shiitake mushrooms proving that meat-free dishes receive just as much attention. From the grill, Northumbrian rump and rib-eye steaks showcase regional produce at its finest, while burgers offer a more casual option.
Finally, desserts provide a suitably indulgent finale, from baked white chocolate and blueberry cheesecake to banoffee semifreddo and an Alnwick rum piña colada knickerbocker glory.