A Closer Look at 31 Market Place
We haven’t eaten here ourselves yet. This introduction draws on the restaurant’s website, published diner feedback, heritage information and a visitor’s accessibility account.
An Abbey-side pause
A wander around Hexham, a look inside the Abbey, then the question of where to eat. Having somewhere just across the Market Place makes that last part pleasantly straightforward.
The restaurant’s website describes two distinct food services: daily brunch and evening cooking over fire from Tuesday to Saturday. For a visit, that means deciding whether you want a daytime stop or a longer evening meal, then booking around the relevant kitchen hours.
What recent diners have said
The five OpenTable reviews visible when we researched the entry offered a small, mostly positive sample. October 2026 diners praised the food, setting and service. One visiting during Hexham Restaurant Week particularly enjoyed the focaccia and stylish interior; another appreciated staff accommodating specific requests.
There was a less favourable account too, criticising the service, food and atmosphere. Those different experiences are worth keeping in view: a handful of reviews can offer clues, but doesn’t establish what every meal will be like.
Old buildings, a new chapter
Historic England records No. 31 as a late-eighteenth-century, three-storey building, listed in 1951. Elliott Architects describes the restaurant project as the conversion of two Grade II listed buildings, completed in 2026, with historic features preserved and restored.
That gives the setting a story beyond the menu: another chapter in buildings that have watched a good deal of Hexham life pass by.
Access deserves a conversation
A visitor posting on Euan’s Guide on 29 October 2026 reported a substantial entrance step, restricted room for moving around in a wheelchair and no accessible toilet. This is an individual account of an October visit, rather than an H&S access inspection, but it is important information for anyone planning a meal.
If you use a wheelchair or need step-free access, contact the restaurant at info@31marketplacehexham.co.uk to discuss the current arrangements before booking.
Heather & Sand’s take: A prospect for brunch or an evening meal while exploring Hexham, with an interesting historic setting and some encouraging recent diner feedback. We’ll save our own food verdict until we’ve pulled up a chair.
Sources and more information
- 31 Market Place’s own website — menus, prices, service times and reservations.
- Read diner reviews on OpenTable — the small sample summarised above.
- Historic England’s listing for No. 31 — building date and listed status.
- Elliott Architects’ project account — the 2026 conversion.
- Read the October 2026 accessibility review on Euan’s Guide.
Online research checked 5 November 2026. Menus, prices, hours and access arrangements may change.