Our Time at The Lord Crewe Arms
Reviewed by Lucy | Heather & Sand
A Birthday Surprise
Tom surprised me with a birthday weekend at The Lord Crewe Arms in late April, and it turned out to be one of our favourite little escapes of the year.
We arrived on a beautiful Friday evening, with the kind of golden spring sunshine that makes everything look rather magical.
Blanchland itself is extraordinary. A tiny village of stone cottages, narrow streets and a magnificent old church, seemingly untouched by time.
The Lord Crewe Arms fits into its surroundings perfectly. You could almost imagine arriving here by horse and carriage.
A Proper Welcome
Our room was gorgeous. Beautifully furnished, wonderfully comfortable and full of character.
But it was the welcome for Meg that really impressed us.
A dog bed, water bowls, treats and even a towel were waiting for her. It's those thoughtful little touches that make somewhere feel genuinely dog-friendly.
We unpacked and headed outside for drinks on the terrace, where enormous fire pits kept everyone warm as the evening cooled.
Sitting there with a glass of wine, watching the last of the daylight disappear, was one of those moments you wish you could bottle.
Dinner Worth Remembering
Dinner was exceptional.
We ate downstairs in the atmospheric stone dining room, with its enormous fireplace and ancient walls. Dogs are welcome here, so Meg could join us.
Tom even wore a shirt and tweed jacket for the occasion.
Still had his hiking boots on, mind you.
The food was beautifully prepared, with fresh ingredients and wonderful flavours. My chicken with wild mushrooms was delicious.
But the puddings stole the show.
We shared a Bakewell tart that might genuinely be the best we've ever tasted, followed by a beautiful rhubarb dessert.
We very nearly ordered seconds.
Instead, we settled in with another bottle of wine.
A Beautiful Morning
After a wonderfully peaceful night's sleep, we woke to a crisp, frosty spring morning.
Tom had already been out photographing the mist, of course.
We walked Meg beside the River Derwent, with rabbits in the fields, sunshine filtering through the trees and the last of the morning mist lifting from the water.
Breakfast was every bit as good as dinner.
Beautifully cooked local produce, plenty of coffee and toast, attentive service, and even a little sausage for Meg.
We also explored the lovely upstairs dining room, with its historic stonework and morning sunshine.
The Heather & Sand Verdict
The Lord Crewe Arms is somewhere we'd return to without hesitation. The setting is extraordinary, the accommodation comfortable, the food genuinely memorable and the welcome exceptionally warm — for both people and dogs.
It's not somewhere we'd choose for a quick, inexpensive overnight stop. It's somewhere we'd go to celebrate something, slow down and enjoy being together.
And sometimes, that's worth every penny.
One of our favourite Northumberland stays of the year.
Read the full story from our visit: A Birthday Weekend in Blanchland