The Granby Inn
Longframlington
Near Morpeth
Northumberland
Tel: (01665) 570 228 
On first entering The Granby, take a deep breath. And savour it. It's something that strikes you as soon as you walk through the doors into the bar. Not a hint of a stench of smoke. Not an ashtray to be seen. An immediate plus point in my book, and just the first of several to follow after an exquisite meal in this quaint country inn. Smoking isn't totally banned at the 250-year-old Granby. Sometimes, when all the food orders have been taken and the meals eaten, the owners will allow a little light-up. But only in the bar - and it doesn't happen that often, according to those in charge. And the pub really does benefit from this no smoking policy. The Granby, truth be told, is more than just a pub, and I'm not just talking of its historical character and old oak beams. Owned and run by the Hall and Bright families, it also provides accommodation in idyllic surroundings, with the Northumbrian countryside on your doorstep. Its main attraction, though, has to be its menu. As we tucked into our meals, locals came and went, with passing trade (us included) stopping off to sample the delights. Everyone is welcomed by exceptional, friendly staff who immediately put you at ease. Meals can be eaten in the bar, lounge or restaurant and there are specials and à la carte menus to choose from. The food is prepared from produce delivered daily from Martin Family Butchers in Morpeth, local greengrocers and North Shields Fish Quay. We decided to give the à la carte menu a go. Met with an array of tempting dishes, we nevertheless opted to share a simple potato skins with garlic mayonnaise and tangy salsa dips (£3.95) for starters. We wanted to save ourselves for main course. A heaped plate of tattie skins greeted us, and the dips were delicious. The salsa sauce had a real kick to it. The Granby boasts an eclectic menu, a good range of fish, meat and vegetarian options - how about lamb cutlets glazed with mustard and brown sugar, king prawns with sweet chilli sauce or rack of lamb with black pudding? But it was the breast of chicken in a lemon paprika sauce (£9.10) which caught my mate's eyes. Good choice, in his words: "The sauce blew my boots off, absolutely gorgeous!" The chicken was cooked to perfection, while the sauce was of the right consistency and taste that it enhanced the chicken rather than take its taste away. The veg was al dente, not over or underdone, and included broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and mashed turnip. It all smacked of great home cooking. As for my sirloin steak stuffed with pate in a port wine sauce (£12.30), the only word I can think of is "ditto". The steak looked huge ("Just as well you didn't order the T-bone," joked the waitress). Of course, it looked bigger due to the copious amounts of delicious pate inserted into it. Cooked medium, as I had asked, it was faultless, and the sauce simply scrumptious. We wanted to go to the sweet menu, but were replete. Maybe next time. Asides from the food, what sets The Granby apart is its service and friendliness. You are made to feel so welcome and the two women who served up our meals just made the whole experience more enjoyable. A pair of chatterboxes, but not in an overbearing way. Here is a proper country pub. The decor is homely and timeless, just how a country bar should be. There are no pretensions, what you see is what you get - and what you get is top-notch all the way. For those who wish to stop off overnight, there are five furnished bedrooms, and you can relax in the inn's conservatory area. The Granby is on the A697 north of Morpeth and within easy reach of the Northumbrian coast, Cheviots, Alnwick, Holy Island, Farne Islands, the jewel of Northumbrian villages that is Craster (perfect for romantic days out) and Hadrian's Wall. The perfect place to unwind after taking in the sights, The Granby is packed with country charm, and certainly rates among Northumberland's finest. | 
