Hexham’s The Rat Inn secures a spot in Estrella Damm’s UK Top 50 Gastropubs for 2025, marking its 13th appearance.
Estrella Damm calls it one of the greatest and longest-serving pubs.
The Rat Inn is near Hexham and co-owned by Karen Errington and Phil Mason. It’s a local hub and dining spot, with a menu that changes daily based on local goods.
Karen said they feel delighted, marking their 13th year in the top 50 and adding that everyone in the top 50 wins. She thanked the staff and those who voted for them, including gastropubs, critics, and journalists, noting they are very happy to be featured.
Phil Mason leads the kitchen, with Kevin Maclean as head chef. Mason won Pub Chef of the Year in 2023, awarded by The Craft Guild of Chefs.
Estrella Damm praised the pub’s menu, noting dishes such as pork belly with stew and red mullet with fennel and crab bisque. House-made scotch eggs with kimchi are also available. The Rat Inn also serves seasonal dishes, including oysters with vinaigrette, smoked salmon with lemon and soda bread, and terrine of the day served with chutney and toast.
The pub serves local ales and features an affordable wine list. It uses local farms and sources game during hunting season. The Rat Inn hosts wine dinners and community events, having hosted their first music festival in 2015.
The Estrella Damm website called it outstanding, noting the countryside pub has character. The kitchen displays talent, oozing personality and feeling filled with love—a pub worth visiting.
The Rat Inn will join a restaurant week running in Hexham from March 3 to 9, where restaurants offer deals to showcase their food.
