UK Restaurant Guide

The AA English Hotel of the Year 2008-2009, Jesmond Dene House is a tranquil haven located in a wooded valley just minutes north of Newcastle city centre. The Grade II listed building dates back to the 1820s but behind the imposing Gothic facade the hotel has undergone an extensive refurbishment and now seamlessly matches contemporary styling with the building's historic Arts and Crafts movement features. Jesmond Dene has 40 individually designed bedrooms (eight in a modern annexe), conference and meeting facilities, a wood-panelled Great Hall and the two-AA-rosetted restaurant run by Head Chef Pierre Rigothier.

The restaurant is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has two dining areas - the elegant former music room and the bright and airy garden room with its summer terrace. There are also three small private dining rooms as well as the Great Hall which is suitable for larger functions. The cuisine takes a contemporary approach to classical French cooking with menus ranging from set lunch and the good-value Market Menu to the main a la carte and the six-course tasting menus. Top-quality produce is used whether its organic beef from the Tyne valley or pigeon from Anjou and you can expect starters such as Lindisfarne oysters with lime mousse, horseradish cream and lemon balm from the garden and mains like Monkridge Hill Farm spring lamb, stuffed baby vegetable 'Niçoise', wild rocket and aubergine fritter. The tasting menu checks in at £55 - £45 for the vegetarian tasting menu - and can be had with an optional wine flight from an expansive and carefully sourced list with plenty of options at all price points.

AA
Three rosettes

Head Chef
Pierre Rigothier

Lunch
2 courses, £21; 3 courses, £24 (sample menu)
Sunday Lunch: 3 courses, £25 (sample menu)
The restaurant is open for lunch every day.

Dinner
A la carte menu (sample menu)
Tasting menu: 6 courses, £55 (sample menu)
Vegetarian Tasting menu: 6 courses, £45 (sample menu)
Market menu: 3 courses, £25, available Monday-Friday (sample menu)
The restaurant is open for dinner every day

Wine List
The 20-page wine list is thoughtfully put together and ranges from Krug 1995 and Haut Brion 1985 to 40 wines priced under £25 and a house selection of two dozen wines available by the glass or carafe.

Accommodation
40 rooms and suites

Getting There
Jesmond Dene House is one and a half miles north of Newcastle city centre.

Attractions
Newcastle city centre, Durham Cathedral, Hadrian's Wall, Alnwick Garden, Holy Island, Northumberland's beaches.

Contact Details
Jesmond Dene House
Jesmond Dene Road
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE2 2EY
Tel: 0191 212 3000
Jesmond Dene House website
Email Jesmond Dene House