Northumberland just became the UK’s most exciting food destination – and here’s how to taste it

A new county-wide scheme is uniting Northumberland’s best producers, restaurants, distilleries and food experiences under one quality mark – and it’s the perfect excuse to explore.

Northumberland has always had exceptional food and drink. The cheese, the honey, the craft beer, the whisky, the Michelin-starred restaurants tucked into villages that feel like the end of the world in the best possible way. But until now, there hasn’t been a single place to find it all – or a trusted way to know that what you’re buying, eating, and drinking is the genuine article.

Enter Taste of Northumberland. Launched by Visit Northumberland in partnership with Food and Drink North East and Northumberland County Council, it’s the first scheme of its kind anywhere in the UK: a county-wide programme bringing together nearly 100 producers, retailers and hospitality businesses under a quality mark that assures consumers of genuine ingredients, artisan skill and locally sourced products.

Think of it as your passport to the best of Northumberland’s food story – whether you’re planning a weekend away, looking for something special to bring home, or simply wanting to eat and drink better closer to home.

“Taste of Northumberland is a celebration of authenticity and heritage that reassures customers of genuine local ingredients. We are thrilled to be launching it to consumers and to be welcoming a range of media to Northumberland to showcase the county’s exceptional food offering, from behind-the-scenes tours of our producers to tastings and foodie-themed experiences.”

Andrew Fox, Chair of Visit Northumberland, says

What does the scheme actually include?

Taste of Northumberland isn’t just a logo on a label. It’s a living, bookable programme of experiences; tastings, pop-ups, food trails, immersive tours, and special menus, alongside a network of verified producers and retailers whose provenance you can trust. The scheme also connects businesses with each other, strengthening local supply chains and building a genuinely joined-up food community across the county.

Whether you want to book a gin-making experience, track down the county’s best cheese, explore a working distillery, or simply eat somewhere that takes local produce seriously, the Taste of Northumberland mark tells you exactly where to start.

TASTE OF NORTHUMBERLAND PRODUCERS TO KNOW

With nearly 100 businesses already signed up, choosing where to start is part of the joy. Here’s a curated guide to some of the founding producers in the scheme right now.