03 December 2023 , 09:01
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A beautiful village nestled in the north of England with a population of just 200 is home to Britain's "best and oldest pub" - and the chances are you've probably never heard of it.
The quaint village of Blanchland, straddling the borders of Northumberland and County Durham, is nestled deep in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area has a turbulent past evidenced by its flush of castles, with more found in the county than anywhere else in Britain. Romans, Vikings, the Scots and border Reivers have all fought hard to control this beautiful corner of the world.
The church of St Mary's in the Northumbrian village of Blanchland - which houses Britain's ''best and oldest pub' (In Pictures via Getty Images)But in a completely different pace of life, Blanchland not only boasts a picture-perfect, historic village - recreated in the 18th century from the ruins of a medieval monastery - it also houses The Lord Crewe Arms, the best and oldest pub in all of the land as voted for by experts.
The historic boozer offers everything you may expect from a country pub - including stone walls, wooden beams and flickering candles - all set around an open fire to transport customers back in time. The Lord Crew Arms is so good that it was named Inn of the Year by the Good Pub Guide in 2018 - and it was recently named it the best summer pub in the UK The Telegraph.
The Lord Crewe Arms Hotel has been classed as one of Britain's best boozers (In Pictures via Getty Images)And unlike it's historic surroundings, the Lord Crew Arms serves up a fresh, modern take on gastropub grub that will appease even the most seasoned foodie. Salt beef burgers and truffle omelettes for lunch, venison cottage pie and roasted rump of beef for dinner, plus an array of rich deserts, are enough to whet the appetite of Brits looking to explore the area.
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Perfect for an after dinner walk, Blanchland also houses 46 grade-listed buildings and 11 ancient monument, as well as acres upon acres of beautiful countryside to explore. It features picturesque houses, set against a backdrop of deep woods and open moors.
And the village has also played host to some of TVs most popular shows, including ITV crime drama Vera, 2012 teen series Wolf Blood and Hollywood flick Jude (starring Kate Winslet and Christopher Ecclestone).