Landmark sister pub reopens in County Durham following tip to toe refurbishment

April 2018

It's been closed for a major top to toe refurbishment. And now our sister inn The Seaton Lane Inn is open once again with a remarkable new look...

The overhaul includes a total redesign of this landmark County Durham inn’s dining and bar area which has an outdoors-indoors theme, complete with vivid prints; pops of bright, earthy colours and accessories and a blend of contemporary and retro signature furniture and lighting. 

The addition of a bold, botanical-themed orangery complete with water feature and plant walls forms a central showstopper for customers to relax in. 

Each of the inn’s 18 en-suite bedrooms have been refurbished, with signature wallpaper, natural-coloured paneling and metallic detailing. 

In a nod to tradition, the inn’s exterior retains its white upper section, while an olive green ground floor continues the natural theme. 

Seaton resident John Wight was the first customer through the doors. He said: “It’s fantastic. I never envisaged it would look like this – it’s amazing. It’s great to be back. There’s nothing like being at your local, the staff are excellent, you can’t fault them. They are like a family. 

“It’s brilliant to have The Seaton Lane Inn back and looking so beautiful.” 

General manager Paul Brown said: “What a transformation. It is absolutely stunning. The best thing has been seeing people’s reactions when they step inside. We went to great lengths to keep the new interior a secret and the end result is spectacular with real wow-factor. 

“The investment has transformed The Seaton Lane Inn into a sophisticated, yet relaxed place you just won’t want to leave and a tremendous asset for business and consumer guests in County Durham, serving quality homemade food and drink all day, every day as well as providing high-quality, AA four-star accommodation.”

Thirst class effort: Charity ale raises funds for Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team at The King’s Head Inn

March 2018

A charity ale launched by The King’s Head Inn to support Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team has raised much-needed funds during one of the charity’s busiest ever times.

Customers at The King’s Head Inn have supped their way through a whopping 5,000 pints of the inn’s ‘Thirst Aid’ ale since it was launched – with 5p from every pint sold going to Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team.

Ken Dunbar of Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team said: “The money raised by The King’s Head Inn is very timely and very thankfully received and could not have come at a more critical time for us.

“Not only have we just made our biggest-ever investment to rebuild our out-dated base and turn it into a proper, modern environment to store our vehicles and equipment, but because of the Beast from the East visitation, we have had a really busy start to the year.

“Our team was actively involved in supporting local district nurses to help them provide urgent medical assistance to people in the surrounding communities who were snowbound.

“The King’s Head Inn funds are extremely important to us, as a charity with volunteers we are absolutely reliant on the generosity of people who support us with fundraising efforts like the inn and their customers.

Mr Dunbar added: “This has certainly been one of the most enthusiastically embraced fundraising events our team members have enjoyed. Being encouraged to go to the local pub and drink beer with a clear conscience knowing it was all been done in a good cause was brilliant!”

The inn’s ‘Thirst Aid’ ale was launched in 2016 following a competition to name the beer, which takes pride of place on the pub’s bar.

The winning name was suggested by Malcolm Rymer, from Nunthorpe, after The King’s Head Inn teamed up with its local Mountain Rescue Team to help raise funds for the organisation and honour the work they do right on the popular inn’s doorstep.

General manager Chris Moor said: “We’re located in an area that is absolutely central to walkers and is a fantastic playground for outdoors enthusiasts. We wanted to do our bit to support a local charity that provides a real lifeline in the local community. 

“The King’s Head Inn enjoys a long-standing connection with Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team, which is now in its 53^rd year. As their base is just along the road from us, we’ve enjoyed welcoming many generations of CMRT volunteers in to enjoy our facilities over the years.

“We hope people will continue to raise a glass of Thirst Aid - and funds - for such a worthwhile cause.”

The King’s Head Inn is owned by independent hospitality operators The Inn Collection Group, which is backed by Kings Park Capital.

 

Discover Britain's Favourite Walks from The King's Head Inn

February 2018

If the runaway success of ITV’s Britain’s Favourite Walks has inspired you to dust off your walking boots, then head for The King's Head Inn and enjoy some of the UK’s best walks on your doorstep.

A trailblazing nine routes within driving distance of The King's Head Inn - and the pub with rooms' northern sister inns - made it into the programme’s top 100, with the North – and especially coastal walks – coming out top among voters.

Around 8,000 people voted for their favourite walks for the programme, presented by Julia Bradbury and Ore Oduba, with famous faces and keen hikers profiling their own favourite paths.

Sean Donkin operations director of The Inn Collection Group, owners of The King's Head Inn said: “It’s no surprise that people love to walk in the North. We have the best beaches, more castles than any other county in England, rugged hill country and showstopper viewpoints  – all interspersed with amazing local history and attractions.

“Our inns, which include The King's Head Inn, span the North of England, including Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire, pride themselves on welcoming in walkers. Our staff are keen hikers themselves. Myself, along with general managers from the whole group have just walked the route from Dunstanburgh to Craster – the very route which made the show’s final ten in the whole of the country. 

"Roseberry Topping, another favourite walk of our team - and my personal favourite walk - is situated just behind The King's Head Inn - was voted 23 in the show as being one of the nation's favourite walks."

He added: “We welcome muddy boots, have wash down facilities, help with drying wet gear – and staff are always happy to share local knowledge of nearby routes, facilities, accessibility, public transport and what people can see and do along the way – they will even drop off and collect walkers from their routes, if they can.”

To celebrate the wealth of walks around The King's Head Inn, the inn has introduced Walk Inn breaks.  

Including bed and breakfast, a welcome drink on arrival, dinner, a pack of 20 waterproofed O/S walks around the inn of your choice, and a packed lunch, Walk Inn cost £85 per person.

See walks from ITV’s Britain’s Favourite Walks – Top 100 here. 

 

Game qualification is feather in the cap for The King's Head Inn chefs

December 2017

Chefs from The King's Head Inn kitchen went lock, stock and barrel for game and were on target to take a full bag of qualifications. 

Chefs from the group’s seven pubs – The Lindisfarne Inn at Beal; The Bamburgh Castle Inn at Seahouses; The Hog’s Head Inn at Alnwick; The Commissioners Quay Inn at Blyth in Northumberland; The Seaton Lane Inn and The Kingslodge  in County Durham, took part in a Game Food Hygiene training course, and sat the assessment to gain the award of ‘Trained Hunter’ status as part of the group’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standard of food preparation and service. 

The course saw chefs explore the processes involved to safely process game from fur or feather to the kitchen table.

Game enthusiast Sean Donkin is operations director at The King's Head Inn.

He said: “Game dishes are amongst the most popular our award-winning kitchens create. It is a food we are very proud to champion. Not only is it incredibly tasty and versatile, it is a very healthy product being naturally leaner than farmed meat, has low food miles and is totally free range and ethically reared.

“Part and parcel with cooking with game is ensuring that we source and use game that is fully traceable and meets our rigorous standards of food hygiene.

“As well as a talent and flair for creating absolutely delicious game dishes in the kitchen, our chefs all proved themselves to be high fliers in their knowledge and understanding of hygiene issues relating to game, its sourcing, preparation and storage.”

He added: “The course is part of our ongoing commitment to staff training and development. Maintaining these high standards through training, education and best practice ensures our customers enjoy dishes that not only taste superb, but are prepared and made to the very highest food hygiene standards.”