A former Northumberland National Park visitor centre in Rothbury is about to commence its next chapter with the opening of Bewick’s Kitchen & Coffee House this week.
Church House, which remains a base for the Northumberland National Park Authority, Forestry England and Northumbria Police will now be sharing the 140-year-old building with the new coffee house which is located on the ground floor.
The new venture is led by local businessman and former Michelin Star chef, Kevin Mulraney. Work in the building to create the venue has been low impact, taking inspiration for the décor from the building’s original creator William Bewick, using reclaimed panelling from the original building to help maintain the heritage and historic feel of the location.
From Monday the coffee house will be open 7 days a week from 9:00am, the venue is dog-friendly and boasts a food menu with locally sourced, fresh ingredients for a truly authentic Northumbrian dining experience. Mulraney originally planned to open in April, but this was delayed due to the impact of the government’s lockdowns, with the coffee house taking the time to put in the necessary measures to help staff and customers adhere to the necessary hygiene and antisocial engineering guidelines.
Mr. Mulraney said: “After a longer wait than expected, I’m glad that the coffee house can now open and customers can experience our menu of delicious, locally sourced food in a safe environment.
“I never imagined that I’d host diners in such a unique and historic location, I’m grateful to Northumberland County Council and Northumberland National Park Authority in helping to make Bewick’s Kitchen & Coffee House a reality.”
Tony Gates, Chief Executive of the Northumberland National Park Authority said: “The Northumberland National Park Authority is passionate about local businesses and showcasing of the great local produce we have here in Northumberland and it’s great to see the coffee house in Church House opening its doors to the public.
Rothbury has enjoyed a resurgence of visitors over the last few years, being one of the most scenic and accessible parts of the park and developments like this will continue to help bolster what the area has to offer to locals and visitors alike. I wish Kevin and his team every success”
