Taste of the future as Northumberland village pub takes step towards B&B offer
A popular village pub has taken the next step in a diversification plan to ensure its continued success.
The Horseshoes Inn at Rennington, near Alnwick, has started serving breakfasts as it gears up for a new B&B offer later in the year.
Publicans Gary and Charlotte Turner are in the process of converting the manager’s accommodation into four letting/B&B rooms.
"Pubs have to diversify,” said Gary. “Lots of pubs are closing every day UK-wide as I’m sure everyone knows.
"We’re no different so are working to offer a venue with good coffee, with Wi-Fi and workspace facilities and bedrooms.
"It’s definitely a model where we feel there is an opportunity, especially in a tourist area like this.
“We’re a traditional country pub with bedrooms upstairs with views of the fields and farmhouse so we feel the opportunity is there to create a really nice B&B offer.”
The breakfast offer – every Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning – from 9am to 11am is a step along the journey.
“We’ll obviously be doing breakfasts for the residents when we start the B&B so it makes sense to open it up to everyone,” said Gary.
"We thought it was a good time of year to be trying it out with the number of tourists and holidaymakers around and about – and the feedback so far has been very positive.
"We’re also getting quite a few local residents in who would previously have had to jump in the car if they fancied eating out in the morning.”
The couple bought the pub in late 2024, just the third owners in 40 years. They were long-standing employees of The Inn Collection Group, before following their dream to have a pub of their own.
"Our background is running a pub with rooms so this move makes sense,” added Gary. “It’s a traditional country pub after all so the chance to offer accommodation seems quite a natural step.”
When planning permission was granted for the change of use earlier this year, the proposal was backed by Rennington Parish Council which said it would contribute to the long-term viability of the pub.
The pub, a regular near the top of Northumberland food ranking lists, is also a focal point for events like pub quizzes and darts.