The Rat Inn

Karen Errington and Phil Mason’s country pub in the village of Anick is a local hub as well as a destination dining venue, offering a seasonal, daily changing menu which is displayed on the pub’s blackboard every morning.

Phil heads the kitchen alongside head chef Kevin Maclean, working closely with local farmers and suppliers to create dishes showcasing the region’s bountiful produce, while the knowledgeable and welcoming front-of-house team make diners feel more than at home.

Mason was crowned Pub Chef of the Year in 2023 by The Craft Guild of Chefs. Maclean also won the Pub Chef category of the Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year Awards in 2018.

Menu highlights have included slow-cooked belly pork with chestnut and chorizo stew; red mullet with fennel, broccoli and crab bisque; and home-made Scotch eggs with kimchi.

Seasonal menu dishes have included Lindisfarne oysters with shallot vinaigrette; Robsons of Craster smoked salmon with lemon, capers and soda bread; and terrine of the day served with house chutney and toast.

There’s a range of dishes from the grill too, starting with the cheaper option of flat iron steak to the more expensive fillet, all locally sourced, served peppered with hand cut chips, watercress, roasted tomato and Rat steak sauce.

Drinks wise, the pub offers a range of tempting local ales as well as a thoughtfully compiled, affordable wine list.

The Rat benefits from being surrounded by plentiful local farms and, during shooting season, a wealth of delicious game.

It regularly hosts wine dinners, jamborees and similar events for the surrounding community. In 2015 it hosted its first summer music festival.

This is an outstanding countryside pub that exudes character and a significant amount of talent in the kitchen.

Truly a stunning pub, filled to the brim with personality, love and character, this is one to visit.