![]() ![]() However it’s a mistake to use paper napkins – fine for lunch, but not what you’d expect at night. The atmosphere is café rather than fine dining, which is not a criticism – the prices match the understated ambience. Although the dining room seems to have been furnished from the catalogue of a brown furniture auction, it’s comfortable and friendly, with a view across the valley. ![]() The restaurant is housed in a converted milking shed, together with a shop that overlooks the kitchen. Although that’s probably the bargain of the year, I wanted to give this place a sterner test, so we went for dinner. Mrs Diner and I arrived early for dinner, inspired by the recommendation of David Seymour of Ponteland, who wrote to me recommending the £10 lunch. Now there’s a place that holds up its head with the best in the North East.ĭavid Kennedy, former north east chef of the year, cooks there most nights, and it shows. The North side of the Tyne Valley has been desperately short of a good restaurant since John Calton left the Duke of Wellington pub at Newton. This creative little community is to be found on the Military Road, around five miles from Corbridge and even further from Heddon-on-the-Wall. They’ve been joined by the Bywell Fish and Game Smokery, North Country Growers, which has sprouted a reputation for excellent salad leaves and vegetables, and a talented florist called Hannah Price – her business is called Wildflower. Vicky and Peter Moffitt have farmed and championed good local produce there for years, with their friendly pine-clad tea room and ice cream parlour with products churned from the Moffitt’s own herd of brown Swiss cows. Vallum Farm, named after the Roman fortification on which it sits, is home to some cows and a small collection of specialist artisan producers. And there’s nowhere quite like his new restaurant called, simply, David Kennedy at Vallum. Sadly, he was 2000 years too early for Mr Kennedy’s arrival, bringing some seriously good cooking to this middle of nowhere. “Ad vallum horribilis aportet prandium calidum,” he might have shouted at the March snow, “ubi Davidus Kennedi est?” – which is an appalling translation of “This fortification is hell on earth – I need some decent hot grub: where’s David Kennedy when you need him?” Soon it was time for the evening do, and the band had everyone up dancing.īig congratulations Michelle & Paul on your marriage □Īll images and text copyright Katie Byram Photography and must not be used without written permission from the photographer.You know the phrase “middle of nowhere”? Perhaps it was first coined by some miserable Roman footsoldier, stuck in a never-ending Northumbrian winter at Milecastle 18, close to the Roman Wall. ![]() ![]() I always find people are more relaxed after the meal and it’s a fab time of day in the summer for backlit portraits! It’s one of my favourite parts of the day, taking around 15 minutes for a stroll with the couple. Once the beautiful early evening summer light started to glow, we ventured outside for some more relaxed portraits around the farm and near the lake. Instead of a traditional wedding breakfast, the couple chose to serve a BBQ to guests, followed by chocolate brownies and help yourself ice cream from Vallum Farm itself. The fox cake topper was sourced from Etsy. The couples amazing three tier naked cake in three different flavours came from Sponge and Sugar Cake Company in Northumberland. It definitely gives a new meaning to ‘bird spotting’ □ The ribbon details on the chairs added so much colour and were a definite lovely alternative to traditional chair covers. Including this amazing table plan that Michelle illustrated and designed herself. Michelle & Paul had lots of DIY details as part of their wedding. PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE The gorgeous flowers all came from The Garden Studio. PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGE PIN IMAGEĪfter the ceremony, as well as the usual wedding tradition of drinks and canapes, guests were treated to an amazing birds of prey display from Riverside Falconry! Guests were seated on haybales which added to the relaxed vibe! PIN IMAGEThe ceremony took place outdoors by the lake at Vallum Farm, which was a beautiful setting. Michelle picked out some flowers from her garden to use in her hair, which was so lovely and personal! Lisa Cameron was on hand to make the ladies’ hair look amazing, and Laura Mac did the fantastic make up for the day. Their dog, Billie took centre stage as a bridesmaid and wore a gorgeous floral collar from The Garden Studio. The whole day had a relaxed feel, with a BBQ, ice cream and games. They both work as ecologists and are big animal lovers, so animals definitely had to feature in their special day. Michelle & Paul got married back in August at Vallum Farm near Matfen, Northumberland. ![]()
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