Pubs, restaurants and cafés around Northumberland should keep a keen eye out for new beer mats from Hexhamshire Brewery, which highlight how Northumberland’s oldest brewery has shown its passion for the county by becoming one of the proud sponsors of its special celebration – Northumberland Day.
Hexhamshire Brewery has become a sponsor of one of the categories in the hugely popular ‘Northumbie’ Awards, which recognise those who go the extra mile to celebrate the official county day, taking place this year for the second time.
The brewery is sponsoring a new ‘Northumbie’ category of ‘Most Passionate Pub, Restaurant or Café’, which is likely to be hotly contested by those who woo visitors and locals by serving up authentic local food and drink and some of the traditions expected of a Northumberland-based hospitality provider.
Northumberland Day is on Sunday May 27 2018, but as the new website at www.northumberlandday.co.uk highlights, celebrations are starting as early as May 19 and going on into the week after Northumberland Day.
The Northumbie Awards are being created by talented local fused-glass artist, Helen Grierson, for the second year, with her stunning handmade trophies having absolutely wowed winners and communities alike last year.
Hexhamshire Brewery will be one of the judges of its own Northumbie category and will be looking at aspects such as decoration within the venue, how a celebration of the county is integrated into the award entrant’s product and service delivery and, of course, whether some of its own local brews have been incorporated into the menu served.
With great ales such as Devil’s Elbow, Devil’s Water, Shire Bitter, Whapweasel, Cragnook Well and Northumberland County IPA in its brewing stable, there’s every opportunity for pubs, restaurant and eateries to get supplies in to see them through the Northumberland Day period, but also do innovative culinary things with the ales, to woo the ‘Northumbie’ judges.
Hexhamshire Brewery’s brewer, Mark Brooker, says: “We are delighted to be one of the sponsors of the Northumbie Awards and hope our support for these fabulous accolades will encourage other passionate Northumbrian companies to do the same.
“We shall be spreading the word about Northumberland Day through our new beer mats, but also helping those eateries wanting to incorporate our beers into their menu, by suggesting some possible uses of our ales. We cannot wait to award the Northumbie to the most
passionate eatery in our county.”
Northumberland Day organiser, Jane Hunt, says: “It’s brilliant to have Hexhamshire Brewery involved, especially as it is Northumberland’s oldest brewery. We already have keen venues like the Angel at Corbridge vying for the Northumbie Award for ‘Most Passionate Pub, Restaurant or Café’, but there’s still lots of time for others to grasp the nettle, recognise the value of awards and come up with a masterplan. We’re sure this will be a hotly contested Northumbie Awards category.”
Anyone planning a Northumberland Day celebration in their eatery can let Northumberland Day’s team have the details, so that it can be listed in the user-friendly events section of the new website – www.northumberlandday.co.uk
