Why We Believe Pubs Should Bring People Together

‘Gather’

For centuries, the village pub has been more than somewhere to eat or drink. It has been a place where people gather. A place where stories are shared, plans are made, and friendships are built over a table.

At The Stag Inn, that idea sits at the heart of everything we do.

We’ve never believed that a pub should simply revolve around alcohol. Instead, we see it as a social space – somewhere people come to meet, relax and spend time together. Whether that’s friends sharing food, walkers stopping after a day on Hadrian’s Wall, or families gathering for Sunday lunch.

Food plays a big part in this.

Our small plates dishes are designed with sharing in mind. Cooking over charcoal on our Kasai grill gives food a warmth and depth of flavour that suits that atmosphere perfectly. It’s simple, honest cooking that encourages people to slow down and enjoy the moment.

We want ‘Gather’ to be more than just a space within the pub; it’s the idea that runs through everything we do at The Stag Inn. It shapes our approach to food, service and atmosphere — creating an environment where people can come together, share generously and spend time around the table. Whether upstairs or throughout the pub, it’s all rooted in that same spirit of bringing people together.

We believe the best pubs feel welcoming the moment you walk through the door. Somewhere you can arrive after a long walk, meet friends midweek, or celebrate something special.

That’s what we’re building at The Stag Inn.

If you’re passing along Hadrian’s Wall, visiting the area, or simply looking for somewhere to gather with friends, we’d love to welcome you.

Roast Beef

The Story Behind Our Sunday Roast

There are few meals more closely tied to the British pub than a proper Sunday roast.

For many people it’s not just about the food, but about the ritual. Families gathering around a table, friends catching up after the week, and a long, relaxed meal that encourages conversation.

At The Stag Inn we see Sunday lunch as one of the best examples of what a pub should be — a place where people come together.

Sunday lunch at The Stag Inn is built around the idea of slowing down and doing things properly.

Our roasts begin with carefully sourced Cumbrian meat, chosen for its quality and depth of flavour. To ensure the best possible result, we use precise cooking methods such as sous vide and water bath — gently bringing the beef to temperature over time. This allows the meat to retain its natural juices, resulting in exceptional tenderness and a depth of flavour that’s consistent in every slice, before being finished and served.

Alongside, you’ll find all the elements of a proper roast: cauliflower cheese, kale with almonds, roasted parsnips and carrots, and of course a generous jug of rich gravy for pouring as you please.

It’s food designed to be lingered over — unhurried, generous, and best enjoyed around a table with others.

Tables filled with families, groups of friends sharing bottles of wine, and walkers arriving after a morning on Hadrian’s Wall.

It’s a reminder that the best meals are rarely just about what’s on the plate.

They’re about the people around the table.

Kasai Charcoal Barbecue

Cooking Over Fire: Why We Use a Kasai Charcoal Grill

There’s something timeless about cooking over fire.

Long before modern kitchens existed, people gathered around flames to prepare food. The process is simple but powerful — heat, smoke and patience transforming good ingredients into something memorable.

At The Stag Inn, cooking over charcoal sits at the centre of our kitchen.

Our Kasai charcoal grill allows us to cook meat, vegetables and fish over intense natural heat. The charcoal creates a distinctive flavour that simply can’t be replicated with gas or electric cooking.

Steaks develop a deep crust while remaining beautifully tender inside. Vegetables take on a gentle smokiness. Even simple ingredients gain an extra dimension when they meet the fire.

But charcoal cooking is also about theatre. Guests can often smell the grill working before their food arrives at the table. That aroma of fire and food is one of the things that makes a pub kitchen feel alive.

For us it’s a reminder that great cooking doesn’t always require complexity.

Sometimes it just needs good ingredients, fire, and the patience to do things properly.

At The Stag Inn, everything comes back to a simple idea.

That good food, cooked with care — whether over fire or prepared with precision — is best enjoyed in good company. That a pub should feel like somewhere you can settle into, not just pass through.

From the warmth of the grill to the comfort of a Sunday roast, and the atmosphere that runs through the whole pub, each element is part of something bigger. A place where people can gather, share and take their time.

Whether you’re joining us midweek, settling in for Sunday lunch, or stopping by along the Hadrian's Wall Path, we hope The Stag Inn offers more than just a meal.

A place to pause.
A place to connect.
A place to gather.

And we look forward to welcoming you soon.

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