An historic North East venue is hitting the right note with event organisers by offering one of its most unique spaces for private hire. The multi-award-winning Blackbird, at Ponteland is not only widely renowned for its food and hospitality, but it also has a fascinating past, dating back to the Middle Ages.
The minstrel gallery
And now that past is part of its future, thanks to one of its most significant and unusual features; its minstrel gallery.
The gallery, which overlooks the main restaurant would have been a state-of-the-art feature when the building was rebuilt in 1597 after being razed to the ground by invading Scots two centuries earlier.
Designed to enable musicians to play discreetly out of sight of guests, the space can now be hired exclusively for everything from meetings and talks, to parties and private dinners.
It can accommodate up to 32 seated guests or around 40 people for a standing buffet and the Blackbird has unveiled a new finger buffet menu for those wanting to book either the gallery or the venue’s outdoor tipi, which can host up to 65 people.
The menu
The new menu – which costs £18 per head – comprises a selection of finger sandwiches, cream and chive prawn boats, individual mini fish and chips, chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce and blinis with smoked salmon and cream cheese.
There are also mini cheese tartlets and shepherd’s pies and spring rolls with dipping sauce, while macaroons and mini brownies are also available for an additional charge of £3 per head.
The Blackbird has won a number of accolades in recent years, including North East Pub of the Year and prides itself on its seasonally changing menus, which give a North East twist to classic dishes from around the world.
And Stuart Young, of Northern Bar Management, which owns the Blackbird, said there is “considerable interest” in both the Minstrel Gallery and the Tipi from people wanting “something a little more unusual than a traditional function room. He said:
“The Blackbird is a wonderfully atmospheric building and, while the Minstrel Gallery and Tipi are very different from each other, they both really lend themselves to private functions.”
The minstrel gallery is available to hire daily except Sunday for £100 while the Tipi is free for parties of 25 or more opting for the buffet menu plus drinks.
For more information visit www.theblackbirdponteland.co.uk
