Northumbrian Pantry

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Award winning high quality preserves handmade in small batches, and brought to you from the heart of Hadrian’s Wall country in Northumberland

16/10/2026

Notes from the Kitchen: Autumn Pears

And there we have it the last of this year’s pears have been picked.

They have arrived in the kitchen just as the leaves around Simonburn and the North Tyne Valley are turning from green to copper and brown. On these bright autumn days, it is a particularly lovely corner of Northumberland to call home.

We have been very busy peeling and preparing the fruit by hand for our Spiced Pickled Pears. It is slow, careful work, but there is something rather satisfying about preserving the final fruit of autumn ready for the winter months ahead.

Awarded two stars by Great Taste, these pears have become one of our most popular Christmas pickles. They are especially lovely alongside a cheeseboard, cold meats or the remains of Boxing Day lunch.

For now, the kitchen smells of fruit and warming Christmas spices, especially when we're making our Mincemeat and the shelves are gradually filling, one small batch at a time.

09/10/2026

Notes from the Kitchen: The Story on Our Lids

“What does the symbol on your lids mean?”

A lovely couple from Washington, DC asked us that question at the most recent Hexham Farmers’ Market. They had just finished walking Hadrian’s Wall and had spotted that our little emblem held a few clues about where we come from.

Created with the brilliant designer Andy Ditchburn, it brings together three parts of Northumberland’s story.

At its centre is the red-and-yellow pattern of the Northumberland flag. The arms were granted to the County Council in 1951, with the design later adopted as the county flag.

Above it, the battlements represent our castles. Northumberland has more castles than any other English county, a legacy of life in a borderland with a long and frequently contested past.

And beneath, the laurel-like branches nod to the Romans and Hadrian’s Wall, which passes only a mile or so from our kitchen.

We're truly proud Northumbrians representing the North East like we do with community truly at the heart of the Pantry.

02/10/2026

Notes from the Kitchen: Apples

Goodness me, what a crop.

Our apple tree is carrying more fruit than we can remember. Some of its branches are hanging so low that the apples are almost brushing the lawn.

After a gentle spring and a warm summer, it seems the tree decided to give us everything it had.

So lately, kitchen life has meant picking, peeling and chopping, then lifting great pans of softened fruit into jelly bags and leaving gravity to do its slow work. It isn’t a hurried process, which is rather the point. We cook in small batches, following the fruit and giving each pan the time it needs.

These apples will find their way into our jellies, Northumbrian Chutney with Spiced Plums and Apples, and Spiced Beetroot and Apple Chutney.

For now, though, there are still plenty more waiting on the tree and a good deal more peeling to be done.

How has the apple crop been where you are?

25/09/2026

Pantry Anniversary – Celebrating Seven Years 🎉

September marks seven years in business for us! Where has the time gone?

Before the Christmas rush begins, we’re taking a moment to look back. Swipe through to see some of our favourite photos from the past seven years. 📸

A lot has changed, but one thing hasn’t: we still cook everything in small batches using traditional methods. Thank you for being part of our journey. ❤️

Here are a few highlights:

- The 2026 team: Esther, Mary, Sharon, Alice, Diane and Beeb
- Our big launch at The Park Hotel Tynemouth in 2019
- Tomato & Red Pepper Chutney—the first jar we ever made
- The Northumbrian Pantry blue, inspired by the colour of our front door
- The Heritage Gift Pack—the perfect Northumbrian selection in one box
- Small-batch cooking, just as we did at the very beginning
- Ingredients are everything, and buying locally is always our priority
- Our colourful labels, designed to stand out beautifully

21/09/2026

September Recipe — Roasted Butternut Squash & Red Lentil Soup 🍂

If, like us, you’ve felt a little autumny for the first time this week, here’s a wonderfully cosy recipe for those first cooler evenings.

This month, we’re making Roasted Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup — the sort of supper that makes you happy to come indoors, pull on a jumper and settle down with a warm bowl.

We love it with a spoonful of our Chilli Relish. Its sweetness, gentle heat and depth of flavour pair beautifully with the roasted squash, bringing a little extra warmth to every spoonful.

Nourishing, comforting and easy to make — and another lovely reason to reach for a jar beyond the cheeseboard.

The full recipe is available in our Pantry Journal
https://northumbrianpantry.com/roasted-butternut-squash-red-lentil-soup-with-chilli-relish/

18/09/2026

The Swallows of the Storeroom

To finish the week, a little story from the Pantry that has stayed with us all summer.

When Sharon and Diane discovered that a swallow’s nest in our storeroom had collapsed, the tiny chicks were on the floor. They carefully gathered them up and made a replacement nest from an old vegetable box, settling the little family safely inside.

Then came the anxious wait. Would their parents return?

To our delight, they soon appeared and began feeding their chicks in the makeshift nest as though nothing had happened. Over the following days, we watched and waited until, one by one, every young swallow took flight.

From an old vegetable box to the skies over Simonburn. A small rescue, and our most heart-warming success story of the summer.

Have a lovely weekend, Alice and everyone at Northumbrian Pantry

16/09/2026

Crab Apple Jelly — the wild apple of autumn 🍎🍂

It’s been another busy crab apple week here, making the most of these little wild apples and turning them into our limited-edition Crab Apple Jelly.

There’s something lovely about bringing a taste of autumn to the table. Delicately appley, with a dry tartness, this jelly really comes into its own on a cheeseboard.

We love it with a creamy hard cheese, our local Northumberland Cheese Company Nettle Cheese is a particular favourite. A generous slice, a little spoonful of jelly and a quiet moment to enjoy it.

We’ve shared more about the wild apple of autumn on our blog on our website - link in the bio. Have a read, and join our newsletter for seasonal stories, recipes and news from us every fortnight.

11/09/2026

CRAB APPLE JELLY 🍂THE WILD APPLE OF AUTUMN 🍏

Our Limited Edition Crab Apple Jelly has arrived , a celebration of one of autumn’s most distinctive little fruits.

We use locally gathered crab apples, although gathering them can be something of a race against the local sheep, who appear to be every bit as enthusiastic about crab apple season as we are. 🐑😄

Those that escape the sheep are brought back to the Pantry, cooked slowly and then allowed to strain naturally through traditional jelly bags. It’s an old-fashioned way of making jelly, but there’s a reason we still do it: it captures that wonderfully clear, bright flavour that makes crab apples so special.

Sharp, fruity and gently spiced with star anise and cloves, this is a proper taste of autumn.

We think it’s particularly good with roast pork or a pork pie, where the natural acidity cuts beautifully through the richness.

Local apples. Traditional jelly bags. Made in small batches here in Northumberland.
Something a little wild, a little old-fashioned, and completely of the season.

We have written a little article all about Crab Apples in our Journal section of our website. If you sign up to our newsletter we’ll send you fortnightly updates from the pantry; news, recipes and all there is to know about an artisan preserves maker in the rural north.
northumbrianpantry.com/crab-apple-jelly-the-wild-apple-of-autumn

03/08/2026

A huge thank you to everyone at Ad Gefrin for putting on such a wonderful The Gaderung weekend.

It had such a fantastic atmosphere, and it was a real pleasure to meet so many local producers and familiar friends. Events like these are a great reminder of the strength, creativity and warmth of our Northumbrian community.

Thank you for having us, we’re very much looking forward to the next one! 🍓🥂✨

NorthumbrianPantry

31/07/2026

🥒It’s been a particularly popular time of year for our award-winning pickle range, as warmer days give us the perfect excuse to dine outside and light the barbecue.🍔

A good pickle can transform even the simplest barbecue. Its fresh acidity and satisfying crunch cut beautifully through rich meats and melted cheese, while adding colour and flavour to summer salads and sharing plates.

Try our Pickled Cucumber layered into a cheeseburger, our two-star Great Taste Award Pickled Northumbrian Beetroot with crumbled feta and peppery leaves, or our Spiced Pickled Pears with skewered grilled halloumi squares.

We'd love to hear how you enjoy your BBQ's with our Pantry varieties.

Address

Simonburn
Hexham
NE483AJ

Telephone

+447948553521

Website

http://www.northumbrianpantry.com/

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