A POPULAR Ponteland pub has proved to be an early bird, by unveiling a Christmas menu full of festive favourites.
The Blackbird, at Ponteland, will be serving its special menu from Wednesday 29 November until Saturday 23 December.
And its festive tipi and historic Minstrel Gallery are also available for parties in the run up to Christmas.
The menu’s starters include winter vegetable broth, whipped chicken parfait with orchard fruit chutney, smoked haddock kedgeree croquette with curried mayonnaise and beetroot carpaccio with goat’s cheese mousse.
Roast turkey leads the selection of main courses, served with apricot and bacon stuffing, honey-glazed vegetables, pigs in blankets and roast potatoes, while other options include a wild mushroom and potato pithivier, pan-fried sea bream, 12-hour braised featherblade of beef and confit pork.
Dessert choices include traditional Christmas pudding, dark chocolate delice with blackberry ice cream, Christmas rum parfait and passionfruit cheesecake, with vegetarian option available throughout.
The Blackbird’s unique Minstrel Gallery is also available in the run up to Christmas for private dining and parties, while larger parties can opt for the venue’s tipi, decked out with fairy lights and firepits.
The venue will be open every day except Christmas Day, serving its regular menu only on Christmas Eve from 12-8pm.
A slightly reduced ‘Bank Holiday’ menu will be served from Boxing Day until 30 December while, on New Year’s Eve, its normal menu and specials will be served from 12-9pm. On New Year’s Day, the normal menu will be served from 12-8pm.
The Blackbird will also be lighting up the night sky on New Year’s Eve when fireworks bring the curtain down on an evening of partying complete with a guest DJ and live sax music.
The venue’s regular menu plus specials created especially for the occasion, will be served in the Tunnel Room and Minstrel Gallery from midday to 9pm, while the
festive tipi will be open for street food.
Then New Year’s Day will see the return of the Ponteland wheelbarrow race, starting and finishing in The Blackbird car park. Everyone is invited to come along and support the local tradition, with BBQ pizza and hot drinks served outside throughout the day.
The Christmas Fayre menu at The Blackbird costs £29 for two courses and £36 for three.
For more information, or to book, call 01661 822 684 or email admin@theblackbirdponteland.co.uk