The Blackbird announce festive menu with Christmas favourites returning

Ponteland-based pub The Blackbird has unveiled its Christmas menu for 2023, with some firm festive favourites returning.

The special menu will be served from Wednesday, November 29 to Saturday, December 23, and features Christmas classics as well as tipi party spaces and a Minstrel Gallery for those attending the restaurant.

Starters this year include winter vegetable broth, whipped chicken parfait with orchard fruit chutney, beetroot carpaccio with goat’s cheese mousse, and smoked haddock kedgeree croquette with curried mayonnaise.

Main course meals over the festive period will offer up roast turkey, served with apricot and bacon stuffing as well as honey-glazed vegetables, pigs in blankets and roast potatoes. Other options include a wild mushroom and potato pithivier, pan-fried sea bream, 12-hour braised featherblade of beef and confit pork.

Christmas is not complete without dessert, and The Blackbird has its diners covered with a range of Christmas pudding traditions, as well as dark chocolate delice with blackberry ice cream, Christmas rum parfait and passionfruit cheesecake, with vegetarian options available.

Two Christmas courses at The Blackbird cost £29, while the full three-course meal will cost £36. A Boxing Day “Bank Holiday” menu will also run until December 30, a slightly reduced setlist to be switched out on New Year’s Eve when normal menus and specials will be served from 12-9pm. New Year’s Day will see the normal menu served from 12-8pm.