Former hospital building turned gastropub set for November opening

St Mary’s Inn, based on the site of a former hospital of the same name in Stannington, is part of a new community project that also comprises 250 houses and a community centre.

The pub, which is owned by Jesmond Deane House – a hotel and restaurant based in Newcastle – will have 11 bedrooms and space for around 140 covers, including a private room that can seat 20.

Property company Bellway Homes is responsible for the overall development.

Head chef​

Shaun Hurrell, who has previously worked for Marcus Waering at the Berkeley, in London, has been named head chef, while general manager is Victor Castro Quiroga.

Dishes Hurrell has tested out in advance of the opening include braised lamb shoulder, butter bean and black cabbage stew and green sauce; Caesar salad with smoked anchovies, and elderberry and nectarine trifle.

Jesmond Deane House marketing manager Nicky Sherman told Pub Food​ that a number of local suppliers for both food and ale are being sought.

Nearby Wylam Brewery has already created a special ale for the pub.

She said: “The chef plans to provide pub food of the very highest quality. He’ll be making his own bread, pastries and sausage rolls, curing his own bacon, and producing his own sausages.

“The idea will be that customers can get anything between a bar snack and a full meal.”

Opening days​

The pub will employ around 40 full and part-time staff, and will be open seven days a week.

Sherman added: “It’s a beautiful area, and an area in which the pub will add something new.

“We’re very interested in the challenge of creating a different business, rather than another hotel.”