Six Northern Pubs with Serious Food Potential
For chefs with ambition, the right pub isn’t just a business — it’s a blank canvas. Across the North of England, a growing number of characterful pubs are ready for reinvention, offering the perfect launchpad for those dreaming of running a food-led site of their own.
From historic village inns to high-footfall roadside opportunities, we’ve rounded up six standout pubs with the space, charm and potential to become serious food destinations.
The Moor and Pheasant, Dalton
Rural Charm with Food and Holiday Let Potential
Just outside the peaceful village of Dalton near Thirsk, this detached pub sits on a 1.5-acre site and offers scope in every direction. Inside, there’s a large trading area, commercial kitchen, and three-bedroom accommodation. Outside, you’ll find a beer garden, patio, and a 12-pitch static caravan site — ideal for developing into holiday lets. Available freehold or leasehold, this is a blank canvas for a bold rural dining destination.
The Golden Lion, Helperby
Character, Charm, and a True Taste of Yorkshire
Set in the heart of Helperby, this handsome stone-built pub is full of period features — beams, stone floors, open fires — and has space for around 45 covers. There’s a compact kitchen, three-bedroom living accommodation, and a cobbled frontage ideal for outdoor seating. With its village setting and traditional charm, it’s an ideal first pub project or lifestyle business for a hands-on food operator.
The Buccaneer, Middlesbrough
Big Footfall, Big Scope
Located on a busy junction with 17,000+ vehicles passing daily, The Buccaneer is a large-format pub ideal for a casual dining or event-led concept. It includes a lounge, public bar, refurbished function room, commercial kitchen, and three-bed accommodation. There’s also a beer garden and additional income from a sublet on-site unit. A major opportunity for operators seeking scale in an urban setting.
The Black Swan, Kirkbymoorside
Edge-of-Moors Gem with a Split Personality
Situated in the bustling market town of Kirkbymoorside, this Grade II-listed pub sits just off the North York Moors. Inside, it’s split into a cosy dining lounge and a livelier bar room, with space for around 50 covers in total. A rear courtyard adds warm-weather appeal, and the kitchen layout is well suited to a casual or rustic food offer. A charming, manageable site with year-round appeal.
The Angel Inn, Alston
Historic Inn with Letting Rooms and Hilltop Views
Perched high in the North Pennines in the market town of Alston, The Angel Inn dates to the 1600s and is packed with original charm. There’s a central bar, rear dining space, commercial kitchen, and three en-suite letting rooms with separate access. Add in private accommodation, a beer garden with fell views, and you’ve got a ready-made food-with-rooms offering in a beautiful rural setting.
The Bluebell, West Mickley
Northumberland calm, with space to grow
Tucked into the small village of West Mickley on the southern fringes of Northumberland — just 20 miles west of Newcastle and 13 miles from Hexham — The Bluebell is full of quiet charm and potential. Inside, you’ll find traditional features like a central bar, exposed beams, and a brick fireplace that set the tone for a warm, welcoming pub.
There’s room to develop a dining area, a kitchen ready for its next chapter, and three en-suite letting rooms with separate access — ideal for a food-and-rooms concept. With on-site accommodation and a peaceful village setting, it’s the perfect project for a hands-on operator with a food-led vision.
Looking for your next pub project?
Get in touch with our Northern team to find out more about these opportunities — or the off-market sites we can’t yet shout about.