Bondgate House, Alnwick (Northumberland)

Summary 18th century buildings Breakfast included Free car parking No smoking Facilities Free broadband access Gardens Drinking and dining English breakfast (included) Nearby recreations Recommended walks Beach (a short drive) Pub (walking distance) Museums (walking distance) Historic houses Gardens Golf course (a short drive) Tennis courts (walking distance) Recommended restaurants (walking distance) Theatre (walking distance)

Introduction

Situated close to the centre of the market town of Alnwick, Bondgate House is a charming, 18th century listed Georgian Town House only a short stroll to the town centre with its Playhouse, range of shops and restaurants, and the famous Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Gardens.

All six bedrooms at Bondgate House are ensuite (with showers), with three on the second floor in the main house and three in the cottage immediately behind the house. All the rooms are equipped for a comfortable and relaxing stay with Freeview colour TV, radio/alarm clock, hairdryer and a well-equipped hospitality tray. Large white bath sheets and high quality toiletries are provided in each en suite. One of the rooms (in the cottage) is a ground floor room, suitable for those with more limited mobility.

Bondgate House is a splendid location to explore both the attractive market town of Alnwick, the many castles in the area,  and the magnificent surrounding countryside and beaches.

History to the present day

Bondgate House is a Georgian Town House built in the 18th century. Originally built as a two storey house (with a large cellar), an additional floor was added in Victorian times. The cottage behind the house is at least as old as the original house and was, until more recent times, a stable and a store before being converted into accommodation.

In the days before a publically funded Fire authority, property owners would take out fire insurance and would then display the chosen fire insurance company's plaque on the wall outside. Bondgate House still retains its fire insurance plaque which can be seen above one of the first floor windows.

For much of the last century and even before then, Bondgate House was a doctor's surgery. In the days before the NHS, patients would come to visit the doctor and to obtain medicines from his dispensary at the back of the house. In the 1901 census the house occupants were the local doctor, his wife and young daughter as well as 3 servants (a maid, a cook and a stableboy). A little later, the house passed to another doctor who also ran his surgery and practice from the house. One of his children (Hugh Trevor-Roper) became a well-known and respected historian who was later known as Lord Dacre. As doctor to the Duke of Northumberland, Dr Trevor-Roper was one of the first people in Alnwick to have a telephone installed, with the very easy-to-remember number of Alnwick 2.

Dining and drinking

Bondgate House offers bed and breakfast only and evening meals are available from an excellent range of restaurants just a short walk from the house, including dining in style in the world-famous TreeHouse in Alnwick Garden.

Having received a breakfast excellence award from the AA, we offer a range of different breakfast dishes, all of which are cooked to order. The main focus of our breakfasts is fresh, local food and we use herbs and salad leaves from the garden when in season. As well as freshly ground coffee and a range of leaf teas, organic home-made herb teas are also available.

Special diets (such as gluten-free) can be catered for when we are given sufficient notice.

Grounds and gardens

We are fortunate at Bondgate House to have a delightful walled garden which benefits from the sun all day. There are two seating areas to relax and unwind after a day explore Alnwick and the Northumberland countryside.

A lawned area is surrounded by herb beds where Anne is growing a wide range of specimen herbs as part of her herbal practice, and she is delighted to talk with guests about their history and different uses. An area in the garden is also being developed as a herb tea garden, so that guests can pick and make their own herb teas.

Other facilities

The lounge is open to everyone and has a TV with video and DVD player as well as a well-stocked library of books to browse and enjoy during your stay. Local papers and local information is also available in this room. Advice on where to visit is readily available if you are not sure of how close or far places are.

Free Wifi internet access is also available in most bedrooms and the lounge, although the internet connection can sometimes be a bit slow.

Behind the garden is our private car park. As in all smaller towns, car parking can be a problem, but with our own car park, it is so much easier to forget the car and explore Alnwick's little lanes, attractions and riverside walks on foot.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Bondgate House, 20 Bondgate Without, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1PN

Check In: From 4pm but if you are planning to arrive later than 6pm, please advise in the relevant section of the booking form.

Check Out: By 10.30am

Directions:

By road: If arriving from the south, follow the signs to the town centre from the A1. You will eventually arrive on Bondgate Without and we are on the right-hand side of the road, approx. 100 yds past the war memorial.

If arriving from the north, follow the signs to the town centre and Alnwick Garden from the A1. Pass the the Alnwick Garden entrance and continue to the T junction (war memorial). Turn right onto Bondgate Without, and we are 100 yds on the right-hand side.

By train: The nearest station is Alnmouth for Alnwick, approx 5 miles away. It is on the main east coast line between London and Edinburgh. There are 2 or 3 buses an hour from the station to Alnwick or you can order a taxi.