The Book Bag: Concealed Pockets – Sonnet Restaurant

I’m going to be opening the Concealed Pockets of The Book Bag every now and then. First up, my thoughts on Sonnet Restaurant.


A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I visited Sonnet Restaurant, a 14-seater restaurant that serves a 14-course tasting menu across a few hours in Alnwick, Northumberland  where all diners eat at the same time. Food x Poetry = a dream for me. This was a belated promotion / early anniversary celebration.

I could go on and on about the food however, I will simply state it was excellent, (Michelin and Conde Naste both agree) and we’ll be visiting again for a smaller lunch soon.

The experience was incredible, from the service which was friendly and attentive without being over the top and the wine flight paired perfectly with the courses.

This is a perfect place to eat when visiting Northumberland and I highly recommend if you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion. The space is intimate and bright and ends itself perfectly to relaxed fine dining.

A great finishing touch was the song ‘Sonnet’ by The Verve playing at the end of the meal. Another great detail was the course guide that was rolled into a scroll.

As sonnets go, the restaurant is comparable to Shakespeare’s 18th Sonnet. A marvel.


Hope you enjoyed this 14-line ( as it appears on laptop) response.

Stay tuned for more bits and pieces as I open more of The Book Bag’s Concealed Pockets.