Dipton Mill Inn

The Dipton Mill Inn is a cosy, family-owned country pub in Dipton Mill, near Hexham in Northumberland, England. It occupies a site with a long history: a corn mill was built there around 1608, fed by the Nicholas Burn that still runs through the pub's beer garden, and the building was almost completely rebuilt in the late 1770s. The mill's use declined as steam power spread, and the pub use became predominant. Betty Forster is recorded as the first landlady, when the pub was known as the 'Fox and Lamb'; by the 1890s it was owned by the Tucker family, long-established brewers in Gateshead. In the roughly 200 years since Betty, there have been just 17 other licensees, a remarkable level of continuity. The Brooker family bought the pub in 1989 and have run it ever since. In 1992 the family started Hexhamshire Brewery to supply beer to the Dipton Mill and other pubs in the North East; the brewery is now in the hands of the second generation, Mark Brooker, who took over the premises licence from his father Geoff in 2015. Janet continues to cook the home-made meals, salads and sandwiches for which the pub is known. In 2017 the brewery was relocated to the grounds of the pub, with significant investment in the brew plant. The Dipton Mill presents itself as a traditional inn with real fires, real ales and a warm welcome, offering a wood-panelled, low-ceilinged bar and a sunken garden with the mill stream. It serves a blackboard menu of home-cooked food and a range of Hexhamshire Brewery beers. It has won recognition including Value Pub of the Year 2020, Own-Brew Pub of the Year 2021 and the 2020 Tyneside & Northumberland Campaign for Real Ale Northumberland Pub of the Year. It is located only a short drive, about five minutes, from Hexham.

The site of the Dipton Mill Inn has a long history. The original building dates from around 1608 and was built as a corn mill, fed by the Nicholas Burn that now runs through the pub's beer garden. The mill was almost completely rebuilt in the late 1770s; flagstone floors from that period still survive, worn wafer-thin, in the bar beneath the current floor. As steam engines became more common, the mill's use declined and the pub use became predominant on the site. Betty Forster is recorded as the first landlady, when the pub was referred to as the 'Fox and Lamb'. She was succeeded by her tenant, William Scott, but the Forsters appear to have retained ownership of the premises and continued to appear in Census returns as publicans at the Dipton Mill, with a sideline as lead miners, until the 1870s. By the 1890s the pub was owned by the Tucker family, long-established brewers in Gateshead, who rebuilt part of the current pub using stone taken from the derelict farmhouse of Nicholas Hall further up the hill. In the almost 200 years since Betty, there have been just 17 other licensees; two of these were brothers and another three were members of the same family. The pub and its licensees have survived fires, floods and foot and mouth disease. The Brooker family bought the pub in 1989 and have run it ever since. In 1992 the family started Hexhamshire Brewery to supply beer to the Dipton Mill and other pubs in the North East. The premises licence passed from Geoff Brooker to his son Mark in 2015, and Janet continues to cook the food for which the pub is known. In 2017 the brewery was relocated to the grounds of the pub, with significant investment in the brew plant. The pub has received awards including Value Pub of the Year 2020, Own-Brew Pub of the Year 2021 and the 2020 Tyneside & Northumberland Campaign for Real Ale Northumberland Pub of the Year.

• 2021

  Awarded Own-Brew Pub of the Year 2021.

• 2020

  Awarded Value Pub of the Year 2020 and Tyneside & Northumberland CAMRA Northumberland Pub of the Year 2020.

• 2017

  Brewery relocated to the grounds of the pub with significant investment in the brew plant.

• 2015

  Premises licence passed from Geoff Brooker to his son Mark.

• 1992

  Family started Hexhamshire Brewery to supply beer to the Dipton Mill and other North East pubs.

• 1989

  Brooker family bought the pub.

• 1890

  Pub owned by the Tucker family, brewers in Gateshead, who rebuilt part of the pub.

• 1870

  Forster family recorded as publicans at the Dipton Mill until the 1870s.

• 1770

  Mill almost completely rebuilt in the late 1770s; flagstone floors survive.

• 1608

  Original building constructed as a corn mill on the site.

A traditional, family-run country pub and own-brew pub offering real ales and home-cooked food in a historic mill setting near Hexham.

• Hexhamshire Brewery real ales

  Beers brewed on site at the pub by Hexhamshire Brewery.

• Home-cooked meals

  Blackboard menu of home-made meals prepared to order.

• Salads and sandwiches

  Prepared to order in the pub's own kitchen.

• Cheeses and desserts

  Selection available on the blackboard menu.

1. 1HOME - Dipton Mill Inndiptonmill.co.uk
2. 2OUR HISTORY - Dipton Mill Inndiptonmill.co.uk
3. 3ABOUT US - Dipton Mill Inndiptonmill.co.uk
4. 4Dipton Mill Inn - Wikidatawikidata.org