Atelier, Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Make no mistake this is a restaurant, not a bar, not a pub, in spite of a GBG2025 listing. It does however have a couple of hand pumps with apparently two changing beers, both were from Hadrian & Border on my visit and of reasonable quality (3.5). It also has a very nice selection of higher quality Belgian and German beers on keg alongside a few more local ones from small breweries, eight in total. Very much bistro type furnishing, although no gingham table cloths or candles, interesting eclectic decor though . It is, I think, run by an Italian gent and the service is much like an Italian restaurant, slow and rude. Drinkers will be evicted from tables if diners need them. Still worth a tickle but better if you want to eat but book first as it’s popular with diners.

Atelier has the feel of a wine bar. Although most of its customers were drinking beer on my early Wednesday evening visit. With no spare tables and both stools at the bar taken, it is the kind of place that I would have been turned away from during the dark days of Covid and its various restrictions. But the all female staff were quite happy with me having a drink whilst stood at the bar. Three cask ales are on offer. These were Born Blonde & Amber & Great North Eastern Rivet Catcher. None of these are particularly up my street. But there was nothing wrong with the conditioning. This certainly appears to be a popular place and situated just opposite the alleyway leading to the Curfew, it is worth a try if in Berwick.

Upmarket but laid-back foody place (‘Charcuterie’, dontchaknow) that nonetheless has a small bar area with the cask and a few keg. Ale from Orkney, Grand Northern Metro (NBSS 3, served in one those naff little goblets) and one I forgot to note but all a bit on the samey side, style-wise. Long and front facing with a slightly odd red and muddy green colour scheme. To the right is an old pharmacy cupboard filled with knick-knacks which was of passing interest. Plenty of people in on a grey dank Monday almost all eating, so they are certainly doing something right – if I hadn’t already chowed-down at the Curfew I might have been tempted myself. Worth a look, especially if you want some sustenance. 6.5