Key Points
- The Tan Hill Inn, known to be Britain’s highest pub located in Upper Swaledale, North Yorkshire, has now increased its presence by opening a new food outlet in St James’ Stack in Newcastle.
- The new food kiosk is serving authentic British delicacies in the form of Yorkshire pudding wraps, homemade pies, and traditional fish and chips at the Newcastle-based entertainment venue.
- Andrew Hields, owner of the Tan Hill Inn, stated that the menu serves the same heart warming food items as that of the pub – slow-roasted meat dishes, vegetarian options, side pots, and even desserts.
- Gemma Dishman, Director of Strategy and Development for STACK, welcomed the news and mentioned that the legendary venue adds a new concept to the existing street food range.
- This expansion plan seeks to promote the food offerings from this 300 year old venue to a new urban market, and also help generate revenue for the rising cost of operation in the hospitality industry.
- St James’ Stack keeps growing in its food trader range, providing the Tan Hill Inn its dedicated retail outlet along with the other food traders from the locality.
Newcastle (Newcastle Times) September 19, 2026 – North Yorkshire’s famous landmark pub, the Tan Hill Inn, has officially expanded its operations into Newcastle upon Tyne through the launch of a new dedicated street food stall at St James’ Stack. Located in upper Swaledale, the historic pub—noted for standing 1,732 feet above sea level—has partnered with North East leisure developer STACK to serve traditional British comfort food inspired by its classic pub menu directly to city centre diners.
What culinary dishes are featured on the new menu?
As reported by Gavin Engelbrecht of the Darlington and Stockton Times, the newly launched food outlet at St James’ Stack features a tailored menu centred around hearty British staples. Headlining the offerings are Yorkshire pudding wraps, filled with choices of slow-roast beef, slow-roast pork, lemon and herb chicken, or a vegetarian nut roast. The wraps are accompanied by buttered mash, honey-roasted carrots, seasonal greens, and traditional rich gravy.
Furthermore, as noted by Gavin Engelbrecht of the Northern Echo, the outlet serves stuffed Yorkshire puddings using the same savoury fillings, as well as a dedicated dessert variant featuring warm spiced apples and ice cream.
The menu options extend to a variety of traditional Tan Hill Inn pies, such as steak and ale, chicken and ham, and a vegetarian saag aloo pie made with spinach, potatoes, and Indian spices. Each pie serving is paired with rich gravy alongside a choice of creamy mash or chips.
Additional side items available to Newcastle diners include traditional fish and chips, pigs in blankets, chunky chips, and pork-scratchings salt pots. For younger visitors, a designated children’s menu includes options such as chicken nuggets and a chicken burger.
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Why did the Tan Hill Inn decide to expand into Newcastle upon Tyne?
As stated by Andrew Hields, owner of the Tan Hill Inn and the new Stack outlet, as reported by Gavin Engelbrecht of the Darlington and Stockton Times:
“We have visitors who come to the Tan Hill Inn from around the world because it’s such an iconic place. And along with its long history, it is also renowned for its fantastic, hearty food and that’s exactly what we’re now recreating at St James’ Stack.”
In reporting by Barbara Hodgson of Chronicle Live, Andrew Hields elaborated on the economic and operational factors driving the venture, explaining that managing a historic venue comes with significant obligations and that keeping business going at such altitudes has proved hugely challenging despite the pub’s global fame.
Owning a pub with as much history and name recognition as the Tan Hill Inn comes with a level of responsibility, including ensuring that the venue is able to survive in an ever-challenging hospitality climate, particularly given increasing operational overheads on site.
As reported by The Northern Echo, Andrew Hields added:
“Expanding the Tan Hill Inn experience beyond its Yorkshire location helps us ensure its survival and we are very grateful to STACK for the opportunity to be part of their exciting concept.”
Highlighting the operator’s perspective, Gemma Dishman, Director of Strategy and Development for STACK, stated, as reported by The Northern Echo:
“We are always looking to bring in traders who will add to the mix of street food we offer so that we have something for everyone. Having the food from a venue as well known and iconic as The Tan Hill Inn will bring something fresh and we are delighted that they have chosen Stack as the first outlet as part of their brand growth.”
Background of the Development
The Tan Hill Inn, located in upper Swaledale near Keld in North Yorkshire, holds the official title of the highest public house in the United Kingdom, sitting 1,732 feet (528 metres) above sea level. Dating back to the 17th century, the building originally served miners working in surrounding coal pits. Over decades, it transformed into a famous destination for walkers, tourists, and outdoor enthusiasts traversing the Pennine Way. Beyond its geographic notoriety, the historic building has frequently featured across mainstream television, advertisements, and film productions, including popular appearances in ITV’s Vera, Jane Eyre, and BBC’s Top Gear. It has also made headlines globally during severe winter weather events, such as in 2021 and 2025, when deep snow drifts left patrons stranded inside the remote pub for days at a time.
Despite its global name recognition, rural hospitality businesses across the UK face persistent commercial headwinds, including rising energy bills, elevated food production costs, and fluctuating seasonal tourist traffic. To build resilience, the business expanded into street food operations and forged a partnership with STACK, a prominent North East entertainment brand known for constructing container-based leisure, music, and food hubs.
The opening at St James’ Stack—a major entertainment venue located adjacent to Newcastle United’s St James’ Park stadium—places the rural pub brand into a high-footfall urban hub alongside a collection of established independent street food vendors.
Future Impact and Industry Predictions
How will this development affect regional consumers and the UK hospitality sector?
- Impact on North East Consumers and Football Fans:Diners and matchday visitors at St James’ Park gain direct access to traditional Yorkshire pub food without needing to travel over 60 miles into the remote northern Pennines. The availability of quick-service roast meals, pies, and Yorkshire pudding wraps fits the high-volume demand during football matches, concerts, and weekend events in Newcastle city centre.
- Impact on the Tan Hill Inn Business Model:By establishing a permanent retail presence in a major metropolitan shipping-container hub, the Tan Hill Inn secures a consistent, year-round revenue stream. This diversification helps buffer the remote flagship site against seasonal drops in winter footfall and bad weather closures on the Pennines.
- Impact on Rural Hospitality Operators:This move provides a practical blueprint for remote and destination-based pub operators across the United Kingdom. As operational overheads remain high, more rural destination brands may look to partner with urban leisure hubs and food halls to monetize their brand equity in high-density city centres.
