Victoria Inn

Tucked inside a traditional town-centre pub in Alston, high amid the wild North Pennines, this is the area's fun, retro answer to a fast-food craving, a neon-lit disco diner hidden away at the back, all cosy booth seating and feel-good tunes. The kitchen turns out a tight, crowd-pleasing menu of gourmet burgers with cheeky playful names, plus a handful of moreish sides, all served fast, hot and with a real sense of personality.

It has become a genuine local favourite, rated 4.8 out of 5 by diners and holding a Travellers' Choice award. Expect generously stacked burgers alongside Mac & Cheese Dippers and Jalapeno Poppers, then finish with a homemade Biscoff Cheesecake if you have any room left. In a remote moorland town with limited choice, it stands out as a brilliant spot for a casual, no-frills feed, equally good whether you are a passing walker, a cyclist tackling the high passes, or a local fancying something a little different.