I have to say, we love the name of your hotel – The Cookie Jar. Can you tell us a bit more about how this name came about and what makes the hotel so special?
The name came around probably over too many glasses on a Friday night, to be honest! Our name is Cook, and my husband was known as 'Cookie' through school and college as is my son. We used to joke we’d keep our savings in a biscuit tin, so that’s how that came around.
The thing that makes our hotel special is 100% our team – our staff. They really enjoy looking after guests, they have the time to look after them. Giving staff time to get to know guests is important. And also employing genuinely nice people – guests love to see the same faces time after time.
It’s a small, personable hotel (we have 11 rooms). We even offer Penhaligon’s toiletries, which you have to get approved for, as well as quality bedding – these are things I think are really important.
The thing that makes our hotel special is 100% our team – our staff. They really enjoy looking after guests, they have the time to look after them. Giving staff time to get to know guests is important. And also employing genuinely nice people – guests love to see the same faces time after time.
It’s a small, personable hotel (we have 11 rooms). We even offer Penhaligon’s toiletries, which you have to get approved for, as well as quality bedding – these are things I think are really important.
The Cookie Jar had a former life as the Convent of Mercy – can you tell us a bit more about the hotel’s history and what details guests can still see today from its past?
We actually have a book on the hotel, which a lovely gentleman wrote after he came to stay. The convent opened its doors in October 1890; before that a young priest called Father Edward Robert arrived in Alnwick who was inspired to open a convent and recruit a team of hard-working sisters. He sought help from a friend called Captain Simmons, from the nearby village of Ellingham, which is about 15 minutes from Alnwick. He and his wife had previously lived in Guernsey, and they belonged to what they called the Sisters of Mercy, an order formed 60 years earlier.
They were different as it was not all about traditional vows, chastity, and obedience. They were more about helping homeless women and children. So in September 1890, 12 Bailiffgate was purchased for £1700, and in October the following month five ladies arrived from Guernsey, from the Sisters of Mercy, to start their new life in the convent in Alnwick, led by a lady called Mother Evangelist Costello.
When they arrived, the challenges they faced, besides social deprivation, was a mixed religious reception and a pressing need for education. In 1893, they opened Our Ladies Convent High School, which was followed in 1898 by an infant school, which grew to over 400 pupils.
Mother Evangelist had led the convent for 38 years when she became ill and was forced into retirement aged 84. And actually, the work in education and parish life she led was recognised at the convent's Golden Jubilee in 1940, when the Pope at that time sent his blessing.
In September 2015, 125 years later, the doors were closed and that was the end of the convent. We purchased the building in April 2017, opening in September 2017. Elements of the convent can still be seen – the main thing are the stained-glass windows and our chapel suite was their chapel where they prayed. The altar has now been made into the bathroom of the chapel, so it’s a split level. And the chapel itself has got four beautiful stained-glass windows, which are all original.
They were different as it was not all about traditional vows, chastity, and obedience. They were more about helping homeless women and children. So in September 1890, 12 Bailiffgate was purchased for £1700, and in October the following month five ladies arrived from Guernsey, from the Sisters of Mercy, to start their new life in the convent in Alnwick, led by a lady called Mother Evangelist Costello.
When they arrived, the challenges they faced, besides social deprivation, was a mixed religious reception and a pressing need for education. In 1893, they opened Our Ladies Convent High School, which was followed in 1898 by an infant school, which grew to over 400 pupils.
Mother Evangelist had led the convent for 38 years when she became ill and was forced into retirement aged 84. And actually, the work in education and parish life she led was recognised at the convent's Golden Jubilee in 1940, when the Pope at that time sent his blessing.
In September 2015, 125 years later, the doors were closed and that was the end of the convent. We purchased the building in April 2017, opening in September 2017. Elements of the convent can still be seen – the main thing are the stained-glass windows and our chapel suite was their chapel where they prayed. The altar has now been made into the bathroom of the chapel, so it’s a split level. And the chapel itself has got four beautiful stained-glass windows, which are all original.
What can guests do from the hotel? Do you have a favourite walk in the area?
There are so many walks, endless beaches, and the coastline is so quiet compared to other places. When I walk my dogs in the morning at Alnmouth, I can be the only person there. That’s not unusual.
There are lots of castles – Alnwick, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh. Barter Books in Alnwick is the second largest bookshop in the country and guests adore that. It’s open until 7pm, so even if you’ve had a full day of walking, you can go and relax there.
Then there's Craigside, a National Trust property, which was the first property to have electricity. It's got beautiful gardens, too. Alnwick Gardens is famous and where Earl Grey tea was created. You can go on a cruise and watch the puffins... there’s just so much you can do.
Guests stay with us two nights, but if you arrive late afternoon, it’s quite a short time to experience everything…
In terms of my favourite walk it has to be Alnmouth – about a 10-minute drive from here. We just love it there.
There are lots of castles – Alnwick, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh. Barter Books in Alnwick is the second largest bookshop in the country and guests adore that. It’s open until 7pm, so even if you’ve had a full day of walking, you can go and relax there.
Then there's Craigside, a National Trust property, which was the first property to have electricity. It's got beautiful gardens, too. Alnwick Gardens is famous and where Earl Grey tea was created. You can go on a cruise and watch the puffins... there’s just so much you can do.
Guests stay with us two nights, but if you arrive late afternoon, it’s quite a short time to experience everything…
In terms of my favourite walk it has to be Alnmouth – about a 10-minute drive from here. We just love it there.
How do the seasons compare in Northumberland – what’s your favourite time of year?
Well, my favourite season – my favourite month even – is September. I think because you've almost said goodbye to summer, but September can be gorgeous. We get quite a lot of sunshine in September in Northumberland… it’s a magical time to come.
Does the hotel have a signature dish? What type of cuisine can guests enjoy?
We don't have a signature dish because we change our menus every four months, with the season, trying to use as much local produce as possible. Everything’s quality-driven – even our orange juice is freshly squeezed. We’ve got a very good butcher and fishmonger we’ve been with since we opened eight years ago.
I would describe our food as good British food. Fresh, clean food.
I would describe our food as good British food. Fresh, clean food.
Do you have any top tips for people visiting and walking in Northumberland?
I think a lot of people forget when they come away for two or three or four nights is to actually plan time to not do anything and to just have some downtime. So many people will come and stay with us for two or three nights and they don't draw breath. We've got a beautiful lounge for people to sit in, in the summer we've got a beautiful garden. I always say to have a couple of hours at some point just to sit and relax. We've got a large bookcase in our lounge with lots and lots of books and lovely magazines everywhere in the hotel. Just sit and relax and enjoy the surroundings of the Cookie Jar.
And lastly, any exciting plans for the future (that you can reveal, of course!)?
We're so small, we don't have space to do anything more than what we do. Plans for the future are to absolutely keep on top of everything: painting, maintenance, re-upholstery…
I love it when people say you'd never know you'd been open for eight years because it’s still absolutely perfect. So that's really, really important to me. And then I've got a great saying which is: “better never stops, just keep getting better”.
*Note that The Cookie Jar is an upgrade option on our Northumberland Coast Path & Castles holiday.
And lastly, any exciting plans for the future (that you can reveal, of course!)?
We're so small, we don't have space to do anything more than what we do. Plans for the future are to absolutely keep on top of everything: painting, maintenance, re-upholstery…
I love it when people say you'd never know you'd been open for eight years because it’s still absolutely perfect. So that's really, really important to me. And then I've got a great saying which is: “better never stops, just keep getting better”.
*Note that The Cookie Jar is an upgrade option on our Northumberland Coast Path & Castles holiday.