Northumberland 'hidden gem' pub loved by Vera's Brenda Blethyn had name changed by ITV
A pub that has established itself as a real 'hidden gem' in Northumberland, once had its name changed to play a starring role, as it gained a big fan in the shape of the hit drama's main star Brenda Blethyn.
Given the fact that Vera has filmed all over the North East over the last 14 years, the stunning surroundings of Northumberland have made it onto screen countless times on the much loved show, with everywhere from Berwick to Blyth and Alnwick to Cramlington being featured, as Brenda and her cast members have sparked keen interest wherever they've been.
To the upset of its fans all over the world, in countries as far flung as Australia and Japan, Vera came to an end on ITV at the start of January, with its 14th and final series airing over consecutive nights, as audiences close to 7 million tuned into watch penultimate episode Inside and finale The Dark Wives, as BAFTA winner Brenda bowed out as famous sleuth DCI Stanhope.
READ MORE: Newcastle United's 'humongous' transfer move makes sense as he fires back at Sunderland taunts
READ MORE: North East high streets commission planned to revive towns plagued by empty shops
At a Vera press event in November, Brenda spoke of her love for the North East and its people and was quick to heap praise on The Ship Inn on Holy Island, which was taken over by the Vera cast and crew for Christmas special The Rising Tide. As any Vera viewer will know, DCI Stanhope lives on Holy Island, with Brenda's last ever scene in the role seeing her walking a dig down its causeway right before credits rolled.
Speaking about Holy Island and the warm welcome she received at The Ship, which became The Seahorse in The Rising Tide, Vera said: "“I have to pinch myself every time we drive across that causeway to Holy Island. It is so lovely. But having filmed scenes for Vera on Holy Island over the years, working on The Rising Tide was the first time I’ve actually been into the village there and the little harbour and jetty itself, because I’m always up to my eyeballs in work at the location on the island we use for the exterior of Vera’s house."
She added: "I also went out on a boat from Holy Island this time. It was great but absolutely freezing cold on the boat. Among the locations we filmed at was The Ship pub which is The Seahorse in the story. The people there were very hospitable."
As well as the Holy Island causeway being the setting for Brenda's final scene as Vera, Northumberland as a whole had a key part to play in the last two episodes, with the River Wansbeck being a crime scene in Inside, before the small village of Glanton was used for a huge parade scene in the finale.