Allendale Tar Bar’l 2026 Guide

RESEARCH CHECKED 22 October 2026

What to expect

Crowds gather in the town centre from around 11pm. At about 11.30pm the barrels are lit and around 45 guisers, in colourful fancy dress with soot-blackened faces, each hoist a flaming half-barrel of tar onto their heads and fall in behind the band. They process through the town and arrive at the Market Place at midnight, where the barrels are hurled onto the waiting bonfire to the cry of Be damned to he who throws last. Then the crowd links arms for Auld Lang Syne and locals head off first footing.

The story behind it

The Tar Bar'l, also written Tar Barl or Baal, has been going for at least 160 years, and some like to think it is far older, with roots in midwinter fire rites. Nobody is entirely sure, which only adds to the mystery. What is certain is how jealously the tradition is guarded: guisers must have been born in the Allen Valleys, and many places pass down through families. The costumes have long histories too. A local woman, Vesta Peart, famously carried a barrel in the 1950s as thanks for making many of them.

Getting there and home

Allendale sits in the North Pennines south of Haydon Bridge and Hexham. The nearest station is Haydon Bridge on the Newcastle to Carlisle line, but there are no trains back after midnight, so rail is only useful if you are staying locally. Most people drive. Do not try to park near the Market Place: parked cars can stretch back towards neighbouring Catton, so allow plenty of time to walk in. Roads can be icy at this time of year.

Watching, taking part and tips

Only guisers born in the Allen Valleys carry barrels; visitors watch. Arrive by 11pm for a decent view of the Market Place. Dress very warmly but in old clothes, because sparks and hot tar fly about. The crowd is large and lively, pubs get busy and not all serve food, so eat beforehand. Keep a safe distance from the procession and the fire. Late hours and flames make it better suited to older children.

Make a day of it nearby

Allendale's Museum of Classic Sci-Fi is a wonderfully fitting companion to an evening of strange costumes. Creator Neil Cole's collection includes screen-used props and costumes, among them restored Doctor Who creatures and pieces connected with comic-book adaptations. The museum's own account explains the painstaking restoration work and its cellar setting in Osborne House. Check the current opening page for holiday announcements, because normal Friday-to-Monday opening doesn't mean it's open on New Year's Eve.

For something outdoors on a longer stay, try Allen Banks and Staward Gorge. This National Trust woodland follows the River Allen, with the ruin of a medieval pele tower and a reconstructed Victorian summerhouse among its sights. Read the current map and access information before picking a route, as the ground is mostly uneven and can be steep. Make it a daylight walk on a day when conditions are right, not something tacked on after midnight. Choose the museum for indoor collections, or the gorge for a well-prepared walk.

Eating and drinking

The Lion House on the Market Place is a good place to look into before New Year's Eve. Its own site advertises a restaurant and table bookings, with cask beers including brews from Allendale Brewery. Ask directly about the menu for 31 December, service times and any special event arrangements, because ordinary hours don't promise you a table, or a kitchen still cooking when the barrel procession gathers.

Eating there puts you right in the middle of town, but a dinner booking doesn't save you a viewing spot outside. Decide whether a relaxed dinner or being ready for the procession matters more, and leave enough time between the two. The venue lists wheelchair access and says it's family-friendly and pet-friendly; mention any particular needs when you get in touch, as those broad labels won't tell you how to get through a packed Market Place. If you're driving home, settle who's behind the wheel and how you're getting back before the first drink is poured.

Accessibility and families

Allendale's fire tradition and the area's daytime attractions call for separate access decisions. We couldn't confirm a dedicated Tar Bar’l viewing platform or event accessible toilets in the sources we checked, so contact local organisers before relying on either. A business that lists wheelchair access is a good place to ask about its own facilities, but that doesn't mean a clear route through the celebration outside.

At Allen Banks, the National Trust mentions a mobility toilet in the main toilet block and some level ground, but describes most of the terrain as uneven and steep in places. Dogs are welcome on leads. Use the map to choose a manageable daytime walk, rather than reading "woodland paths" as a promise of level going. For the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi, ask about the cellar setting and what your group needs before you book. A few practical checks like these can make a longer stay worthwhile, even for someone who opts for a shorter spell outside at midnight.

Questions people ask

Is the science-fiction museum definitely open on New Year’s Eve?

No special opening was confirmed. Its official page asks visitors to check holiday announcements; contact the museum about 31 December.

Where is a named place to ask about dinner?

The Lion House on the Market Place advertises food and table bookings. Check its actual New Year's Eve service directly.

Does a restaurant table reserve a place outside?

No such arrangement is advertised. Dinner and watching in the street are separate plans.

Is Allen Banks a level walk?

Only in parts. The National Trust describes mostly uneven terrain with steep sections, so read its map and access statement.

Are the costumes part of the inherited tradition?

Yes. Visit Northumberland says costumes made by Vesta Peart in the 1950s are still worn. Look for them alongside the burning barrels.

Plan your trip

STAY OVER

Make a night of it

Search places to stay in and around Hexham for 31 December 2026. Popular events can fill nearby rooms early, so check cancellation terms.

Find a place to stay on Booking.com ↗

BY TRAIN

Nearest station: Haydon Bridge

Haydon Bridge is the nearest station but there are no late trains after midnight, so most visitors drive and park on the approach roads well away from the Market Place.

Check trains on Trainline ↗

Booking.com and Trainline links are affiliate links — what that means.

Where it is

Map pin shows the approximate area where the event happens. Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

Make a weekend of it

Odd things nearby

Appleby Horse Fair 24 miles · 3–9 June 2027
Langholm Common Riding 34 miles · 30 July 2027
Sedgefield Ball Game 36 miles · 9 February 2027

Also in December

Glastonbury Holy Thorn Cutting Glastonbury, Somerset
Burning the Clocks Brighton, East Sussex
Tom Bawcock’s Eve Mousehole, Cornwall
Kirkwall Ba’ Game Kirkwall, Orkney

Featured in our guides: Hogmanay & New Year’s Strangest Traditions

Still to confirm before you travel

There is no booking or official programme, so check Visit Northumberland or local community pages for any changes to timings or road arrangements.

Go straight to the source

Independent research. The organiser’s own information always wins — we have not visited or tested the journeys.

Allendale Tar Bar’l