A Hexham restaurant has won a strong endorsement from the stars of a new Channel 5 drama after Denise Welch and Amy Nuttall became regular visitors during filming in Northumberland.
The pair praised Zyka in Priestpopple, where Welch first ate in March and later returned with Nuttall. The restaurant also hosted the wrap party for Forever Home, the drama in which the actresses play mother and daughter.
The cast’s visits had already attracted attention earlier in the year. Welch said she was amused that the restaurant trips had become front-page news, but made clear that her praise for Zyka’s food was genuine.
“It was front page news which is the most hysterical thing, it was hilarious! But I did genuinely say it was fabulous and we went back a few times after that. The people of Hexham were just lovely.”
Filming brought the cast to Northumberland
Forever Home is based on the novel of the same name by Graham Norton and is due to air on Channel 5 over consecutive weeks later this month, according to the report. Welch stars alongside Lewis Cope and Amy Nuttall in the series, which is described as being packed with twists and turns.
The three performers and other cast and crew members attended the North East premiere in Newcastle city centre on Friday night. They were invited guests at Tyneside Cinema, where the first episode was screened before Welch, Cope and Nuttall spoke about filming in Northumberland and the places they visited away from the cameras.
A second Hexham business praised
Welch and Nuttall also highlighted The Beaumont Hotel in Hexham, where they both stayed during production.
“They looked after us so well and it's a beautiful place to stay.”
The comment came from Nuttall, who plays central character Carol Crottie in Forever Home alongside Welch, her on-screen mother.
The story was published by ChronicleLive’s What's On team on 5 September 2026 and updated later that evening. It follows earlier reports about the cast visiting Zyka and places the Priestpopple restaurant in the spotlight as the production’s connection with Hexham continues to attract interest.