Sugarvine

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Established in 1996, Bistro 21 is a French country-style bistro located in the servants’ wing of an 18th century villa on the edge of Durham. It’s light and airy with pitch pine floors, rush-seat chairs, crisp white tablecloths and offers a menu full of classic bistro dishes given a contemporary twist. Start perhaps with a Cheddar cheese and spinach soufflé followed with Fillet of sea bass with tomato gratin, pancetta, baby spinach salad and pinenut relish and then an English summer pudding. There’s a snug-like bar, a pretty courtyard and three private dining rooms. Bistro 21 is open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday and for Sunday lunch. Awards | Michelin Bib Gourmand | 1 AA Rosette | Good Food Guide 2

Menus | Recipes | Private Dining | Food Matters

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Blackfriars Restaurant lays claim to be the oldest purpose-built restaurant in the UK, dating back to 1239 when it was a refectory for the 'Black Friars'. Today it's one of the north east's most high-profile restaurants with a string of accolades to its name, including an AA rosette and Metro's Restaurant of the Year award as well as being voted Best Restaurant in the North East by the Observer. The dining room is on two levels, with inglenooks and corners allowing diners to enjoy an intimate meal. In summer, the original medieval courtyard is used for al fresco dining. The Modern British menus use local fresh seasonal produce with choices ranging from a lunchtime cafe menu to full evening a la carte. The Blackfriars wine list is one of the UK's top 20. Awards | 1 AA Rosette | Good Food Guide 3

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Hexham’s Bouchon Bistrot has brought a taste of French country cooking to the northeast. The proprietor hails from the Loire Valley and has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants across France. Classics like French onion soup, Coq au vin and Apple tarte tartin rub shoulders on the menu with starters such as ‘Head to toe’ pork terrine with herb salad and gribiche sauce and mains like Roasted skate wing with beurre noisette and capers. Prices are very reasonable too with starters around the £5-£7 mark, most mains £11-£14 and desserts £4-£6. Bouchon is located in a characterful building on Gilesgate, opposite Hexham swimming pool and it’s open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday. Bouchon Bistrot also won Best Local French Restaurant in the UK on Goradon Ramsay's F Word. Awards | Good Food Guide 4

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Chef David Kennedy and business partner David Ladd opened Brasserie Black Door in the Biscuit Factory in May 2006. The 100-cover brasserie has a relaxed feel with light wooden floors, soft furnishings and warm colours as well as an art gallery showcasing local talent running the length of the room. The menu focuses on offering creative cooking at affordable prices in a buzzy atmosphere, with grilled meats and steaks to the fore as well as healthy eating options. Private dining facilities are available for up to 20 people.Awards | 1 AA Rosette | Good Food Guide 4

Menus & Wine List

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Located on Newcastle’s Quayside since 2007, award-winning Café 21 has been an integral part of Terry Laybourne’s culinary empire since 2000. It’s all about good food served in comfortably stylish surroundings with polished wood, smooth panelling, leather banquettes and crisp tablecloths setting the tone. There’s a bar area where you can peruse a menu that’s big on fresh, seasonal ingredients and offers a range of classic bistro dishes. You might start with a Warm salad of Craster kippers, ratte potatoes and endive served with a soft poached egg and mustard dressing, follow it with Roasted new seasons lamb, fine beans, tomatoes, olives and gratin potatoes and finish up with Gooseberry and almond tart with elderflower ice cream. Café 21 can seat 130 diners in the main restaurant and can offer private dining facilities for up to 40. It’s open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Awards | 1 AA Rosette | Good Food Guide 3

Menus | Recipes | Private Dining | Food Matters

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Durham’s Gourmet Spot uses imaginative flavour combinations and award-winning local produce to produce stunning dishes. The seasonally changing A la Carte menu is produced by Head Chef Stephen Hardy. He uses locally sourced produce and artistic flair to create dishes that have gained both local and national recognition and accolades. The sumptuous decor and beautiful setting, nestled overlooking beautiful Durham, make for an enchanting experience. Gourmet Spot offers a daily A la Carte menu and Early Evening special as well as the ever-popular Tasting Menu, which allows diners to enjoy wines carefully flavour-matched with each course.Awards | Good Food Guide 2

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Although just five minutes from Newcastle city centre, Jesmond Dene House enjoys a peaceful rural setting overlooking a wooded valley. The Grade II listed building dates back to the 1820s but behind the imposing Gothic façade, the hotel has undergone an extensive refurbishment, seamlessly matching contemporary styling with the building’s historic features. The AA’s English Hotel of the Year for 2008-2009, Jesmond Dene has 40 individually designed bedrooms, conference and meeting facilities, a wood-panelled Great Hall and a three-AA-rosetted restaurant run by Head Chef Pierre Rigothier. Given a stylish ‘new-look’ this summer, the restaurant takes a fresh and contemporary approach to classic dishes and classic combinations. Pierre blends a modern style with his exacting French training to create dishes that are light, flavoursome and appealing, sometimes with a sexy little twist. Choose from seasonally changing a la carte and vegetarian menus as well as the good-value Market Menu or the great value Lunch Menu (£16.50 including coffee). The restaurant is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving both residents and non-residents.Awards | 3 AA Rosettes | Good Food Guide 5

Restaurant | Private Dining | Bedrooms | Weddings

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Lord Byron married and honeymooned here in 1815, enjoying the same bracing sea air and rugged North Sea coastline that attracts visitors to this day. The White Room at Seaham Hall offers a la carte and a menu du jour options as well as a 10-course tasting menu. The food is ably accompanied by a 500-bin wine selection that is stored in the hall's original cellars (which can be viewed on request). Seaham Hall is also home to the Serenity Spa. Connected to the hotel by an underground walkway, this state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot facility opened in 2002 and is classed as one of the best spas in the UK and Europe. It has 19 treatment rooms and its own pan-Asian restaurant, Ozone.Awards | 3 AA Rosettes | Good Food Guide 5