Durham eateries celebrate record year at Taste Awards

By North East Life on February 4th 2011

A record-breaking 60 Durham eateries have been championed for serving up tasty local produce and providing consistently good service.

The restaurants, hotels, farm shops, café's and bars have all received a TasteDurham quality mark in the third annual awards ceremony, held at Ramside Hall Hotel.

Assessors from national tourist board Visit Britain inspected all 60 businesses for cleanliness, quality of menu, use of local produce and quality of service.

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham, said: 'This is a record-breaking year for TasteDurham. We have never had so many eateries successfully earn this prestigious award and it just shows the quality of food and drink being served across the county.'

TasteDurham businesses can earn both quality assurance award grading and the title of Local Produce Champion in recognition of commitment to buying fresh and local.

To find out more about TasteDurham and the Durham businesses in the scheme, visit: www.tastedurham.com

Sarah McClaren and Grace Fountain (centre) from the Black Horse in Beamish

The Victorian Townhouse receives its award

The Rose and Crown receive their award

Sandra Johnson, from Low Urpeth farm cottages B&B, with Lianne Smedley, from Durham Marriot Hotel Royal County

Record breaking year for county eateries TasteDurham

Rachael and Edward Jewson, from Knitsley Farm Shop, Consett, with Barbara Anne Johnson from The Morritt, and Bill Oldfield from Oldfields, Durham

Noreen Haris from the Seven Stars, Shincliffe, Nicola Kay and Alan Bryan from the Rose Tree Inn, Shincliffe and Kenneth Harris from the Seven Stars

Melanie Sensicle with Lesley Williamson of Austin Bar and Bistro, Chris Naylor and Harry Bailey of the Honest Lawyer Hotel

Mark Abley and Chris Thompson from `53` in Spennymoor James Wolsey and Kristine Mustarde from the Lambton Hounds in Pity Me

Low Cornriggs Farm receives its award

Kathy Sygrove chair of the Durham Fair trade Partnership, with Richard Bell from The Unercroft at Durham Cathedral, Rick and Sue Curry from Brambles Coffee

Joanne Bean and Adam Clark from El Coto, Durham City

TASTEDURHAM AWARD WINNERS 2010

Quality Assured

1. Austin's Bistro, Durham County Cricket Ground, Chester le Street

2. Café Cenno, Durham City

3. County Restaurant, Mariott Hotel Durham City

4. El Coto, Durham City

5. Honest Lawyer Hotel, Croxdale

6. La Tasca, Durham City

7. The Lambton Hounds Inn, Pity Me

8. Michaelangelo's Restaurant, Durham City

9. Pan Din Thai Restaurant, Seaham

10. Pemberton Suite Carvery, Ramside Hall Hotel

11. Red Lion, Bitchburn

12. The Rose Tree Inn, Shincliffe

13. Stonebridge Inn, Durham

14. Chesters Grove Coffee Shop, Chester le Street

15. Church Mouse, Chester le Street

16. Filini Restaurant, Radisson BLU Hotel Durham City

17. Garden House, Durham City

18. The Green Tree – 1727, Tudhoe Village

19. Hide Bar, Durham City

20. Melanzana Bistro Café Bar, Durham City

21. The Old Mill, Metal Bridge

22. Richardsons Garden Centre, Cold Hesledon

23. Sale Pepe, Shotley Bridge

24. Seaton Lane Inn, Seaham

25. The Victoria Inn, Cassop

26. Leonard’s Coffee House, Durham City

Quality Assured and Local Produce Champion

1.       The 1618, Middleton in Teesdale

2.       The Black Bull Inn, Frosterley

3.    Black Horse, Beamish

4.    Brambles Coffee Shop, Shincliffe

5.    Broom House Farm Coffee Shop, Witton Gilbert

6.    Fifty3, Spennymoor

7.    The Morritt, Greta Bridge

8.    Rib Room Bar & Grill, Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield

9.    Undercroft Restaurant, Durham Cathedral

10.   Bradley Burn Farm Shop & Café, Wolsingham

11.   Café Bowes, Bowes Museum

12.   Dainty Diner Tearoom, Beamish Museum

13.   The Teesdale Hotel, Middleton in Teesdale

14.   Durham Dales Centre, Stanhope

Highest Quality Assured

Zen, Durham City

Highest Quality Assured and Local Produce Champion

1.       The Castle Eden Inn, Castle Eden

2.       Finbarr's Restaurant, Durham City

3.       Gourmet Spot Restaurant, Durham City

4.       Low Urpeth Farm, Ouston

5.       Newlands Hall, Frosterley

6.       The Pumphouse Restaurant, Durham City

7.       Rib Room Bar & Grill, Ramside Hall Hotel

8.       The Rose & Crown Hotel, Romaldkirk

9.       Seven Stars Inn, Shincliffe

10.   Victorian Townhouse, Durham City

11.   Gadz Grill, Durham City

12.   Headlam Hall Restaurant, Gainford

13.   Knitsley Farm Shop, Consett

14.   Oldfield's Restaurant, Durham City

15.   South Causey Inn, Stanley

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