AN award-winning restaurant has now secured a place in The Good Food Guide 2020.

The Raby Hunt is the highest recommended eaterie in the North East after being placed 13th across the country.

Self-taught chef and owner, James Close, was praised for his distinctive style of cooking.

Elizabeth Carter, Waitrose Good Food Guide Editor, said: “Single-mindedness and a fiery determination to produce the best define James Close’s food, the soaring sophistication of his razor-edge cooking seemingly at odds with the rural setting: on the outside a stone-built, creeper-clad former village pub; within a modern, minimalist space with a state-of-the-art kitchen.

"Forever breaking new ground, Close is known for his freewheeling palate and instinct for building nuanced contrasts, and his 17-course tasting menu is a thrilling amalgam of flavours and textures.”

On September 22, the two Michelin starred eaterie, at Summerhouse near Darlington, will be hosting its own version of a mini food festival.

Guests will get to chat with the chefs, watch them cook and try a signature dish from each of them.

Tickets for the event are £110 and are available on 01325-374327.