Lord Crewe Arms Competition

Picturesque. Tick. Oozing with history. Tick. A foodie’s destination. Double tick.

If you aren’t already a regular at the Lord Crewe Arms, in Blanchland, why not?

This ancient hostelry is at the heart of our most gorgeous villages. Straddling the Durham Northumberland border, the Lord Crewe Arms is where the much-talked-about chef, Simon Hicks, works his magic to great acclaim. The Gatehouse, opposite, is where he runs chef’s dinners and demo lunches – and it’s a pretty special setting for an intimate wedding, too.

An Aussie, Simon’s a great fan of al fresco eating, so his summer cooking is designed to be devoured outside as much as in.

Veg from the garden, juicy minced steak burgers, Durham lamb shoulder, freshly baked flatbreads … and monthly garden gigs. No, not Simon – the latter’s left to the live musicians.

The gardens are a delight with lawns, medieval walls adorned with roses and glorious uninterrupted views of the landscape beyond. So take a rug in case all the best seats are already spoken for.

We’ve got a £50 voucher to spend for one of our lucky readers. Book a cookery course at The Gatehouse, enjoy lunch or put it towards a well-deserved night away.