Blackfriars voted the ‘Taste of the North East’

Blackfriars has been voted the top restaurant in the North East according to tourism bosses in the region. The restaurant, located in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, was announced the Gold winner in the ‘Taste of England’ category in the North East England Tourism Awards at a star studded night at the Sage Gateshead in front of 400 leading tourism chiefs. The awards ceremony was organised by destination management and marketing organisation, Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, in conjunction with Northumberland County Council and supported by the Northern Tourism Alliance, a collaboration of the region’s tourism bodies who work together on projects that will benefit the tourism industry across the North East. The Alliance is made up of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Northumberland Tourism, Visit County Durham, The North East Hotels Association and Hadrian’s Wall Trust. Andy Hook took over the restaurant at Blackfriars from the Newcastle City Council in 2001 and has turned one of the oldest purpose-built restaurants in the UK into a culinary institution. The restaurant dates back to 1239 when it was used as the refectory for the Dominican friars. Little did the friars know when they were serving the local downs and outs that their venue would become one of the leading restaurants in the city. The grade 1 listed building recaptures medieval life in Newcastle and the team serve a classic but gutsy traditional British menu using local and seasonal ingredients and an abundance of great produce from around the North East. The head chef is Troy Terrington how has been with Blackfriars for several years. In 2010 Andy and his team took over the medieval Banquet Hall within the complex which was the celebrated venue used by King Edward III for receiving royal Scot, Edward Balliol, in 1334. After painstaking research the Hall was restored to its former glory with authentic banners, chandeliers, wall coverings and stained-glass windows, and furnishings include large oak communal dining tables and matching chairs. As well as being used as an addition to the restaurant it is also used for private and corporate functions, weddings and its popular Medieval Banquets and gastronomic events for up to 50 people. Blackfriars has won a host of awards and acknowledgements since Andy took over the restaurant including being voted Best Restaurant by Metro and Observer and is the Sustainable Restaurant Association Champion for Newcastle. It was voted the best place for a Sunday Roast by the Independent in January 2013 and is recommended by Michelin, Harden, Which? Good Food Guides and has an AA Rosette. In 2011 a Workshop and demonstration kitchen was also launched and the restaurant runs courses for all the family including artisan bread making, food and wine matching, chocolate workshops and Little Monk’s Cookery School to teach children how to cook in a fun way. The North East England Tourism Awards judges’ statement said: “Blackfriars won this award against some stiff competition. They go beyond delivering fantastic food made with the very best ingredients to offer a total experience where care and attention is paid to the smallest detail; it is this which made them stand out as worthy winners”. Andy Hook, managing director of Blackfriars: “We’re delighted with this award and a real boost to all the staff. It’s testament to the strong team we have at Blackfriars and ten years of blood, sweat and toil”. Sarah Stewart, chief executive NewcastleGateshead Initiative added: “The enthusiasm we’ve seen from businesses for this year’s North East England Tourism Awards has been fantastic. The results demonstrate the quality and innovation within the visitor economy, currently worth £4.4 billion region-wide. The judges were highly impressed with the quality of entrants and all of the shortlisted businesses should be proud of their achievements. There were 14 categories in total and other winners included Large Hotel of the Year: Sandman Signature Hotel – Newcastle, Large Visitor Attraction of the Year: Tyneside Cinema – Newcastle and BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art – Gateshead and Access for all Tourism Award: The Sage Gateshead and Tourism Experience of the Year – Incorporating ‘Best Event’: Kielder Water and Forest Park – Northumberland. Winners at the North East England Tourism Awards will have the chance to compete on a national stage against those winners from England’s other regions at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in 2013. Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN, (0191) 261 5945, www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk See a day in the life of Blackfriars on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG_7JkrTXik