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Rockcliffe Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa
Hurworth on Tees
Darlington
County Durham
DL2 2DU
01325 729 999
www.rockcliffehall.com
In theory, people living in Darlington should have had two stellar fine dining restaurants to choose from for the last few years.
To the north west of the town, James Close and his small team turn out dishes of pristeen and precise flavours from their tiny kitchen at The Raby Hunt. It continues to offer the very best cooking in the North East, earning it the region’s only Michelin star, and a solid 6 stars on my last two visits. Close is a genius; if you haven’t yet eaten there, you should book today. Meanwhile, immediately to the south is The Orangery, centerpiece of the formidable sprawl of hotel, golf course and spa that make up Rockcliffe Hall.
Except that’s where, up until now, things have gone a bit awry.
