HOG THE BED

With private hot tubs, opulent décor and seven-foot beds, this North East venue offers a hotel experience like no other. While a pig may not usually be an animal associated with luxury, a visit to The Impeccable Pig, Sedgefield, is sure to change your mind. Its understated exterior may not give much away, but once inside it’s not difficult to see why the restaurant with rooms has garnered so much praise, thanks to its quirky furnishings and whimsical décor. If you’re planning to make a night of it – and you really should – then you’ve got a tricky decision ahead of you, with ten individually decorated rooms to choose from. Enjoy a touch of Parisian flair in Le Cochon

D’or, dark and sultry tones in Piggly Wiggly, a floor-to-ceiling gold upholstered wall in The Dirty Pig or go The Whole Hog in a huge suite – with a private hot tub for anyone staying on the ground floor. While you could easily waste the hours away in any one of these decadent rooms, it’s well worth paying the restaurant a visit when you get peckish, if only to admire the exposed brick walls, velvet curtains and plenty of pig-themed art. There’s a huge choice of dishes on the menu, with mains such as grilled halibut, duck confit, and spinach, lemon and garlic

tagliatelle, along with steaks, sandwiches and pizzas. And the venue is throwing out the notion that pigs in blankets are just for Christmas – with the festive favourites available on the menu all year round. Before you leave, make sure to stop for a drink at the cosy pub, where you can enjoy a glass at the bar, in a booth or curl up in the snug by a roaring open fire. It’s fantastically well stocked, with a wide variety of cocktails, beers, ciders, spirits and an extensive wine list with bottles from around the globe, so you will certainly find yourself spoilt for choice. So whether you’re planning for a special occasion or just looking to treat yourself to a weekend away, make sure to stick The Impeccable Pig at the top of your list. It’s certainly one you won’t forget in a hurry.

COMPETITION To win an overnight stay in a premier double room with breakfast, simply answer the following question: Where is The Impeccable Pig? For details on how to enter, see the bottom of this page. Terms and conditions: The prize is available to claim Mondays through Thursdays until the end of May 2020.

ENTER TO WIN To enter any of the Darlington Today competitions please ensure you clearly mark on your entry the name of the competition that you are entering together with the answer to the question if there is one with your name, address, email address (if you have one) and contact telephone number to: Darlington Today Magazine competition, 45 Atkinson Gardens, Aycliffe Village, Co. Durham, DL5 6LH (Please note any competition entries without full contact details and contact telephone numbers will be voided and not entered into the competition)

WINNERS OF THE LAST DARLINGTON TODAY ISSUE 76

A copy of Guiding me Home & Away went to E Hillman & K Smith Two pairs of tickets to see Remembering the Oscars at the Billingham Forum in April went to Vicki Longford & Victoria Greaves Sunday lunch for 2 people at Mercure Kings Head Hotel L Voss of Darlington A Dermalogica Treatment worth £60 went to Roly Holiday Inn Washington - overnight stay with dinner & wine H Lyons Overnight stay at the Coquetvale Hotel, Rothbury with dinner D Obrien A half day pamper package for 2 people at The Hallgarth Hotel S Hauge Afternoon tea for 2 Bannatyne Hotel – B Millington A meal for 2 at Le Cochon, Aveugle, York – M Colllins A mini portrait session worth £99 at Camera A – Paul Boden

RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC 2020

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Live In Concert 2020.

They’re one of the most enduring groups in the history of music - and now you can enjoy the ultimate tribute band paying homage to these fantastic musicians.

RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC have gained a reputation for bringing to life the legendary sounds of Fleetwood Mac, with every performance reminding the audience of all of their much loved favourite songs. And this time round there’s more reasons than ever before for seeing the band in action, with the inclusion of a very special blues set paying tribute to the groupo’s co-founder, Peter Green.

RUMOURS OF FLEETWOOD MAC - personally endorsed by musician Mick Fleetwood - offers a unique opportunity for fans, both old and new, to rediscover songs such as Dreams, Go Your Own Way and The Chain in a night of exciting and electric performances.

To buy tickets for Rumours of Fleetwood Mac when they perform at Darlington Hippodrome on 23 April, call 01325 405405 or go to www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk.

COMPETITION:

For a chance to win two tickets for Rumours of Fleetwood Mac on 23 April, simply answer the following question: Which member of Fleetwood Mac has endorsed the group?

To enter this competition please email your entry by 20 March to sue@rineypublishing.co.uk asap or post your entry to:

Fleetwood Mac competition Riney Publishing Limited 45 Atkinson Gardens, Aycliffe Village Co. Durham, DL5 6LH

EAST IS BEST….

Bernice Saltzer continues her love affair with Asia and chalks up two new countries to knock off her bucket list…

I love the Far East. Some of the best – scrub that – THE best holidays I’ve ever had have been visiting these countries.

From the style and elegance of Singapore to the madness of Hong Kong to the tourist traps of Thailand, we’ve embraced them all.

But I have to say that I have now found a new place in my heart for two other countries- Cambodia and Vietnam.

We decided on an epic adventure that would take us almost three weeks, which ended up involving eight flights, a variety of cities – and some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery.

First port of call was a few days in Siem Reap in Cambodia, a pit stop for many people so they can visit the temples of Angkor Wat – the largest religious monument in the world.

Dating back hundreds of years, you can only gasp at this amazing feat of engineering and the sheer size and beauty of it. Even the blistering heat can’t detract from its sheer majesty – one of the many temples that this relatively small area has to offer. It may now be a tourist destination but Cambodia’s terrible past is never far from your thoughts – and nor should it be. Anyone visiting should make time to visit one of the killing fields, where the population were decimated under the Khmer Rouge. We had to seek one out as they aren’t widely promoted but it’s about ensuring that the victims of this terrible regime are not forgotten and that we pay our respects. We met one man who had miraculously survived but the torture he endured was beyond belief. – the craziness that is Hanoi. With a population of around 7 million, it has 5 million scooters so you take your life in your hands whenever you cross the road – but that’s all part of the fun.

We made two trips to Hanoi, interspersed with a visit to a Vietnam must-see- Hoi An.

Voted “the most beautiful city in the world”, it is the East’s equivalent of Venice with a number of canals and lanterns at every turning – on the roads, in front of restaurants, on the water – absolutely breathtaking.

We stayed at the exquisite Hotel Royal, the perfect spot from which to visit everything Hoi An has to offer. Stylish rooms, great food and impeccable service – there’s even a mini casino!

Emerald waters, towering limestone islands and rain forests combine to make you in awe of nature which you can share for a few hours on a boat trip -or even longer if you opt to stay overnight.

We ended our holiday on the island of Phu Quoc, an hour by plane from Hanoi and which is likely to be the next major destination in its own right.

Stunning beaches and attractions such as the world’s longest cable car (25 minutes from end to end if you have the nerve) a vibrant night market and great restaurants make this a go-to place – and judging by the amount of hotels being created I’m not the only one to think that.

Vietnam and Cambodia are countries with so much to offer -add them to your bucket list, you won’t be disappointed!