Prince Harry drops in for Hurworth pub lunch (From The Northern Echo)
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Prince Harry drops in for Hurworth pub lunch
8:30am Saturday 14th January 2012 in News
HE may be one of the most recognisable people in the country, but when Prince Harry turned up for lunch at a County Durham pub yesterday he managed to blend in with the crowd.
The third in line to the throne dropped in unannounced at the Bay Horse, in Hurworth, near Darlington, to eat with three friends during a quiet lunch period.
Staff at the gastropub recognised their famous customer, but said he was so down to earth that few of the other diners realised who he was.
The prince had a fillet steak, followed by sticky toffee pudding, while his companions all tucked into burgers.
Adrian Rummell, a waiter at the Bay Horse, said the group had booked a table in advance, but staff were not given any indication that they should expect royalty.
He said: “He came in with three others and they asked for a quiet table. He just sat and enjoyed his food.
“He was very low-key. No one really twigged who he was."
Staff member
“We knew who he was straight away, but we didn’t want to bother him. He was just a normal guy. Obviously, he has stature and a status because of who he is, but he just came in like a normal person, which he is really.”
Another member of staff, who gave his name as Michael, said: “He was very low-key. No one really twigged who he was.
“I just hope he had a nice meal with us. He was a very normal guy.”
It is not known why the prince, who is training to become a pilot with the Army Air Corps, was in Hurworth yesterday.
Representatives at Clarence House, his official residence in London, declined to comment, saying it was a private matter.
The Bay Horse was taken over by chef Marcus Bennett and his business partner, Jonathan Hall, three years ago and holds the Michelin Bib Gourmand rating.
The award has been given by Michelin since 1955 to restaurants which it believes offer high quality food at reasonable prices.
magpie7 says...
5:09pm Sat 14 Jan 12