IT’S December, which means pubs are restaurants are starting to roll out their festive menus.
However, this Christmas will be different to previous years for the people in County Durham and Teesside.
The current tier 3 restrictions mean pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues have to remain closed.
Many local venues are waiting until the 16th December when the current tier system will be reviewed.
Despite this, many venues are still taking bookings in the hope of being moved into tier 2 later this month.
Other places are offering a Christmas dinner click and collect service, meaning you can enjoy a restaurant-quality dinner from the comfort of your own home.
If you are trying to make dinner plans for the big day here are some of the best places in and around County Durham and Teesside to order from.
Bay Horse Inn, Brandon Lane, Durham
The Bay Horse Inn are selling takeaway dinners for Christmas Day.
The dinner costs £20 per head- which is an absolute steal.
For this price, you get two a pudding and a main, as well as a little gift from Santa.
Along with the classic turkey and pigs in blankets meal, you can also have a nut roast, roast pork and roast topside- and all the trimmings.
Christmas pudding and mandarin orange cheesecake are just two items on the pudding menu.
If you want to book, a £5 deposit is required and the remainder has to be paid by the 18th December.
You can choose to collect the dinner, or pay an extra £5 to have it delivered.
A representative for the pub said: “ Whilst I would be biased as to why people should buy our food, because it’s fantastic, we’re currently tracking at 5.81 out of 6 on just eat (screenshot included) for our meals.”
Contact the pub for more information.
Beamish Hall County House Hotel, Stanley
This County Durham company has taken the stress out of Christmas this year, by offering takeaway Christmas dinners.
You can collect on Christmas Eve (£35) and follow the executive chef’s easy step by step guide to the perfect Christmas Dinner, or you can collect on the day and enjoy straight away (£40).
As well as the traditional turkey dinner, you can also opt for roast sirloin of beef or even a vegetarian option.
You also get a delicious starter and dessert for this price.
However, you need to book yours in advance, which you can do online.
Black Horse Beamish, Stanley
(Facebook/ blackhorsebeamish)
Even if the pubs have to remain closed on Christmas Day, the Black Horse have you covered.
They are selling takeaway Christmas lunches that you can collect on Christmas Eve and stick in the oven.
You can get two course for £21.95 or splash out on a three course meal for £23.95.
There are some delicious items available on the menu including braised beef and buttery turkey crown.
On the starter menu is curried parsnip and apple soup, Christmas terrine and much more.
Bailey’s Coffee Panna Cotta and Bucks Fizz Cheesecake are three of the pudding option up for grabs.
The Duke of Wellington, Darlington
For some people, their Christmas tradition is to head to their local pub on Christmas Day and have their dinner cooked for them.
The Duke of Wellington in Darlington is one pub with some availability left.
They have a gorgeous Christmas menu, which features hand carved turkey and a Sweet Potato and Apricot Tart for vegetarians.
The three course meal is £57.95 per person.
If the dinner has to be cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, customers will get their full £10 deposit back.
However, if you are going to book here make sure to act fast- spaces are limited.
The County, Aycliffe Village
(Photo:Geograph/Alex McGregor)
The County restaurant recognises that this Christmas might be a little bit different.
If the North East remains under tier 3 restrictions, or if you just aren’t comfortable sitting in a restaurant this year, they have the ideal solution.
You can decide to have one course or two, depending on how hungry you will be on the big day.
Customers can opt for the traditional roast breast of turkey with all the trimmings or a mushroom nut roast (£10).
Christmas pudding and chocolate orange brownie are the dessert options.
The have a Christmas Dinner take out service which you can collect on Christmas Eve; they are also accepting deliveries to those in the Newton Aycliffe area.
However, if you want to place an order here then you need to submit your order form by the 20th December,
What are your plans for Christmas dinner? Leave your answers in the comment section.
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