The North East’s culinary scene is part of Irish celebrity chef Neven Maguire’s new TV series – and Durham restaurant Faru is part of the lineup.
Neven’s North East England Food Tour celebrates the region’s food scene and cultural heritage, including shining the spotlight on top chefs and local producers.
County Durham, Newcastle and Northumberland are all featured – capturing the North East of England’s food culture, people and significant landmarks, and showcasing its growing reputation as a destination for exceptional dining.
A key highlight sees Neven visit Faru – on Silver Street in the heart of Durham – which is run by husband-and-wife team Jake and Laura Siddle.
During his visit, Neven explored Faru’s seasonal tasting menus and spent time in the open kitchen, gaining an insight into the precision, creativity and technique behind the restaurant’s dishes.
Reflecting on their involvement in the programme, Jake said: “It was a real privilege to be included in the series and to welcome Neven into our kitchen at Faru. It’s fantastic to see the North East’s food scene showcased on such a respected international platform. There are so much talent and quality in this region, and opportunities like this help shine a spotlight on our restaurants, producers and people. We hope it encourages those outside the area to come and visit, explore Durham, and experience first-hand just how special the North East food scene really is.”
The six-part series was filmed across the North East in September and represents a significant milestone in Neven’s broadcasting career. It is his first time filming in the UK and the first Irish food and travel programme to focus exclusively on a UK region. With regular viewing figures of more than two million and a loyal audience across Ireland and the UK, the show offers exposure for the region at a crucial time for tourism.
In Durham, filming extended beyond the restaurant scene. Neven enjoyed a guided tour of Durham Cathedral, part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Durham Castle, exploring the connections between the region’s religious history and traditional food culture.
The itinerary also included visits to The Auckland Project, the Weardale Railway, Knitsley Farm Shop, Raby Castle, and the North Pennines National Landscape.
Neven also headed to Newcastle and Northumberland, meeting chefs and restaurateurs – including Terry Laybourne, owner of 21 Hospitality Group – producers, historians and guides, and capturing everything from bustling city kitchens to wild coastal food traditions.
Neven said: “Filming in the North East was a wonderful experience. The food, the people and the places we visited were exceptional, and I know audiences in Ireland will be excited to discover a part of England that deserves to be much better known.”
Supported by Destination North East England in partnership with Visit County Durham, Visit Northumberland and North East Screen, the series is already generating interest following its first broadcast on RTÉ One.
