Oodles of public cash well spent.

READERS who caught our Great Escape antidote-to-the-World- Cup feature last week may have noticed the Editor’s Choice – a recommendation to visit the restored Hardwick Park, near Sedgefield.

Many millions have been spent to rescue the dilapidated parkland from abject dereliction, and I can’t think of a better way of spending public money, even in these straitened times. Durham County Council, with help from Europe and the Heritage Lottery Fund, has made an excellent job of it.

The grand lake, the restored follies and the woodland combine to create a beautiful setting for a walk, a picnic or just sitting taking in the many idyllic views. It is the sort of thing taxpayers’ money should be spent on, instead of legions of change facilitators, delivery managers and other non-jobs which have mushroomed in the public sector in recent years and we now can’t afford.

Part of the restoration has included a splendid visitor centre.

From a distance it looks like the largest bus shelter you have ever seen – Prince Charles would probably be very rude about it. But get a little closer and the timber and glass structure takes on a very different and rather more impressive look.

Half of it is given over to an interpretation room with excellent displays outlining the history of the park and how the restoration was carried out. The other half is an attractively light and airy café, which is where we pitched up for lunch on Saturday.

Most of its customers are there for a cup of tea and a piece of cake, but there is plenty to tempt those wanting something more substantial from a varied selection of sandwiches, paninis and baked potatoes.

There are daily specials too – celery and parsnip soup, two quiches and corned beef pie; we chose the pie and a cheese, onion and tomato quiche before selecting a sunny spot on the outside terrace, which is laid out with chunky wooden table and bench seating (with clever little bays to accommodate wheelchairs) and a low ivyclad fence which affords views of the parkland beyond.

Having ordered inside the café, our meals were brought to us on the terrace, and very nice they were too.

Sylvia’s corned beef pie looked like it would have satisfied Desperate Dan. The hefty slice came with a small pot of onion relish, homemade coleslaw, a mixed leaf salad and a few potato crisps.

Although she didn’t manage to finish it, she thought the pie faultless – plenty of corned beef, not too much potato and a light pastry case.

The onion relish was a nicely piquant compliment; the salad dressed with a light balsamic syrup. The was also a delicious spoonful of coleslaw.

My quiche had the same accompaniments and was of a similarly high standard.

Again, a light, slightly crumbly shortcrust pastry base was a good start. The filling was fluffy and not too eggy custard in texture, full of cheese, onion and tomato, and well seasoned.

Pud was a slice of cherry Bakewell sponge. Mildly almond- y, there was evidence of those sound baking skills, but it was a little on the dry side and would have been so much better with little cream or ice cream.

With a couple of diet Cokes, lunch for two cost £11 and it made for a very agreeable repast. Ideal to digest with a walk round the lake.

We made inquiries as to who is responsible for the café operation.

Perhaps not surprisingly, it is not Durham County Council, which may have done a great job with the park but probably isn’t great shakes as a caterer. We were told the operator is “Creative Management Services” which didn’t sound very promising.

Further investigations revealed this to be a Sunderland- based catering firm.

Its Hardwick manager is Susan Howells who prides herself on making nearly all the menu on the premises.

We can well believe it.