HAIRY Biker Si King will be turning up the heat at a dinner tonight to showcase the glamorous new restaurant at Close House Hotel in Northumberland.

The TV favourite is all revved up to cook alongside his pal North East restaurateur Terry Laybourne as they each tackle a course for the 80-odd invited guests.

Guests will be treated to a champagne reception and sumptuous six-course meal using local produce at the new Ritz-inspired restaurant Argent D’Or set inside the 18th-Century mansion house at Heddon-on-the-Wall.

Celebrity chef Si, who hails from the North East, will cook a fish starter of seared scallops with pancetta, cauliflower puree and orange dressed rocket salad.

Head chef Chris Delaney is cooking the main course of roast fillet of Northumberland beef with foie gras and parsley crust, braised oxtail, truffle mash, leeks, carrots and brown ale liquor reduction.

Terry Laybourne, who owns five restaurants in the region including Café 21 and Caffe Vivo, will provide the sweet finale of rhubarb and custard soufflé.

The hotel’s old Bewickes restaurant has closed and the new restaurant is now located in the refurbished ballroom.