Irene and Norman's delicious prize

IRENE AND NORMAN HICKSON DINE OUT AT GARY RHODES' RESTAURANT, ALL THEANKS TO COMPING!

Back in January, a leaflet from P&O Ferries fell out of Irene and Norman Hickson’s Sunday Mail newspaper. It read: “Request a copy of a P&O Caribbean Cruises brochure and you will be automatically entered into a prize draw”. The first prize was a cruise and the runner-up prize was the unique opportunity to have dinner at Gary Rhodes’ restaurant, 24! Irene entered the competition under her husband Norman’s name, popped it in the post and then – as we usually do when we are entering over 30 comps a week – completely forgot about it and got on with entering more competitions from WF.

A few weeks later, the postman – a fellow comper – came to their door with a smile on his face. He always looks out for LWEs (long white envelopes) in the post and his face usually gives the game away when he arrives at the door!

Irene opened up an intriguing-looking LWE addressed to her husband – he had won a meal for two at Gary Rhodes’ restaurant worth £150!

The restaurant is on the 24^th floor (hence the name) of Tower 42; the tallest building in London. The floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of the panoramic views across London.

On the night, Irene and Norman were treated like royalty – Gary Rhodes wasn’t there himself but the ambiance in the restaurant oozed with a celebrity feel,

“It’s very elegant and the food is spectacular” Irene told me.

The menu sounds fantastic, fresh leek and potato soup, followed by a lobster and prawn risotto starter, honey-glazed duck with seasonal vegetables, followed by pecan pie with white chocolate and banana cream and caramel and pecan ice-cream.

From a simple prize draw entry, Irene and Norman shared a fabulous and exciting experience ­­– that they just would never have done if they hadn’t have won the prize!