A romantic break at historic Howfield Manor Hotel will be the star prize in the raffle at this year’s KM Big Quiz.

The beautiful hotel and restaurant set in five acres of landscaped grounds reopened in November after being closed for two years and new owner David Sharma have put together a prize fit for a VIP to support the Gazette and kmfm’s annual charity fund-raiser.

Tickets for Canterbury Big Quiz 2009 are now on sale. The quiz will take place at the University of Kent sports centre from 7pm on Friday, May 1, and tickets can be bought now using a credit or debit card from the website www.kmbigquiz.co.uk or www.kentishgazette.co.uk or cutting out the form in the Kentish Gazette.

Proceeds raised on the night will be divided between the Kent Kids Miles of Smiles, the League of Friends at Canterbury Hospital, the children’s road safety charity Kent Walking Bus and the Lady Mayoress of Canterbury’s charity appeal.

The cost for a table of eight people is £60, which is £7.50 per person and includes a ploughman’s meal and a complimentary glass of wine in the price.

The winner and guest of the star prize in the raffle will be treated to a three course meal with a bottle of wine, accomodation in one of the hotel’s king sized rooms and breakfast and late check-out the following day.

Restaurant favourites from French chef Stephan Gausse for the night might include honeyed goat cheese salad starter, local lamb marinated in lavendar grown in the hotel’s kitchen gardens and a dessert of pears poached in Kentish cider.

After-dinner drinks can be taken in the hotel’s lounge which boasts a medieval well. Guests should be warned that they might have an unexpected addition to the party as the hotel is reputed to be haunted by a 13th century monk who is often seen by guests in the bedrooms.

David Sharma said: “We are delighted to be able to support the KM Big Quiz and hope to win the quiz night as we love wine and wisdom events. I have seen the Walking Bus in operation at my children’s school in Wincheap and think this is a marvellous charity. Howfield Manor Hotel has always been at the heart of the community historically and we are very pleased to carry on that tradition through events like the KM Big Quiz.”

A number of sponsors have already agreed to support the KM Big Quiz with the University of Kent providing the venue for free, Parry Law covering some of the event set up costs, P&O Ferries donating vouchers for all eight members of the winning team to take a car and Barclays Bank agreeing to stage and run the No Nonsense charity bar whose stock will be provided by brewer Scottish and Newcastle.

To sponsor the event contact Simon Dolby on 07989 164 752.

* Howfield Manor Hotel is staging an Easter egg hunt and family day on Monday, April 13. Call 01227 733892 for details.