Following alterations the Aria Restaurant at Birmingham's Hyatt Regency, with its accompanying Bar Pravda are offering much improved facilities, new menus and a higher visibility. The menu at Aria is designed to suit all tastes and requirements from those wishing a light snack to the fuller meal through a wide range of dishes, whilst in Bar Pravda it is now possible to enjoy British tapes from a menu containing such delicacies as Stilton spring rolls, or horseradish Yorkshire pudding with rare roast beef.

Back in Aria starters embrace a wide church with a petite omelette of Scottish smoked salmon and a caviar sour cream or a warm tart of Stilton and leek with port wine dressing. Main courses follow a more predictable course with such staunch favourites as chargrilled fillet of Scotch beef with foie gras Tortellini and a woodland mushroom fricassee, or five spice Cornish lamb with a lime and coriander mash and sweet chilli jus.

Puddings are a sophisticated bunch. Amongst their number are a delicious mocha creme brulee with port wine figs, and an iced strawberry souflee with balsamic strawberry. The artistic flair which goes into the preparation of all courses is outstanding. It is refreshing to find a leading hotel that goes into its dining facilities with such enthusiasm, and having done so is not slow to tell the world.