Bell & Cross Inn

This welcoming pub and restaurant has the distinction of being owned and run by Roger Narbett and his wife Joanne. Roger cares for the culinary wellbeing of the England football team, and possibly finding this a touch less than fully demanding, also runs two inns of his own, of which this is one.

Set in a picturesque village near the Clent Hills, The Bell and Cross is well known for its good food, wine and beers, amongst which can be numbered Bank's Bitter and the ever popular Timothy Taylor's Landlord. There are four dining rooms from which to choose, The Bottle Room, The Snug, The Pink Room and The Old Smoke Room, all very traditional.

From amongst the starters look out for the house fish cakes with prawns, white wine and chive sauce, Peking duck rolls with oriental salad, or a chilli pear, blue cheese and pecan salad. Mains of escalope of veal Schnitzel carbonara, seared Scottish salmon with crispy Parma ham, or grilled calves liver with black pudding may or may not reveal something about the tastes of England's finest, but I wouldn't mind betting that the house treacle tart with Granny's thick custard is well up the list. White chocolate and red fruit truffle might bring thoughts of home to some team members.

A good wine list that draws heavily from the New World, has an excellent range by the glass.

The B & C is run with skill and flair; furthermore it's just the right distance from a sizeable chunk of the population to make it an attractive destination restaurant.