One could easily become a habitué of dining out considering the burgeoning culinary scene in Chelmsford and The Waterfront Place in Wharf Road is one such venue which holds plenty of appeal - an elegant restaurant spread over two floors, conference halls and rooms, bars and waterside terrace.

The cooking at The Brasserie embraces flavours of the world whilst slightly favouring Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with choices such as home cherry wood smoked salmon and tiger prawn nacho salad, which are particularly impressive. Main courses of pan-fried duck breast with vegetable 'game' chips and sesame pak choi, and char-grilled Barnsley lamb chop could just about hit every note on your palate. Pizza choices of pesce arrive with whiffs of the sea, and on peeping inside, discover prawns, anchovies, cockles, whelks and New Zealand mussels.

Little ones could have a rollicking time at the Ritchie's Adventure Island and a specially designed, healthy children's menu to ward off hunger pangs.