Fleur de Lys Restaurant at The Wentbridge House Hotel

Here is one of those timeless houses (1700 actually), surrounded by extensive grounds, no competition for space, just a quiet, peaceful setting in the Went Valley, yet handy for nearby towns if needs must.

The elegant centrepiece of this little paradise on earth is the restaurant, where French style mingles with modern British innovation to produce a wide range of both classic and contemporary dishes to delight and compliment the cosmopolitan diner. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and a summer menu could offer around ten starters of which twice baked Keens mature cheddar soufflé, or Yorkshire dressed crab, celeriac and anchovy remoulade with crisp endive, are but two.

A main course of Roundgreen Farm venison and forest mushroom Wellington is served with lavender roast potatoes and garlic roasted bobby beans, or from the garden a vegetable spring roll with water chestnuts, pak choi and sesame egg noodles could not be any fresher.

French classicism shows through amongst the desserts, particularly crepes Suzette with vanilla ice cream, cooked in the restaurant as it should be.

They have a range of offers that really are what they say they are - not slimmed down shadows devised with accountants in mind. This must surely be the place for which the word ?serendipity? was first devised.