Green Park Brasserie and Bar

Occupying what was the Green Park Station booking office, the Green Park Brasserie has one of the most relaxing locations in Bath. Inside the atmosphere is warm and welcoming and the two al fresco areas provide a choice of aspects. At the rear of the main restaurant is an area furnished with a mixture of comfortable sofas with matching coffee tables and wooden tables with upright seating perfect for eating and laptop browsing. At the front of the restaurant are more tables and chairs, with bench style seating which provides not just an area for smokers but an ideal location for people-watching.

There is an obvious and successful promotion of local produce visible in their tempting and varied menus. With specific menus designed for their morning clientele, early diners, groups and private parties well complimented by their strong à la carte menu for the full dining experience, they achieve what many independent restaurants strive for - high quality, variety and exceptional value. And if you are looking for a bargain then it is impossible to argue with their 'Early Diner' menu which offers two courses for £9.95 or three courses for £12.50 if you order before 7pm and is ideal for those pre-theatre or cinema diners.

You can even peruse the menus on their website before you go just to get the taste buds going. For added pleasure you could fit in a serving of one of the delicious flavours of Marshfield Ice Cream, frequently seen in some of the best restaurants in the South West.

The hard part is making a selection from their menus, perhaps you will be swayed by the Worthy Farm mature cheddar cheese and broccoli tartlet with a fig balsamic syrup as your starter and maybe follow this with cumin seed crusted rump of lamb, served with a baked aubergine, mint and yoghurt dressing accompanied by a side order of dauphinoise potatoes or matchstick chips. Bream, corn-fed chicken, pork and sirloin steak can be seen on their regularly updated carte. You can even ask them to arrange set menus for your private function.

A strong dedication to jazz runs through the restaurant with four evenings of live jazz with duos, trios and quintets from Wednesdays through Saturdays. Although diners have seating preference there is no entry fee charged and 'just drinkers' are always welcome. The music is never intrusive and is an enjoyable accompaniment to a relaxed evening out. The Brasserie has an excellent range of wines by the glass as well as by the bottle and for beer lovers they serve local favourite Butcombe beer alongside draught Budvar and some of the best bottled beers.

It is even possible to hire the entire venue for your own special celebration and is now a popular choice for wedding receptions which can be easily accommodated in the main restaurant. You can even make use of a marquee or just use the function room upstairs.

There is an Internet Café in a quiet area called the library, a welcome touch of modernity in a city that justifiably lays claim to some of the finest architecture in Britain and was a great favourite with the Romans, who knew a good thing when they saw it. All in all The Braz has to be one of the best things to happen to modern Bath. Perhaps that is why they won the Bath Life Award 2009 as Best Restaurant.

If you are interested in finding out more about all the facilities, including for weddings, that this marvellous venue has to offer, then a visit to their Website is recommended.