We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but sometimes un-loved buildings to restore real gems in the best tradition of British understated style.

Complement that with all that is best in the French bistro ethos, bars that reach out to please, and you have a setting that provides an inspirational background for people to meet, do business, get married, provide a base for golf or fishing, somewhere you can call your own for a private celebration, a spa or - most engagingly - a wine school that breaks the mould.

In Cheltenham, a sacred spot when it comes to horse racing in Britain, du Vin has transformed the former Carlton Hotel into a luxury boutique hotel located in the trés chic Montpellier district of this elegant Regency spa town, strategically placed for exploration of some of the best of the nearby Cotswolds.

The Hotel is noted for its spacious public areas centred on a magnificent spiral staircase. The trademark Hotel du Vin Bistro is but one of these areas. Each of the 49 bedrooms and suites room has handsprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, deep baths and power showers in great en-suite bathrooms, and high speed wireless internet access is standard throughout.

Classic bistro fare is served and dishes such as chicken liver parfait, red onion marmalade and toasted brioche or ribeye steak with pommes frites are commonplace on the menu. Other dishes of note are the fillet of salmon, buttered leeks, mussels, and curry cream and the whole grilled lemon sole, tomato and caper beurre noisette.

Whilst one might argue that the whole point of being in a du Vin is to snuggle up to the wine list, this list is designed to march with the food and can only be described as superb. With a team of two sommeliers, headed here by Victor Amaro, there is no room for anything but the best. Service is telepathic in the best possible sense.

If you want to be ahead of the crowd at race times do be sure to book early - there can be few better places in Cheltenham than du Vin from which to conduct an attractive day's racing and celebrate afterwards, or to base yourself for some leisurely touring in the heart of England.

Click on their Website for full information and rates. Hotel du Vin, with fourteen options throughout Britain, awaits your call.