La Campana at The Bell in Studham

Studham is the most southerly village in the highly picturesque county of Bedfordshire. It also lays proud claim to being home to the highest lying eatery in that county, in the form of The Bell, beloved of many, a grade II listed sanctuary of some 500 years standing. Still providing a refuge and second home to many, The Bell also offers panoramic views and an abundance of original character, as well as a menu that covers not only robust and tried English fare but a distinguished Italian version in the hands of Sicilian trained head chef Phillip, described as an artist in the kitchen.

The Bell is just 10 minutes from both Dunstable and Hemel Hempstead and on a good day with the wind in the right direction you might even hear the lions roar at Whipsnade Zoo, 5 minutes away and close to the Dunstable Downs. After a refreshing walk on the Downs or flatter pastures if you prefer, or a hard day at the workplace, the sort of welcome given at The Bell could hardly be bettered.

A leisurely browse across the menu over what may later be loosely described as a 'modest gin', reveals that somebody who knows their butchery is around. Enter again, Phil, whose background in the trade of serving up outstanding meat to appreciative people is backed by 25 years in the hospitality business. Fine cuts of meat, delicious homemade pies and free range omelettes, or freshly beer battered cod and proper hand-cut chips are grist to their mill. Those who have arrived for a good blow on the Downs but find themselves bereft of rations have only to make their needs known and a freshly prepared picnic is rapidly prepared with fresh ingredients and imaginative fillings.

English afternoon tea was dreamed up not far from Studham. Does homemade scones and clotted cream with a pot of tea light your lamps after a blustery autumn walk? Consider it done.

At weekends freedom from the dark satanic mills is greatly celebrated. The doors open at 9 am on Saturdays and Sundays and breakfast as hearty or restrained as you wish is yours - salmon and scrambled eggs, Full English and coffee and croissants come to mind, whilst for those in recovery mode the Bloody Marys are full of hope, mingled with repentance. A simple phone call before the weekend to book your breakfast and order your choice of newspaper is the only action required.

Sunday lunchtime is a highlight in the weekly passage of events at The Bell. The Great British Roast and its vigorous supporters are there for a day without cares, determined to enjoy a touch of old England with excellent wines and local ales to help the day along.

Described as their secret weapon, the Italian menu revolves round a clay pizza oven, where fresh dough, traditional Italian thin crust pizzas wow the aficionados of such cuisine 7 days a week. The full Italian menu is on offer from Tuesday after 5pm, through lunchtimes and evenings until Saturday, and could include a meal starting with say meatball polpetta, the carne e pesce, medallions of fillet with king prawns in garlic butter, and crepe suzette with vanilla pods and essence. And that's before you even touch the specials board.

Ladies who lunch Monday-Friday are invited by Nikki to enjoy a complimentary glass of Fizz, frequently taken in company with a shared Italian antipasti board and a prawn linguini. The week is a constant round of activity with Nikki's popular quiz on Thursdays at 8.30, Fresh fish specials on Wednesdays, Jazz in the Air, dinners for two, or welcomed celebrations, and you may well ask when do Phil and Nikki get a break? Their answer, I suspect, would be an astonished "What!!" Their breaks are all around them and it's that spirit which makes The Bell the extraordinarily special place it is. Find out more on their Website.

Oh, yes, and if by the way you are so unwise as to try and exclude your other half from this adult wonderland, Nikki has thoughtfully provided an array of gifts which seem to be strangely female orientated - I wonder why?