This restaurant regards itself as a modern British restaurant, with no-nonsense wholesome cooking using only the finest ingredients and drawing its inspiration from the bustling, unpretentious eating houses so frequently found in large cities. Executive Head Chef Dean Crews, a star of the future without doubt, creates exciting menus that offer a unique take on modern British dining.

The décor is not without credit either. Lush in a compelling manner, its reflective ceilings draw from the chainmail light features, add in the red leather seating and come up with a comfortable feeling of decadence that colours the company with elegance and wit. That this restaurant has won 2 AA Rosettes shows that it has confirmed its place in the culinary world.

Merchants is the sort of place that attracts men who lunch, as well as the ladies who prefer a refined and graceful setting where it is possible to think clearly and creatively and look to the future. Salad of grapefruit marinated salmon, roasted beets, anchovy and dill, or salt and pepper squid with pickled mouli and lime mayonnaise can lay a good foundation. Tackling the main options may not an easy task as it may include popular dishes such as boneless duck leg with harrissa, spiced cabbage, potato rounds and dehydrated olives, or slow braised beef ribs with spiced carrot, pickled mushrooms, salt and vinegar chips.

Vegetarians revel in the aubergine and summer vegetable terrine, kohlrabi 'chips' and sesame dressing, but may well join forces with others for a dark chocolate brownie with milk ice-cream, raspberry and Tonka bean.

Roasted vine tomato soup is served with red pepper vinaigrette and basil gremolata or tart of salt cod and sardines with black olives and courgette pesto. Unusual variations on traditional ingredients yield Cornish sea trout with radish carpaccio, broad beans, new potatoes and lemon aioli.

The rise and rise of afternoon tea has not escaped Lace Market Hotel either, and the champagne version is such good value, particularly when compared with city prices that one can well see why it is so popular with those for whom a little something around 4pm helps the rest of the day assume a more pleasing colour than it might otherwise have done.

Tasting menus are always such fun - the coming and going of flavours and textures, the blending and the contrasts. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for an amazingly modest sum an amuse bouche, 5 courses and four wines are served, with a chef and grape gurus to talk guests through the entire proceedings.

The wine list is more a tutorial than a list. Each wine and its district is carefully described and it's clear that not only is it well able to be supportive of the menu, but must afford persons unknown - and fortunate - a great deal of pleasure in its compilation. Enough wines are available by the glass to make keeping within the law perfectly possible.

As befits their high level of style Merchants has a Website which is a joy to visit, particularly if you happen to be a wine buff. They are of course eminently suitable for weddings and special occasions, corporate events and as a base when in Nottingham on business or pleasure. The surrounding countryside is rich in places of interest to visit.

Their Website will keep you up to date on menu changes, special events and snap offers. Don't miss out!