Oldfields Restaurant - Durham

It is thought that the premises were originally built as the headquarters of the Durham Gas Company in 1881 which has left them with their magnificent boardroom upstairs - a stylish oak-panelled room with stained glass windows and a 17 ft high moulded plaster ceiling - that's their main restaurant. Downstairs is more informal but still offering their full a la carte menu.

They state that their declared aim is 'Our desire is to provide food that is superb, yet good value; service that is exceptional, yet casual; an interior that is stylish, yet welcoming. A place to relax, entertain, chill out, celebrate and be treated'.

Choices on their always interesting menus could include Oldfields salad of asparagus, garlic mushrooms and Parmesan shavings; red snapper on potato and chive salad or goats cheese in puff pastry with dressed baby spinach to begin with.

With mains like fillet steak with wild mushroom mash, roast parsnip chips and port sauce; rump of lamb with dauphenoise potatoes and garlic courgettes or fillet of salmon on garlic mash with a rustic tomato salsa.

Tempting desserts run from Oldfields apple and plum crumble; dark and white chocolate truffle with chocolate crisps to sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and ice cream.