Priests House, The

Nestled adjacent to the impressive ruins of Barden Tower, this historic restaurant and tea room has a decent reputation for its food. Recently coming under new ownership, it has been refurbished with a brighter more modern colour scheme.

The opening times now include evenings, normally Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but any other evenings are available by arrangement. The addition of traditional Sunday lunches is proving to be very popular.

The menu changes monthly but choices could include: tomato and basil soup with croutons and a warm bread roll or Thai fish cakes on a bed of mixed leaves and drizzled with chef's own sweet chilli sauce with mains such as medallions of venison loin with wild mushrooms and a madeira jus with a parsley purée or grilled fillet of snapper on a fennel dauphinoise with a light salsa verde and roast vine tomatoes.

Whilst puddings might tempt you with apricot bread and butter pudding with a warm mango custard; creamy rice pudding bavarois with toffee ice-cream and frosted lime segments or Tia Maria crème brûlée with warm orange segments.