Restaurant at Glewstone Court Hotel

Glewstone Court is amongst the fruit orchards of Herefordshire, deep in the valley of the River Wye and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The house has a calming air, which may well, be to do with the owners who have been there since 1987 and exude an air of permanence. Inside the furnishing is of the country house style, the restaurant is a host to early jazz swing music without being obtrusive and the fringe details like napery and flowers are clearly somebody's pride and joy.In the warmer months alfresco dining is popular in the beautiful gardens- maybe followed by a game of croquet.

The food follows suit with Sunday lunch is a highlight of the week where you have to be quick off the mark to find a reservation. The serving of dinner every night is a ceremony in itself, but the atmosphere is totally relaxed and not stuffy. The menu has plenty of choice and for starters, preceded by some of the canapés for which the hotel is noted, you may find a winter salad of grilled asparagus, char-roasted peppers and pancetta, with grain mustard dressing, or home made crab cakes with a sweet chilli dipping sauce.

Mains can include, during the season, breast of pheasant wrapped in bacon and stuffed with plum and ginger with no risk of a dry dish, or a loin fillet of that incomparable Welsh lamb accompanied by roast parsnips and a port and rosemary gravy. A brandy snap basket filled with pears, mascarpone cream and chocolate sauce rounds things off well for the arrival of coffee and some of their mouth-watering fudge. The kitchen prides itself on promoting good local food in season, including salmon, hereford beef and strawberries. An elegant wine list matches everything else.