An old country inn set in a beautiful rural location to the west of Burton on Trent, you will find here informal pub dining with high standards of food and personal service; it is pubs like these that maintain the best traditions of the British pub, renowned throughout the world for the warmth of their welcome. Only three months after re-opening with a new team, The Deerpark Restaurant was voted Restaurant of the Year 2003 (Taste of Staffordshire), as well as overall 'Judges' Choice'.

This was closely followed by winning 'Pub of the Year' in 2004. After picking up an AA Rosette, they've done it again with 'Pub of the Year 2005', and 3rd place in the small Restaurant of the Year category.

From all of which you will deduce this is not a place to be ignored. From Monday to Saturday the Deerpark Restaurant offers gourmet dinner menus. Around five starters are available including cream cauliflower soup finished with a port infused cream, pan-fried fillet of red mullet served with fennel and orange compote, or homemade Farmhouse terrine with rocket leaf salad and sweet shallot relish.

Mains of Staffordshire beef fillet served with a potato fondant, braised celery and a port and Stilton sauce is a feast fit for a king, though the pan-roasted rack of new season lamb with Dauphinoise potatoes, buttered tiny vegetables and a thyme jus lags not far behind. For our vegetarian friends leek and apple croustades, served with paprika roasted Charlotte potatoes and a cider butter sauce make welcome reading.

Desserts of coffee-scented crème brûlée with a chocolate and hazelnut tuille, or summer berry tart with honey and berry syrup can be ignored occasionally in favour of the excellent cheeseboard, where Stilton, Cornish brie and mature English cheddar are served with homemade chutney and biscuits.

The Meynell Pub provides more informal dining with a full range of quality cuisine available at lunchtime daily and every evening except Sundays. The lunchtime menu takes advantage of the pub's wide range of cuisine and starters feature Thai style fishcakes with sweet chilli dipping sauce, tomato and garlic bruschetta served with olive dressing, or simple mixed olives with Balsamic and French bread.

On the mains we are in to brasserie style comfort food and such dishes as homemade pie with farmhouse potato, which might be regarded as anonymous to the point of suspicion, turn out to be absolutely delicious. Sautéed kidneys are cooked in honey and Tabasco, whilst pea and potato pancakes are filled with goat's cheese and served with a green leaf salad and red wine reduction.

For those of a less hearty disposition there are grilled sardines on toast, homemade meat balls, or roll mop herrings. Puddings follow a traditional pattern with a tart au citron taking pride of place, and a syrup sponge for those with inexhaustible space to top up.

The wine list has the look of the careful connoisseur about it and Tanners would be amongst my chief suspects, always a sign of a List that can be trusted to inspire.

No wonder they keep winning those awards!