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Located in North West Suffolk, between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds and not far from Cambridge, and serving quality, Modern British food, Tuddenham Mill, a converted 12th century flour mill has all the inbuilt charm and permanence that one might expect from its history and such a superb setting. Much of the machinery remains intact and on view, and the mill pool provides a soothing view from the restaurant and a number of rooms.

With an array of culinary awards such as 3 AA Rosettes and an entry in the Good Food Guide, whilst their bedrooms were awarded four stars by the AA. The Coveted Editors' Award, one of the widely respected and sought after culinary title 'Up and Coming Chef of the Year' by the Good Food Guide 2012 has been awarded to the restaurant's Head Chef Paul Foster.

The clever combination of new and old is one of the principal charms of this restaurant with rooms and nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the bedrooms where old oak beams run riot, the floorboards are white, and the massive doubled-ended stone baths in some of the rooms are an object of extreme envy to those who do not have one in theirs. Walk in showers, fluffy bath sheets and Elemis toiletries provide further evidence of their dedication to excellence.

Choices between the three main Mill bedrooms, eight Mill Stream and Watermeadow rooms, and the Loft Rooms are by no means easy to make, but rest assured they all attain to the same high standard including Bose sound systems, Loewe flat screen TVs and Italian designed furniture, and those memorable 6ft beds with fully sprung mattresses.

You will find an enticing choice of dishes on the main Mill menu, with six starters that include corn-fed chicken wing with bone marrow, sultana purée and chicory; skate wings with avocado emulsion, bacon, lemon and raw peas, or roasted watermelon, goats' cheese, nettle juice with sea aster.

Denham Estate is brought to you on a plate when you order the fallow deer, red onion fondue, pearl barley, pear with Colston Bassett Stilton, or lamb rump and shoulder with butternut squash, smoked paprika, yoghurt and rock samphire. One of the best things about Britain is you are never too far from the sea and vastly improved facilities for keeping seafood fresh have changed our attitude to such shibboleths as never eating fish on Monday, so dishes such as river trout 40°C, shallot purée, broad and runner beans, kohlrabi, and brown butter, and salted hake with slow cooked cauliflower, confit potatoes, coconut and compressed gem juice are both popular and trusted.

In this haven of high eating it would be nothing short of a tragedy to miss out on the desserts, and bitter chocolate textures with chilled mugwort tea and semi-dried blueberries catch many an eye. The Suffolk strawberries with pine ice cream, granola and goats' milk provides a very unfair contest, but some will stick out for the cheese, not least because of its supporters, apple chutney, fruit and nut bread and Garibaldi biscuits.

Tuddenham Mill has set a new benchmark for excellence in the area. Click on their Website for further information about meetings and private functions.

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets.

Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. The conversion of the Newbury library and other listed buildings, such as those in Salisbury, Romsey and Mayfair, are all welcome examples of 'new use'. Their trendy and sophisticated décor usually consists of tiled or wooden floors with delicate lights and colourful paintings, along with wooden furniture and sparkling cutlery, creating a setting that is suitable for a relaxed lunch, a family meal or an evening out with friends.

The restaurants are of particular appeal to those who like genuine Italian cuisine, and they use only the best seasonal products, many of which are imported directly from Italy. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, fresh salads and frequently changing specials.

The freshly baked breads, like the garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crab cakes served with garlic mayonnaise or grilled goat's cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on foccacia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal. Best fun is to order an antipasto platter to share made up from seven well loved Italian nibbles.

Find pastas such as the unusual penne con salmone, with oak-roasted salmon, broccoli and fresh chillies in a red pesto and cream sauce, or firm favourites like spaghetti with meatballs, spaghetti Bolognese, and fusilli al pesto, asparagus spears with field mushrooms and roasted peppers in a basil pesto sauce.

Amongst the special pastas, the pollo mariano, seasoned chicken, pepperoni sausage, roasted peppers and fusilli in tomato sauce, is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like tiger prawns with petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular napoletana, topped with yellowfin tuna, tomato, white anchovies, capers, red onion, mozzarella and marinated olives, and the much loved quattro stagioni - pepperoni sausage, prosciutto ham, artichoke, field mushrooms, capers, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, char-grilled chicken breast, prosciutto ham and plum tomato slices, baked with their blend of cheese, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can accompany the food with a variety of tipples, though for many, Italian food requires Italian wines to be enjoyed to the full, ranging from house wine through Morellino di Scansano and Prosecco to liqueurs and beer, and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal, in company with a glass of grappa or sambuca.

This is Italian food at its attractive best, convincing and bringing together the traditional with the modern twist or two against a background of excellent value.

Prezzo is a lively group and opportunities to improve and update are never left on the table for long. Keep up to date with a quick click on their Website.

Avid fans of horse racing will not be unfamiliar with Newmarket, where much of the action takes place, and whether you're an old hand at it or visiting the races for the first time, the Heath Court Hotel is an excellent place to stay. Elegant and comfortable rooms make your visit memorable and the excitement in the atmosphere becomes palpable as there are some marvellous views of horses out training. Their newly remodelled restaurant Berties has a pleasant atmosphere and offers casual and relaxed dining with delicious, traditional home cooked food.

The menu offers a host of tantalising dishes beginning with mussels cooked in white wine, cream, shallots and garlic followed by a main course of sautéed chicken breast on spiced couscous with cherry tomatoes and shallots. The grills are superb so be sure to try the rib eye steak with home cut chips and mushrooms and end with a rosemary infused rich chocolate torte. The bar is stocked with cocktails, beers and a good selection of fine wines.

The Golden Boar Inn is a stunning 16th century public house and restaurant located in the idyllic village of Freckenham, Suffolk. The venue retains the charm from the bygone era, with timber frames and open fireplaces. The modern yet cosy restaurant situated at the back of the bar is split into two levels, with the lower level offering scenic views of the countryside.

Order for dressed crab celeriac and dill carpachio served with Melba toast or smoked duck breast, with celery and apple salad before moving on to chicory tartain, poached hen's egg, roast garlic, salsify, and curly kale. If this does not satiate your appetite you can try grilled John Dory, stuffed baby squid, salt cod mash, preserved lemon, and squid ink fish cream.

At the bar there are four traditional hand pumps serving real ales and the drinks menu features a fantastic range of wines and champagne from both the New and Old world.

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.

The Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket is chic and contemporary but with an irresistible country charm that elevates it to being a refined experience. The rooms are elegant and stylish, fitted out with all the luxuries and comforts you come to expect from a 4 star hotel. A day at the races might seem perfect for many, but those with more sedate ideas of pleasure will find even a stroll into the excellent Orangery Restaurant for lunch or dinner to be pleasant and fulfilling.

The 2 AA rosette winning restaurant uses only the freshest, seasonal ingredients on their imaginative menus, and has won the hearts of many guests and visitors with their perfect execution. Amongst starters, there could be a tian of Cromer crab, creamed guacamole and red pepper essence followed by a main course of loin of venison, braised red cabbage, caramelised cauliflower, juniper and bay leaf jus, finally ending with a Valrhona dark and white chocolate fondant. The wine list is excellent and offers some splendid choices.