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The original concept for All Bar One was developed by two enterprising ladies, who wanted a bar ideal for women to have a drink and something to eat without the intimidating confines of a traditional pub. Little wonder, that the place has huge glass frontage, open spaces and interiors that are bright and airy. The first outlet opened in Sutton in 1994, became a huge hit, and there has been no looking back since. Today there are close to forty outlets, including one in Cologne, Germany. Irrespective of location, they have identical wooden flooring, menu and service. Antique mirrors, natural colours and reclaimed wooden furniture combine classic and modern styles well.

The menu has tapas from different parts of the world, including the Mediterranean region, Italy and the East. One can also have a variety of burgers, sandwiches and salads. Baked goats' cheese parcels, flat mushroom and halloumi burgers are highlights of the menu, as is the All Bar One beef and coriander burger, a house speciality. With the emphasis being as much on drink as the food, many outlets display a wall of champagne and wines, with beers and spirits thrown in for good measure. The blackboards on the wall often flaunt the impressive selections.

The success formula of All Bar One has been faith in doing simple things well, and that is what they are best known for. A place that is hard to define, for it is not just a bar, restaurant, café or pub, but a special place where people can unwind alone or in company.

Not far from the Donington Park Racing Circuit and East Midlands Airport is a traditional country pub and hotel called The Falcon Inn at Long Whatton. The delightful establishment is an ideal place for an overnight stay or for a hot and tasty meal, and owner Jad Otaki ensures guests always have a great time at his inn.

Eleven beautifully appointed bedrooms have won them an AA three star rating, and if you happen to visit The Falcon in bloom, you are bound to notice why the inn was selected as the overall winner of the Spencer Memorial Garden Competition in 2008.

A wide choice of home-cooked dishes range from Lebanese mezze and main courses of, say, salmon and prawn brochette marinated in chilli, garlic, white wine, and coriander, to good old British favourites of chicken liver pâté served with hot toast, a selection of steaks, and specials of steak and ale pie, or roast pork in apricot sauce.

The food is wonderfully complemented by Lebanese wines.

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.

Opened in 1990 Cactus has never looked back, and is now among the most sought after places in Loughborough for both townsfolk and students. There's plenty of music, spicy food and cool Mexican beer to quench the flames that follow and in summer the concertina doors open and its fiesta time for all.

Particularly impressive amongst the listed dishes is kick ass chilli, a pungent plateful indeed, or an 8 oz swordfish steak, char-grilled and topped with orange and basil butter with rice and a cactus salad on the side. If you're a roll-your-own man go for the classic fajitas, marinated and char-grilled sirloin steak, chicken or vegetables on a sizzling hot platter with peppers, cheese, onions, salsa, sour cream and guacamole, with rice and flour tortillas aplenty.

A good value fixed price menu may vie for attention and who'd not love a plate of Texas or Arizona chilli extinguishers, topped with melted cheese and sour cream.

Please note that they do not accept bookings by e-mail.