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The 18th century Greyhound Coaching Inn still charms its guests in the 21st century. Family owned and traditional, it has been lovingly restored by proprietor Robert Eggleston, and can be found sitting prettily in the south Leicestershire town of Lutterworth.

When it comes to the dining facilities, guests never fall short of options. A cosy restaurant and separate lounge bar offer regularly changing menus that vary between English and more exotic international cuisine, while the Vaults Bistro located in the inn's old arched cellars offers the very best Italian cuisine in an intimate candlelit atmosphere.

Expect a Scottish smoked salmon and prawn parcel, a selection of char-grills, and roast breast of duck with onions, apricots, caramelised ginger, and brandy on the restaurant's menu, or feast on fine strips of pork, smoked bacon, scallions and apricots, with fresh sage, pasta tubes, and a little cream, or stir-fried chicken in the company of sweet peppers, mushrooms, and onions in garlic butter from The Vaults Italian menu.

Thirty-four bedrooms are individually decorated and each offers its own charm and individuality.

The Khyber Tandoori is a friendly family-run restaurant that opened its doors to the people of Leicester more than twenty years ago. Today it is counted among the finest Indian restaurants in the East Midlands; as a result Head Chef and owners Ashok, and brother Dinesh are two happy men.

With light walls that are adorned with traditional Indian art, linen covered tables, and mellow lights, the interior is simple yet elegant and cosy. The Khyber menu offer dishes that reflect the subtlety and diversity of the sub-continent together with fresh seafood and time-honored vegetarian, tandoori, and meat creations.

Trust a platter of charcoal chicken wings or chilli prawns to help you make a flying start. These could be followed by the much loved matar paneer, a traditional dish of cottage cheese and fresh sweet peas, home-cooked lamb chop curry, or the hot and lemony meat dhansak.

Indian breads ranging from tawa chapatti and tandoori roti complement the main courses. The food can be enjoyed with a short yet exciting range of wines, beers, and spirits.

Barnacles Restaurant in Watling Street, Hinckley is surrounded by pretty grounds and a beautiful lake and is a good place to visit, particularly if you're very fond of fish. The brick wall exterior seems imposing but that doesn't deter the patrons of this delightful restaurant which has been serving delicious and fresh fish and seafood dishes since 1993.

There is an extensive selection of both fish and shellfish, so you could choose from dishes such as simply grilled lemon sole with vegetables or more creative ones like the popular fruits de mer, a platter of hot shellfish in chilli and garlic butter. Of course if your preferences don't run to fish then you can try something from the equally tempting meat or vegetarian menu and end finally with a caramelised citrus tart with raspberry sorbet. There's also an eclectic selection of wines to be found on the wine list, which span the countries of the Old and the New World.

Stapleford Park is a place like no other, one of Britain's finest stately homes set in a relaxing country estate, where the traditional and the contemporary co-exist in perfect harmony. Surrounded by five hundred acres of parkland, lake and woods, originally created by the legendary Capability Brown, this is somewhere to find your perfect retreat.

With 2 AA Rosettes for the quality of its dining, you can enjoy delicious food, unobtrusive service in the uniquely elegant surroundings of the Grinling Gibbons dining room. Evening dinner is a mix of English and French cuisine with traditional Sunday lunch served at £27.50 for 3 courses.

Demonstrating that old world elegance and modernity can mix together remarkably well, the Sketchley Grange Hotel warmly welcomes guests to enjoy peaceful open country views, extensive facilities, and tasty British and modern European cuisine in its two AA rosette Willow Restaurant.

Situated usefully close to the M69, the hotel is a welcome watering hole to those motoring through the wastes of Midland motorways. The inspiring menu adds to the feelings of comfort, and on a summer's evening a stroll in the carefully tended gardens could gently massage the appetite.

The à la carte opens with starters of pressed marinated sea trout and Cornish crab with an avocado coriander ice cream. Main courses embrace lemon tea smoked new season lamb with broad bean puree, stuffed lamb kidneys, and a sweet sherry jus while puddings include glazed mango and coconut tarts, and a selection of English cheeses with dried fruit chutney, a sage and homemade oat cakes. The Willow Sunday lunch is a popular event.

The wine list is well traveled and offers great value.