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In the heart of historic Stratford-upon-Avon, just a stone's throw from William Shakespeare's birthplace, the Loft House Wine Bar and Restaurant on Meer Street offers a modern British menu in a relaxed, intimate setting. The restaurant's striking decor skilfully combines classic Tudor timber framed wattle and daub with smart contemporary furnishings and is perfect for a meal after a day of sightseeing, with well-known landmarks such as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Hall's Croft and Nash's House all within walking distance.

The à la carte is replete with freshly prepared dishes using locally sourced produce, whenever possible, including Cotswold lamb, Cotswold sausages, seasonal vegetables and delicious local cheeses. Classic pub specials also feature on the menu.

Dinner here could begin with starters of trio of king prawns cooked in olive oil and garlic and served with mixed leaves; smoked Scottish salmon with shallots, capers and tangy lemon dressing or chicken liver parfait with Melba toast and red onion marmalade. While you wait for your order to be served you could munch on appetizers of garlic bread with melted Cotswold Cheddar, rustic homemade bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar or a platter with trio of mixed olives, sundried tomatoes and feta cheese.

The main course selection offers a range of tempting choices such as pan roasted sea bass fillets draped over a tarragon Jersey Royal potato tower with a creamy spinach sorrel sauce and red pepper coulis; Cotswold grilled rack of lamb with dauphinoise potatoes, Chanternay carrots and green beans with red wine jus and roast chicken breast on a wild mushroom risotto and asparagus and leek cream sauce.

If you are dropping in for lunch, served daily from 12 to 2.30 pm, you could choose between substantial choices of bacon and cheese burger with chunky potato chips and salad; a 100 per cent beef burger with crispy bacon, BBQ sauce, sliced Portobello mushrooms and mature Cheddar, grilled chicken club sandwich, traditional beef lasagne and trio of Cotswold sausages with mash and onion gravy. On Sundays diners can enjoy a traditional roast lunch.

Vegetarians are also well-catered for and can look forward to dishes such as grilled goat's cheese on green bean and red pepper salad with a balsamic dressing, roasted butternut squash and sage risotto with pine nuts and vegetarian burger with chunky potato chips and salad.

Delectable confections of vanilla crème brûlée, chocolate tart with Chantilly cream, Eton mess and sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream bring the meal to a fitting finale. Alternatively you could opt for the individual local cheese board served with home-made chutney, biscuits, celery and grapes and a selection of Port.

The Loft House's drinks menu includes a carefully selected wine list of whites and reds from around the world for the connoisseur.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

The Encore in Stratford-upon-Avon is a splendid coming together of the conventional and the contemporary, an eclectic fusion of styles which has marvellous visual appeal and creates a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Bright zebra prints grace some of the chairs, while deep brown leather on others shows how the old and the new can exist in harmony, while stone fired ovens and log burning fires alongside the open kitchen and floor plan produce the same results.

Located in an 18th century building, The Encore is also quite close to the world famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The pub downstairs has a friendly ambience and offers a good selection of excellent beers and real ales, while the restaurant upstairs provides an unusual mix of traditional British food with continental touches. Following a refurbishment, they have emerged as an excellent dining destination in the town, while their attention to detail and friendly service ensures a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The simple but up-to-the-minute menu offers lots of comfort appeal, with homely choices like pizzas, steaks and pasta, with some more global dishes to keep things lively. To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, box baked Camembert with onion jam and bread, Greek mezze with taramasalata, red pepper hummus, tzatziki, feta and flatbreads, or a pizzette with garlic, rocket, sun-blushed tomatoes and Parmesan.

Amongst the starters, there is always freshly made soup of the day, sake cured salmon, pickled ginger and wasabi crème fraîche, and fennel with chilli crusted squid, pineapple and coriander salsa are also to be found.

The salads offer pang pang chicken, Asian greens, satay, cashew nuts and cucumber, while pastas range from linguini with chorizo, king prawns, crab, chilli and tomato to tagliatelle bolognaise with slow cooked beef, bacon and Chianti.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; look for a classic margherita of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, or a Siciliana with Serrano ham, roast artichoke, olives and mozzarella. Those who love rotisserie fare will enjoy the different variations of chicken, with roast garlic, lemon and thyme and aioli. Persian spiced lamb chops are an interesting addition to this list and are served with tzatziki, tomato and red onion salad.

Proper main courses could include sea bass fillets, stuffed Romano pepper, caponata, pesto and baby new potatoes; Scottish salmon with Asian greens, chilli salsa and tempura sweet potato fritters; calves liver with sweet potato and beetroot gratin and watercress, or lemon sole with prawn and scallop butter. A wide range of supporting dishes includes tomato, rocket and mozzarella, and cabbage, leeks and peas. Desserts are some of the best you'll encounter with apple and frangipane gallette and Cognac ice cream, and there is also a selection of local cheeses to set the buffs alight.

To complement the food, there is a well chosen wine list that traverses across the old and New Worlds to bring fine wines and champagnes.

More information, including full menus, is available on their Website. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

Queans was taken over in 2005 by Laura Hamilton, who was formerly a chef-manager in Warwick, she offers a selection of dishes that are both inventive and tempting to a pleasing degree, and as a result she is now enjoying well-deserved popularity in Leamington Spa. Laura has been a chef locally for the best part of 20 years during much of which she was Head Chef at The Grand Union Restaurant, before her three years at Robbie's in Warwick.

As might be expected her menus are pleasantly challenging with starters such as crab and spring onion fishcake served with a lemon and lime dressing; artichoke and asparagus tart with a toasted almond salad, or broccoli and smoked brie soup.

Main courses move along with the likes of pan-fried wild duck breast served on a bed of wilted spinach and baked Portobello mushroom, served with a whiskey and ginger gravy; medallion of pork served on a bed of chive and lemon rice, finished with a yellow pepper cream, or supreme of chicken stuffed with a basil and mascarpone mousse, poached in a creamy garlic sauce.

For those of a seaward inclination there may be grilled whole black bream glazed with orange and sweet mustard and finished with a watercress dressing. Vegetarians will surely rejoice in the delicious tarragon pastry basket filled with a layer of chickpea mousse, braised courgette and leeks, topped with roasted beetroot.

Laura's homemade ice creams are legendary and arrive at the table with fresh baked cookies. Wildly popular is the peach and raspberry suet pudding served with custard, cream, or ice cream, and sometimes, we are told, all three. The rich chocolate and orange cheesecake is a clever blend of flavours, but for many the simple sharp tang of a fresh fruit cocktail, well laced with cointreau has familiar appeal. To play safe go for the banoffee pie, an international favourite that never fails to please.

From all of which it will be obvious that Laura is certainly no slouch in the kitchen and explains why those with an eye for food that has been prepared with care and imagination are beating a path to her door.

The wine list is equally full of character with some nice Burgundy and really daring reds from South Africa, Chile, Spain and Italy. Two dessert wines are listed, including an intriguing rich Black Muscat from California.

As one might expect the general layout and presentation is cool and elegant, in keeping with the service. This is a restaurant that would hold its own well in London, and in Leamington Spa it is indeed a gift sent from on high. They were the proud winners at the Coventry and Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards 2006 for Best Restaurant and Excellence in Quality and Customer Service.

If you want to know more about this superb restaurant, then their Website should prove to be a mine of information.

With its riverside setting, The Saxon Mill gives you an opportunity to relax with tasty food and wines in pleasant surroundings, taking in unrivalled views over Guy's Cliffe - there cannot be a more spectacular situation for a pub anywhere in Britain. The atmosphere at the Saxon Mill is relaxed, friendly and informal, while the overall impression is of a pub, which is comfortable, light and open.

Their attention to detail and quality of service ensures your whole dining experience will be one to remember. A great deal of thought and effort has gone into the design creating a stylish interior, with open kitchens, stone fired ovens and log burning fires, offset by beautifully landscaped decking for al fresco dining.

The menu is simple but up-to-the-minute, with lots of comfort appeal, with homely dishes like pizza, steaks and pasta as well as contemporary, global touches to keep things lively; all delivered by friendly and cheerful staff. Their wine list contains well-known favourites, alongside little numbers from around the world.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, garlic pizzette with sun-blushed tomatoes, rocket and parmesan, a box baked Camembert with red onion jam and bread, and Greek mezze with taramasalata, red pepper hummus, tzatziki, feta and flatbreads.

Amongst the starters is freshly made soup, devilled mushrooms with chilli and mint on rustic toast, and Japanese fish cakes, pickled ginger, yuzu and spring onion dipping sauce with radish slaw. Look, too, for scallops of the day.

The salads - sorry that should read 'leaves' - offer crispy duck, mouli, carrots and spring onion with plum sauce, and for the seafood fiends some pastrami cured smoked salmon, Caesar, cos, parmesan, anchovies and croutons is received with enthusiasm.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find margherita, a classic medley of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, Siciliana with Serrano ham, roast artichoke, olives and mozzarella or rustica with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats' cheese, cherry tomatoes and rocket.

Pastas include bucatini carbonara with smoked haddock, pancetta and cream, or tagliatelle bolognaise, slow cooked beef, bacon and Chianti.

Scottish salmon with noodles, Asian greens, coriander, pineapple and chilli salsa is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating and the spit honey gammon ham with creamed potato, parsley and truffle sauce is worth trying too. For hearty eaters there are rib-eye and fillet steaks, and lemon sole with prawn and watercress butter and baby potatoes. Other choices encompass Peroni beer battered haddock and lamb rack with spiced dukkah crust, char-grilled stuffed peppers and minted potatoes.

A wide range of supporting dishes include creamed potatoes, Belgian frites and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. Desserts are some of the best you'll encounter with apple and frangipane gallette and Cognac ice cream, and there is also a selection of local cheeses to set the buffs alight.

For anybody looking for privacy, they also have the 'Warwick Suite' where you can book dinners for up to 60, have a meeting, or consider holding your wedding breakfast, perhaps getting married there since they are licensed for civil ceremonies?

Either call the General Manager to discuss your personal requirements or perhaps arrange a visit. More information, including full menus, is available on their Website. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

Sorrento is a traditional Italian restaurant, offering silver service amidst elegant surroundings. Jackie and Tony de Angelis and their family see to it that their guests, be they business, family or friends enjoy dishes made with the finest ingredients, with friendly service and a great selection of Italian wine.

There is something vaguely whimsical that in the birthplace of one of England's greatest playwrights an Italian restaurant of the quality of Sorrento should be on hand to delight the lives of those who flock to Stratford-upon-Avon to witness the works of Shakespeare, well laced with their cast of highly convincing Italian characters.

In the summer al fresco dining is available on the patio. Naturally, in this theatre-blessed town, pre and after theatre dinners are served, and there is a three course lunch special for tourists and business people.

A quick glance at the menu reveals traditional, well-loved dishes such as mussels gently simmered in white wine, with garlic, chilli and parsley in tomato sauce or garlic bread topped with tomato, oregano and fresh basil, or with mozzarella.

No Italian menu would be complete without a selection of pasta dishes, amongst which are penne in a traditional spicy tomato, garlic, chilli and herb sauce, or the spaghetti alla Bolognese, pasta embraced in the chef's mince meat, tomato and Italian herb sauce. All pasta dishes may be taken as a starter or main course.
 
Main fish dishes include breast of chicken cooked in Marsala wine, mushroom and cream sauce, and squid lightly dusted in flour and deep-fried. Escallops of veal in white wine, shallots and cream sauce come topped with mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.

The Bard, who displays no evidence of having been inclined to vegetarianism as far as is known, might reasonably have been expected to approve of the medaglione peppe verdi, medallions of fillet steak flamed in brandy in a peppercorn and cream sauce. The chef's daily specials are a popular feature of this restaurant, applied with a frequency and enthusiasm that would have had the witches of Cawdor reaching for their broomsticks with cackling alacrity.

A daily selection of sweets at which the Italians are so adept, brings the meal to a graceful ending, and those who love their cheese will rejoice to see a good selection from Italy, with Formaggio, their answer to England's Stilton, well to the fore. Gelato is Italian for ice cream, and the selection at Sorrento is agreeably bewildering.

There is particularly good value to be had at lunchtime when the set menu is on offer at £13.90 for two courses, three for £17.90. At such prices the rascally and un-lovely Shylock would be counting his beans all the way to Venice.

For more details, including other menus, and special arrangements for party and corporate reservations, do click on their excellent and user-friendly Website.

Two minutes walk from Shakespeare's Birthplace, The One Elm is a Victorian pub with a bustling bar, a pretty sheltered courtyard and a relaxed but high quality restaurant. The pub, in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon, is built on two floors with a bar and informal eating area at ground level. Upstairs there is a slight lift in the formality - but not too much - with a lot of lofty space and feeling of great warmth achieved by the décor. Actor-types from the nearby theatre have been known to lend a sense of the drama to proceedings.

Outside, a secluded courtyard provides a haven in the summer for those who may wish to avoid the bustle of the riverside, and in winter are protected from the weather by an ingenious device. In or out The One Elm is designed with a diversity that offers the right environment for a cheerful party, or those with more romantic activity in mind.

The à la carte menu has a great selection and those who want to have routine in their life can opt for roast of the day with a different option teamed with potatoes and seasonal vegetable dish of the day - Jimmy Butler's free-range shoulder of pork on Tuesdays; 28 day dry-aged Aberdeenshire roast beef on Mondays, and leg of Cornish lamb on Thursdays.
 
A nice starting point is the deli board, drawn from cheese, charcuterie, veggie, fish and favourites such as free range ham hock, fish goujons and tartar sauce. This is the perfect way to try some of the fantastic ingredients that they take such pride in sourcing. This is a splendid way to chill out after a hard day before getting down to the meal.

On their menu, you will find the very best quality fresh ingredients - fantastic sausages; free range chicken and eggs; simple, pan-fried Welsh sea bass and seafood; 28 day dry-aged Aberdeenshire steaks - sourced from producers who take pride in their products and an ethical stance in their production.

The One Elm's menu always makes the most of seasonal ingredients - this ensures they avoid air-freighting and keeps us in touch with the cycle of the year - while combining the best of great British cooking and influences from around the world that are now part of our culture.

A well-chosen wine list, with interesting international connotations salutes the best efforts of the kitchen brigade, and service is cheerful, and brisk without being hurried. Where did creamy hot chocolate and marshmallows go? Answer - The One Elm at Stratford upon Avon.

Further information, including their menus, is available on their comprehensive Website. Also consider trying out their sister pub, The Rose and Crown in Warwick.

This restaurant, situated in the heart of the historic town of Warwick, is one which breaks all the normal rules, by presenting Thai food in a most unusual way, all within an Art Gallery setting. Having opened in the spring of 2004, it has gained an excellent reputation for Thai cuisine, in the view of some matched only by places mainly in London.

The Art Kitchen specialises in contemporary Thai food, with a large part of the menu offering tapas style portions. This allows diners to sample a variety of tastes and eat as little or as much as they like.

Ingredients are invariably of the highest quality and the freshest available. The beef is Aberdeen Angus and the fish arrives daily from the Birmingham fish market. Eggs come from a Stoneleigh small-holding specialising in rare French hens that have the run of the fields.

The menu is an accommodating one and arranges the dishes into a bite, or 'bytes', according to stature and status. Amongst the one byte brigade are the duck spring roll, a trio of chicken, prawn and crab cake, and sweet peppers stuffed with minced chicken and deep fried.

Two bytes include chicory leaves filled with chopped chicken, prawn or duck and dressed with lime juice, chillis and shallots or strips of tender beef fillet served with coriander, fresh mint, onion and lime juice. Bigger bytes is where you will find the 'main courses', amongst which is the restaurant's signature dish - fillet of Aberdeen Angus beef roasted pink with oyster sauce. There's a wide range of options amongst the vegetables, rice and noodles while vegetarians have it good with delicious dishes such as stir fried broccoli in oyster sauce or vegetarian Thai curries. For dessert expect to find a pandan and coconut pancake served with vanilla ice cream or a lemongrass infused crème brulée.

A monthly specials menu brings forward new and exciting dishes that are constantly being invented by the kitchen. During the game season, you might be able to find Venison sourced from the Balmoral Estate which is wok fried in black pepper sauce. Furthermore, there's a 1-2-3 lunchtime menu, which offers great value for money and quick service with options for one, two or three courses.

Nowadays customers attach increased importance to the provision of reliable table water. The Art Kitchen has met this need by installing a sophisticated filtration tank system which offers virtually unlimited supplies of fresh purified water, a move that has proved popular with an ever more health-concerned public. A global wine list offers numerous choices including the renowned Taittinger Brut Reserve, an excellent champagne should you be in a celebratory mood.

A Continental Tapas Bar ambience has been created in the bar area to provide an informal space to have a drink with some roast cashews. The Art Kitchen benefits from a full on-licence and an extension supper licence. Alcoholic beverages are sold on weekdays from 11.00am until 12.00 midnight.

A community of local artists create contemporary artwork that is displayed around the restaurant and offered for sale. The Art Kitchen also offers the possibility of bespoke artwork and photograph canvases.

The relationship between good eating and visual art is historic, one which goes back through the rich canvasses that adorn the walls of many a stately home dining room to the caves of our ancestors who just used the walls, canvas not being available. Dining at the Art Kitchen carries this process forwards and undoubtedly offers an interesting and different experience, combining as it does the pleasures of both excellent Thai food and accessible art.

More information is available on their attractively presented Website.

The Almanack is a modern British gastropub in the heart of Kenilworth, between Abbey Fields and the High Street. The Almanack belongs to the people behind the Rose and Crown in Warwick. Jeremy Kynaston has enjoyed two years there, winning friends and awards along the way and is now in the process of welcoming old friends and making new ones at the Almanack.

On arrival the entrance takes you into a comfortable bar and lounge furnished with beautiful vintage armchairs and sofas. There is a great island bar in the middle where you can drink, chat and watch the world go by as well as a glamorous dining room with views of the open kitchen. Perfect for dinner parties with family and friends is the Private Dining Room which can sit up to 30 people.

At the heart of a true gastropub is, of course, the menu. Head Chef Jakub Fijak gained cuilnary experience in his own home city of Krakow and spent years in Poland honing his skills. After learning the fine nuances of French cooking in St Helier, he is back in the kitchen serving a fantastic menu featuring both retro and modern pub dishes with his knowledge and love of fresh, simple ingredients.

Breakfast is served from 8am to 12noon, featuring healthy, sensible food with not a full English in sight, and, if you're in a real rush, you can take it away with you. The deli board lives on in five manifestations of cheese, cold cuts, fish, veggie and a favourites board, and an option of adding a classic cheese fondue to any of them. A perfect start to a meal or to share with a friend over a glass of wine or two! For those in a hurry, the roast of the day is ideal. You can check which day it is by what's on your plate, ranging from roast leg of Cornish lamb to the Aberdeenshire 28 day dry-aged roast beef and traditional trimmings.

Their meat is all free range and comes from award-winning local butcher, Aubrey Allen. Other ingredients are sourced from producers who take pride in their products and an ethical stance in their production. The Almanack ensures their menu always makes the most of the best seasonal ingredients - this is to avoid air-freighting and keeps you in touch with the cycle of the year - to maximise freshness, quality and value.

Whilst eating is most certainly taken seriously, a pub wouldn't be a pub without great drinks. For those who like a wine list that does the business with adequate choices, but not enough to cloud your judgement, Almanack is your place. A choice of five champagnes, two by the glass is followed by a selection of whites that embrace Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2009, and start with a South African Chenin Blanc available in bottle, large or small glass on draught, or a carafe for friendly drinking. Amongst the reds you could spot a Malbec, San Rafael from Argentina. Both these countries are now producing wines that will stand with the best from almost anywhere.

The Almanack is a pub with a conscience about eating and drinking, with a real sense of purpose. The customer concern level is high, and would go so far as to say that at last somebody has found a way to combine the best of the gastropub with fresh 21st century bonhomie, that has given new meaning to 'the local'.

Find out even more by clicking on their Website. You might also want to consider visiting The Rose and Crown in nearby Warwick, the sister pub to The Almanack.

Close to the historic towns of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa, The Queen & Castle offers a delicious modern British cuisine menu with Mediterranean influences in the heart of Warwickshire. Nestled on Castle Green, directly opposite Kenilworth Castle, it's the perfect place for unwinding after a day of sightseeing. The pub also boasts a beautiful, secluded garden that is ideal for al fresco dining in warm weather, with an outdoor play area for the kids and ample onsite parking, making it a wonderfully family-friendly venue for a weekend meal.

The Queen & Castle's traditional brick and tiled roof exterior gives way to a bright and airy interior with wood floors, beamed ceilings and comfortable leather chairs. The light coloured walls and ceilings offer a stunning contemporary take on traditional Tudor decor and witty touches, such as the antler coat-hooks above the hearth complete the stylish setting. The same attention to detail is discernible in the friendly and attentive staff and the excellent service ensures a pleasant experience.

The seasonally changing à la carte uses the finest market fresh ingredients and delivers a range of sharing platters and starters such as winter bruschetta of asparagus, gorgonzola, prosciutto, balsamic on stirata Romana bread and red onion and gorgonzola tart with roasted apple and mustard seed dressing to whet the appetite.

Follow with a flavourful stone baked pizza topped with luganega sausage, chorizo, pepperoni, spit roasted chicken and crushed chillies or roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goat's cheese, cherry tomatoes and rocket. There's also choice of wonderful pasta dishes, no dull uninspiring spaghetti Bolognese here, instead there's lasagne with slow roasted pork, red peppers and roast garlic or linguini with tiger prawns, crab and chorizo in a spicy tomato sauce.

Salads of crispy duck with mooli, carrots, hoisin, spring onions and plum sauce or grilled goat's cheese crostini with roasted sweet potatoes, borlotti beans and blush tomato dressing provide a light main course. While more substantial mains include succulent grilled fare of fillet steak garni with watercress, confit tomato, grilled mushroom and hand-cut jenga chips or blade of beef, slow braised in red wine, with creamy parsley mash and horseradish crème fraiche. Classic burgers come with onion, gherkin, mustard mayo, cheese, relish, and chips with a host of extras including chorizo, bacon or flat mushroom. Alternatively, try one of chef’s daily specials on the blackboard. You could also enjoy Fabulous Fish Fridays with delicious fresh fish and shellfish specials with a whopping 50% discount on a bottle of white wine.

On Sundays, guests can enjoy a variety of beautifully prepared classic roasts with lashings of gravy and seasonal veggies. A prix fixe menu is available mid week until 7 pm while the bar menu includes a variety of small plates and main dishes.

The expertly selected wine list includes a variety of Mediterranean whites and reds, as well as examples from the rest of the world available by the glass and bottle, while the drinks menu offers a variety of aperitifs non-alcoholic drinks along with a range of excellent cask ales and bottled beers to quench the thirst.
 
Enjoyed eating at The Queen & Castle? Why not try its sister pubs; The Encore in Stratford-upon-Avon and The Saxon Mill in Warwick for a similar experience.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Leamington Spa may strike you as one of those places that are full of eastern promise - well, if not eastern, at least promise. As far as the restaurant business is concerned some very interesting enterprises have taken off there, and another has been added with the arrival of Peter and Antje Knibb. Both have worked in Michelin starred restaurants under such culinary notables as Simon Haigh at Mallory Court and Jun Tanaka at Pearl Restaurant, London.

A restyling by designer Emma McIvor has resulted in nicely understated feelings of luxury, comfort and style, creating an immediate sense of confidence and relaxation.

Peter's relatively short career shows signs of meteoric progress, and at the end of this review the urge to place Restaurant 23 on your 'One to Watch' list will be stronger. The serious stuff was a spell at Chez Nico preceded by time well spent at Claridge's under John Williams. The fun bit was six months on a luxury yacht before jumping ship for the Gucci private family yacht. Some very relevant experience in London has proved of real value in establishing himself in the Midlands.

Well located in the centre of town the restaurant draws an egalitarian customer base who, attracted by a combination of excellent food and competitive prices tend to treat Restaurant 23 as their neighbourhood hideout. Peter's international travels have moulded a broad approach to the cuisine, with some interesting little quirks that betray a sense of culinary genius.

For dinner expect to find organic salmon and Cornish crab ravioli with a bisque and lemon grass velouté, and seared hand dived scallops, capers, parsley, cauliflower, crispy bacon and red veined sorrel. Wild mushroom consommé is accompanied by truffle gnocchi, parmesan crisp and poached quail?s egg. Seafood is a speciality; keep a lookout for pan-fried wild sea bass with coriander cress, curried mussel and coconut broth. Roasted loin of venison arrives with butternut squash gratin, braised red cabbage, chestnuts and port sauce.

Set nutmeg duck egg custard is served with marinated Agen prunes, green apple sorbet, almond and orange tuile, and a wonderful combination comes in the form of ginger bread with banana parfait, crispy filo pastry and crème fraîche sorbet.

Leamington Spa still seems to be one of those places where people really do lunch. Restaurant 23 has been quick to respond to this admirable practice with a 1, 2 or 3 course lunch at £13.50, £16.50 and £19 respectively. A choice of three starters might include roasted parsnip and apple soup with curry oil, followed by braised venison bourguignon, potato puree, salsify and baby carrots, with the great cleanser in the form of marinated prunes, cinnamon ice cream and apple sponge.

Yes, there is little doubt about it - an entry in your little black book is warmly recommended. The menu responds well to the seasons and changes are posted on their Website, which is only a click away.