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When a hotel, boutique or otherwise, thinks well enough of itself to include a definite adjective in its website, you can be sure it's either very good or pretty dismal. One glance at The George will leave you in no doubt that it is not the latter, and that the hotel really is fabulous.

In the best possible sense it bears some resemblance to the sumptuously comfortable houses that Victorian magnates used to build for themselves, with an air of contented permanence. But this one has state of the art comfort built in as well, and with its position at the centre of its community possesses a certain air of bustle.

The dining room occupies a bow windowed room of distinction with olive and aubergine dominating the colour charts. In the best boutique style a blackboard menu rules listing dishes like roast butternut squash soup with crumbled bacon and parmesan shavings, warm lobster salad with sun blushed tomatoes and black olives. A main course of seared tuna steak on homemade tagliatelle could be followed by pain au chocolat bread and butter pudding with custard.

A lively wine list pays homage to the menu, and own label house wine is good value at £12.50, with plenty more up to £55.

A riverside location and beautiful views across the Avon are a few things one could expect from Shakespeare country, but a drink at The Bear Free House may strike beer lovers as an interesting option. Perhaps this is because the interior is just as warm and welcoming as the hotel in which it is located, with wood panelling, two central fires and a stunning pewter bar top.

The food is a happy prospect as well, which could range from a salad of quails egg, bacon lardons, Stornoway black pudding and baby chorizos, to Scottish prime beef gourmet burger. The Bear takes a culinary road less travelled by gastropubs, one that veers in the Eastern direction where it's comforting to find dishes like the hot and spicy Goan chicken curry, and yes, British staples like ploughman's and fish and chips also feature prominently.

Real ales at The Bear certainly win the day, from Butty Bach to Kingmaker, in addition to a great selection of regularly changing guest ales.

For some time I made the mistake of thinking that no group of restaurants in the region of 200 locations could hope to maintain the quality for which I was looking.

Then one day I decided to put my prejudices to the test, walked into Oxford ASK Italian! and discovered that I could not have been more mistaken. Their claim to serve freshly prepared quality food in stylish and comfortable surroundings with friendly and efficient service proved to be absolutely spot on.

Since then I have also discovered that a degree of consistency seems to operate throughout their restaurants, and that certainly does take some achieving, implying a degree of management that is enviable. They are perfect places for an impromptu snack, a bit of culinary grazing, or the full works, and families are catered for particularly well.

Their trendy décor usually comprises tiled floors and black furniture with well set tables that sparkle with glass, silver and spotless linen. Ten starters include crostini and bruschetta, followed by a range of salads, pasta and al forno, oven baked pasta, some with chicken.

The pizzas are stone baked in the oven, creating a crisp, authentic and delicious flavour, and they all come topped with mozzarella and tomato. Calzone introduce a touch of opulence with a folded pizza baked in the oven and topped with garlic butter and melted grana padano, whilst inside expect to find chicken or a vegetarian mix.

Amongst the specials may I warmly, in every sense, recommend the polpette al forno, a popular Milanese dish of beef meatballs sautéed in garlic with fire roasted peppers, caramelised onions, chilli and pomodoro sauce, with penne pasta, topped with cheese and oven baked.

An enticing selection of desserts list banoffee pie and tiramisu amongst them, and the coffee tastes like coffee, which may sound banal, but I guess you know what I mean.

Thanks to a well selected wine list speculative drinking can offer handsome dividends, even with prices rarely crossing the £20 barrier.

Housed in a cosy 18th century pub, The Red Gate Steak and Alehouse, on Watling Street, offers guests traditional British fare in comfortable modern surroundings. With snug corners, plentiful parking and a pretty beer garden offering lovely views of the Warwickshire countryside, perfect for al fresco dining in fine weather.
 
The Redgate uses only Quality Assured British cattle which are grass-fed and hormone-free. The restaurant's steak specialities include classic cuts of exquisitely flavoured dry aged beef served with chips, jacket potatoes or mash, salad and a choice of sauces including home-made green peppercorn, Stilton or béarnaise sauce. Other options from the grill include slow roast Jacobs ladder beef ribs, ale battered fish and chips and roast corn fed chicken. The Redgate deli platter with pate, peppered beef, herbed chicken, cured ham and chutneys is ideal for sharing while appetizers of prawn cocktail, Stilton and mushroom bruschetta or salmon fishcake make for a good beginning to the meal. Home-made sticky toffee pudding, Knickerbocker glory or chocolate fudge brownie will bring any meal to a pleasant end.