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Start with a cocktail, say a bourbon cookie, cosmopolitan or a parson green apple before tackling some food that will vary from pub to pub. There are bar meals, try lime and coriander chicken in Didsbury, or a more formal approach in restaurant style, what about 21 day hung, 10 oz British sirloin steak in Mayfair, with homemade chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce in Birmingham. In general the menus are very similar, with plenty of choices all round.

There are now over twenty five branches of Pitcher and Piano where you can be assured of the same decent levels of food and drinks, service and quality. Surely that's better than the lucky dip approach?

An attractive and historic house with an interesting history. Originally used to make cheese for a neighbouring monastery, it became a shooting-lodge in the 18th century. The menu provides a canvas for talented chef, Frances Atkins - a member for many years of the Master Chefs of Great Britain - to show off her undoubted skills.

Her cuisine might be described a classical repertoire with contemporary ideas, such as roast saddle of rabbit and other traditional favourites; local ingredients are used whenever possible. A good wine list with a house wine at £14.50. Cookery workshops are held in November and February, these are extremely popular, especially for top executives wishing to display their team building skills.

A visit to 'The Drum', as the locals call it is like a warming step back in time with a richness and grandeur in the decor and atmosphere that gives you a feeling of comfort and importance. It is most definitively a place for the fanatical fish lover with not even the faintest of nods to the carnivores. You will find yourself amongst hordes of seafood enthusiasts enjoying such delicacies as whiting soup, poached sea trout, smoked haddock florentine and a wonderful seafood pie. With a wine list which is a revelation and house wines from £13.50 you will want to settle in for a while.

The Drum and Monkey was sold in the latter part of 2003 to Jan Fletcher, OBE, a local businesswoman and entrepreneur who has a passion for good seafood restaurants; her other restaurant Bryan's won the Leeds Best Fish and Chip Restaurant Award 2007. Against the odds, Ms Fletcher has carefully maintained the reputation, atmosphere and traditional hearty menu that previous owner William Fuller was so famous for, making The Drum one of the best seafood restaurants in Yorkshire.

Independent in style, Restaurant Bar and Grill, provides a vibrant setting for a business lunch, a break from shopping or a casual coffee with friends. The minimalist, contemporary designs, coupled with a lively and buzzing atmosphere ensures that the restaurant is always bustling with life, creating the perfect ambiance for day time dining.

Keeping an eye on the calendar, the kitchen carefully sources fresh and high quality ingredients. Think of an Asian plate that comprises of Thai prawn cakes, duck spring rolls, chilli squid, Vietnamese vegetables and mint salad, tempura king prawns and Malayan chicken skewers, to begin your meal. Follow it by a fish pie or pasta and finally close with a chocolate fudge pudding.

The wine cellar is well stocked and a good selection by the glass is to hand, something that well befits a predominantly lunchtime menu.