Situated in the heart of Wimbledon Village, the genial buzz of guests getting together for a good time often animates the Dog and Fox. They can enjoy its comfortable modern setting with old fashioned touches and a modern British menu which includes a range of classics. It comes into its own during the tennis fortnight, sporting a festive air and attracting many regulars and visitors alike.

Head chef Keith Stewart brings a Pacific Rim influence to the dishes he creates with fresh seasonal locally sourced produce holding pride of place. Undoubtedly, delights such as slow roast honeyed pork belly, grilled lemon sole, home-made cottage pie with buttered green beans and rib eye steak with dauphinoise potatoes beckon. But, you could set the stage with appetising starters of marinated olives and feta stuffed peppers, salt and pepper calamari or slow cooked sticky ribs in hickory sauce. Later, if you wish, indulge a sweet tooth with desserts of Bramley apple crumble, chocolate brownie or passion fruit crème brûlée. A range of award-winning cask conditioned ales, continental lagers and beers refresh the palate.

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

At every turn, it seems, what were once licensed premises in various forms, be they Victorian pubs, country retreats for old codgers, or boozers that had lost the plot, are being snapped up by enterprising groups, usually of young men, and transformed into something more in keeping with the aspirations of the age.

The transformations are being carried out with varying degrees of skill, but on the whole results are goods, and perhaps you could think of several in your own part of the world that have been improved beyond belief. The secret of course, is often to keep the best of what went before and combine it with the advantages of modern living. In general people do not like change overmuch unless it improves their enjoyment, and gastropubs like The White Hart can certainly lay claim to do that, located in a particularly gorgeous part of Yorkshire, and now once more the centre of village life, where traditional values are respected.

The ancient charm that pervaded before the refurbishment remains intact, and has an added lustre by the clever use of more up to date materials, colours and fittings. The ability to eat decently and without fuss is an essential part of the gastropub credo, and again The White Hart scores, with a straightforward menu packed with dishes that offer immediate appeal. Old concepts of the standard three course meal are out of the window, enjoyment of food as you would like it to be is in.

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, or 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 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 with slow cooked beef, bacon and Chianti. For the big event there is Venetian calves' liver with onions, wilted spinach, parsley mash and balsamic jus. The classic burger, which has risen from the confines of fast food chains, carves a niche for itself on the menu and comes with gherkin, mustard mayo, cheese, relish and frites. For hearty eaters there are rib-eye and fillet steaks, and lemon sole with prawn and watercress butter and baby potatoes.

A wide range of supporting dishes include buttered new 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. In the bar Timothy Taylors Landlord reigns supreme, but not unchallenged, and a good wine list matches well with the excellent food.

For variations in their menu and other news about The White Hart, do click on their excellent Website. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

The Plough and Harrow served as an old coaching inn in the past and has been restored to become a spacious country pub and eating house, with large open areas and numerous alcoves. It retains its old world charm with stone floors, exposed beams, leaded windows and roaring log fires. With two large patios in the front and rear, it allows al fresco dining almost throughout the year. The restaurant seats a hundred and can cover an additional eighty.

The dining area is decorated with copper, suede, raw wood and leather, creating a pleasant environment made even more attractive by interesting artefacts. The wine 'prison' with captivating barrels and bottles ready for release, is another area that deserves special attention.

The menu offers an eclectic array of pizzas, pastas, salads and steaks. There are also light bites which combine to become a meal. To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, antipasti of Italian meats, dolcelatte, marinated vegetables and warm stone-baked flatbreads, or Mediterranean mezze of hummus, roasted vegetables, fregola, tzatziki, feta, spinach and ricotta pâté with flatbreads.

Amongst the appetisers look for freshly made soup; lamb koftas with mint yoghurt, kohlrabi, cumin and carrot salad, or gambas with rocket, garlic aioli and rustic bread. Look, too, for scallops in the specials section.

The salads offer chargrilled chicken with courgette, fennel, apple, asparagus, hazelnut and balsamic dressing, and the seafood fiends find pleasure in some prawn and avocado with pecans, mango, bacon, orange and pomegranate vinaigrette.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic margherita of cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, pomodoro and basil, the rustica with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats' cheese and cherry tomatoes, or the piccante with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños.

Pastas include linguini with tiger prawns, crab, chorizo, chilli, tomato and white wine; strozzapreti of tomato, goats cheese, spinach, pine nuts and raisins, or tagliatelle with slow cooked Bolognaise and parmesan. For the big event there is always roast rump of lamb with sauce soubise, asparagus, pancetta, button onions and baby potatoes.

The battered haddock with frites, tartare sauce and minted mushy peas is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating. Spit chicken with lemon, garlic, thyme and frites is worth trying too. For hearty eaters there are rib eye and fillet steaks or blackened cod fillet with egg noodles, pak choi, mango and chilli salsa.

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

The Rising Sun Hotel in Lynmouth is the harbour side inn of your dreams with a thatched roof, ancient beams and haphazard wooden floors, and dates from the 14th century. It is steeped in history with oak panelling, crooked ceilings, thick beachstone walls and creaking uneven floorboards. Their modern approach to food in their 1 AA Rosette restaurant is confident and it is clearly presented, with a lot of the raw ingredients produced in the area, like Lynmouth Bay lobster, local game and salmon fished from River Lyn itself.

It was in one of its rooms that R.D. Blackmore wrote several chapters of his West Country classic Lorna Doone. It sits overlooking a tiny picturesque harbour and Lynmouth Bay with its stunning backdrop of the highest hogback cliffs in England, and situated on the edge of the Exmoor National Park, where herds of deer, wild ponies and birds of prey roam free.

As it has grown it has absorbed neighbouring cottages including the one (featured here) in which Shelley and his 16-year old bride Harriet are said to have spent their honeymoon. Shelleys Cottage has lost none of its romance and now consists of a double bedroom with half-tester bed, sitting room, private garden with quite spectacular views and is ideal for those wanting something extra special.

Many of the bedrooms have half-tester beds and were refurbished by international designer Suzanne Lansdell of 'Pour La Maison' in London, combining the latest design fabrics with traditional elegance within a 14th century ambience, assuring their guests of an unforgettable romantic experience.

For starters the choice could consist of: Cornish crab with sweet pepper and mascarpone tortellini; chicken liver and foie gras parfait with homemade piccalilli; Italian tomato bread soup or Parma ham with black figs, rocket leaves, toasted pine nuts and vintage balsamic.

There is a wide range of fish and seafood dishes, such as whole grilled sea bass with tarator, fennel and new potatoes, but you might care to go for the braised pheasant with pancetta and quince and Braunton greens; slow cooked belly pork with pommery mash potato and spinach, or rib eye steak served with a béarnaise sauce and hand cut chips.

The times given are for the service of food in the restaurant, an excellent choice of bar food is available from 12:00 to 15:00 and 19:00 to 21:00; this generally focuses on fresh local fish and game as available, and, according to season may include Lynmouth Bay Lobster salad, Exmoor game casserole, fresh sea bass and other generally 'upmarket' bar food in the region of £7 - £12 per dish.

They offer an extremely enterprising and well put together wine list, of varied international parentage, with many of the choices below £20, and the vast majority under £30; also three dessert wines and a very decent selection of half bottles, over ten in all. More information on residential packages, menus and much more can be viewed on their Website.

Located in the heart of Manchester, Smoak Bar and Grill on Piccadilly offers an indulgent experience with superb grilled fare, skilled mixologists at the bar and chic interiors with cosy booths and banquettes. Housed in the Malmaison Manchester Hotel, Smoak Bar and Grill is minutes away from Manchester Piccadilly Rail Station and just a stone's throw from attractions such as the Royal Exchange and the Arndale Shopping Centre.

The à la carte menu begins with starters such as steamed gnocchi with spring onions, chestnut mushroom and parmesan shavings; chicken liver and foie gras parfait with toasted brioche and grape chutney or potted Whitby crab with deep fried oyster and sorrel potatoes also whet the appetite. There's also a raw and cured selection which includes Cornish oysters served with shallot vinegar, lemon and Tabasco; steak tartare with egg yolk and salmon gravlax with Bourbon and sour cherry.

From the Josper grill there's a choice of popular cuts including a 12 ½ oz flat iron steak; rib steak with belted galloway; whole baked lobster with glazed butter sauce and the house signature dish, a 225g burger handmade with naturally reared ground beef and served with gruyère, bacon and skinny chips. Favourites of Kansas City hot BBQ ribs with paprika frites and fried buttermilk chicken with sweetcorn pancake and romanesco sauce are equally tempting.

Other main course options could include a poached loin of lamb with a fine onion tart served with broad beans, peas and morels. Seafood lovers will rejoices in dishes such as collops of fried monkfish with smoked garlic mash potato and tarragon tomatoes or pan fried hake and chorizo risotto with clams, mussels and fennel pollen. Vegetarians are also catered for with choices that could include a vegetarian meatloaf with roasted root vegetables or spicy aubergine and goats' cheese curry.

The bar menu offers light bites of salt and pepper squid with oriental dressing; mussel and bacon chowder; Vietnamese duck salad and kung fu Josper chicken wings as well as sandwiches of pulled pork butt with coleslaw. Alternatively you could opt for the Smoak burger or hot dog served with relish, mustard and fries. There are also a number of substantial mains including traditional fish pie; Tuscan brick chicken served with sweet potatoes and Bourbon mayonnaise or the ever-popular mac and cheese. A Sunday brunch menu is also available.

To finish, consider a cheerfully decadent jam roly poly with jam syrup and custard, peach Melba with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sponge with chocolate custard or pineapple pannacotta.

The extensive drinks list offers cocktails ranging from classic martinis to contemporary favourites such as a White Cosmopolitan of lemon infused vodka with triple sec, lime juice and white cranberry juice; Vanilla Daiquiri and Pernelle which blends premium vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur and Poire William with fresh lemon juice topped with soda. The wine list offers a tempting selection of whites and reds including a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, a Gruner Veltliner from Austria, a Shiraz from Argentina and a Chateau Lugagnac from France.

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

Mori is the new face of healthy Asian eating in Britain. With increasing interest in food that preserves instead of destroying the human body, eating Asian style has really come into its own, together with the manner in which we take our food.

Rightly or wrongly the process of eating is a much more mobile process now, it rhymes with multi-tasking, though it doesn't have to. Mori aims to increase their own mobility and reduce ours, so instead of hurried dashes through the crowds and yes, it's raining again, in London Mori take your order over the phone and bring it to your desk, your party or your home.

No fuss and palaver, just straightforward organisation that defies strikes, weather, gridlocked traffic and other mainly man-made difficulties. Deliveries for orders over £15 are free, otherwise it's £5 a go. Joining together is the name of the game.

So too are Bento boxes, Japan's answer to the British lunch box, or the Indian tiffin box. Mori offer a hot selection, which actually stays hot, which could be miso soup, some marinated salmon, a vegetable green Thai curry and some sticky rice. Sweet prawn crystal rolls after a hard morning at the computer can be sheer luxury, or there's the à la carte with 2 pieces of Nigiri, 4 pieces of Sashimni or Maki, or hand rolls, say crab and avocado.

Meeting or party boxes will feed 3 or 4 people and all boxes come with soy, wasabi, ginger and chopsticks and there's all the fun of communal eating whilst enjoying a good gossip. Top of the class is the Hall of Fame box, 30 pieces that includes a selection of salmon and tuna sushi, crab and avocado maki, salmon and sashimi, spicy tuna maki, asparagus and avocado maki, and edamame beans, but there are four other options from which to choose.

Some jolly nice salad boxes base themselves on spinach and bean curd inari with yuzu sesame dressing, or grilled breast of chicken with rice, broccoli, mori salad and chilli lemon dressing.

A selection of six Sushi boxes includes freedom salmon amongst which is the maki selection with spicy tuna, crab California, salmon and avocado. Asian food in general is not big on desserts and with only two from which to choose on this particular menu you may be tempted to expand into the zero fat frozen yoghurt straight from the farm with some luscious toppings to add.
 
Drinks are equally healthy and refreshing, with Mori smoothies, fresh juices and soft drinks aplenty, and the only drop of alcohol in sight is asahi beer or sake.

Mere words cannot hope to convey the tastiness and care that has gone into these delicacies that are now so popular in Britain. They really do give a new dimension to our eating habits though I am not predicting the decline of chicken tikka masala or fish and chips any time right now.

More details can be found on their precise and punchy Website.

A glamourous venue in the heart of London's Canary Wharf, Boisdale offers guests a unique dining experience. Its capacious interiors, which can seat 200 guests, has a vibrant colour scheme of lacquer red and dark green walls with rich mahogany paneling, tartan upholstery and original art work adding to the stylish, sophisticated ambience. The delicious modern British menu features a range of expertly chosen Scottish specialities including Aberdeenshire beef, Hebridean shellfish and Scottish smoked salmon.

The restaurant - housed on the second floor of an Art Deco influenced city block - overlooks Canary Wharf's Cabot Square, offering fine views of the River Thames and the city skyline beyond. Live music creates a buzz with a host of jazz, soul and blues numbers from a host of leading musicians. The space inside is supplemented by a covered and heated Cigar Terrace where diners can light up their favourite cigars while relaxing in comfortable tartan upholstered armchairs and sofas. Cigar lovers can replenish their stock from the restaurant's Cuban Library and Shop which features some of the finest Cuban brands sourced from Hunters & Frankau and C.Gars.

You could also chill out at the art deco-styled Caviar and Oyster Bar, sampling a delicious range of seafood including Rossmore and Colchester rock oysters, cold poached lobster, West Coast Scottish langoustines, Atlantic prawns and Morecombe Bay potted shrimps. The superb caviar selection offers Golden Almas, Imperial Beluga, Classic Oscietra and Royal Salmon for the connoisseur. 

The à la carte menu offers tempting starter dishes such as Aberdeenshire chopped steak tartare with Melba toast, Dunkeld Scottish smoked salmon with a shallot and caper relish and ballotine of guinea fowl and Yorkshire pigeon. A substantial main course could include steak, onion and kidney pudding with poached rock oysters, Wicks Manor pot-roast pork belly and pigs cheeks served with Herefordshire cider, pickled radishes and Ayrshire bacon or Cornish black bream accompanied by watercress risotto, mussels and clams. Your choice of a range of 28-day aged Aberdeenshire steaks served with option of béarnaise sauce, garlic roasted field mushrooms or Rossinni seared foie gras could be equally tempting.

Scrumptious desserts of chilled bread and butter pudding brulée rich with sultanas soaked in Glenfiddich 15-year and served with apricot jelly, Valhrona chocolate cheesecake with ginger biscuits and crème fraîche or crème caramel paired with Chantilly and almond tuile round the meal off in style.

The restaurant's stunning Whisky Bar an unrivalled glowing amber display of a thousand bottles of the finest Scottish malts, ranging from rare gems such as Macallan 1937 and Macallan 1946 to fine varieties like Highland 1968, a 40-year old Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie Traditional, an 18-year old Aberlour and Islay Mist, as well as an extensive range of whiskies from Ireland, the United States, Japan, Wales and India.

The wine list offers a fine selection, with an emphasis on French wines as well as carefully chosen examples from South Africa, Chile and Portugal sprinkled amongst them including Symposium Blanc, Welmoed Chardonnay 2010, Sancerre Rose 2008 Cotes du Rhone 2007 and a rare Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 1998.

Boisdale's four elegantly appointed private dining rooms, on the second floor, are perfect for that exclusive party, important business meeting or brainstorming working lunch you might have in mind.

For more information, do visit their Website.

There are very few settings for restaurants that can truly be described as unique; however, it certainly applies in the case of Haxted Mill, where their wonderful candlelit terrace overlooks the mill race and pond, ideal for dining al fresco in the summer. The restaurant is situated in the beautiful Eden Valley in the heart of the Kent countryside, where you can watch the sun go down over the fields, and sip on a glass of well-chilled premier cru Chablis. In winter, you can enjoy the warm comfort of their superbly beamed dining room and try some of their delicious modern European cuisine.

Haxted Mill has been running as an upmarket establishment with accolades from the AA guide for the past twenty-six years, but has now introduced fixed price menus for lunch and dinner as well as an à la carte, which reflects a more casual and relaxed style of eating, more in tune with today's trends of dining out.

The day starts with morning coffee and croissants baked in their kitchen.

At noon their full menu kicks in, including light lunch options such as a variety of salads from lobster, whole cracked crab or smoked haddock on spinach and mash served with chive sauce to a grilled sirloin steak, pepper sauce with chips or poached fillet of organic salmon, crushed potatoes and steamed leeks. Additionally, many of the starters would be suitable for a light lunch.

A little later on, as the sun starts to sink, their full menu is again on offer, including sautéed scallops, black pudding and sauce vierge; char-grilled whole fish, mixed salad with home made chips; roast rack of lamb, minted vegetables and new potatoes, and pan roasted skate wing, small prawns, capers and brown butter new potatoes and green beans. Baked glazed lemon tart and lemon sorbet, and raspberry semi-freddo contribute to making the dining experience one to remember.

The Haxted Mill Riverside Brasserie is the place to relax by the river whether you are hiking the Vanguard Way, walking your dog across the fields, celebrating with friends or simply having a quiet dinner for two.

A clever wine list demonstrates only too clearly that it is not necessary to spend on wine sums of money that could diminish your pleasure in the meal overall, yet still enjoy carefully chosen class wines from the world over that have character, with a sensible number of them by the glass.

However, Haxted Mill is much more than just a restaurant. They also host weddings, offer light lunches and have set menus on offer on certain days that represent excellent value. For further information view their very comprehensive Website.

Please note that they are closed from December 24th to April 1st.

Situated in the heart of the West End, minutes from Covent Garden and Charing Cross underground station, this contemporary yet comfortable central London hotel can serve as your gateway to London's best. Housed within is Johnstons Brasserie, a stylish, open-plan restaurant, with Mediterranean tones and décor, which is perfect for all occasions - a quick snack with friends before a show, a casual business dinner, or a candlelit romantic supper for two. Guests can also enjoy afternoon tea with a selection of various coffees, teas, scones, sandwiches and cakes.

For light bites before a show order king prawn salad with a chilli dressing and homemade ravioli with wild mushroom and asparagus. The main course section of the menu contains options for meat eaters as well as vegetarians and includes pan fried corn fed chicken breast and salmon, cod and haddock fish cake. For dessert explore choices such as apple cinnamon and sultana crumble and a delightfully fresh vanilla crème brûlée.

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

We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but often un-loved buildings to restore real gems in the best tradition of British understated style.

Complement that with all that is best in the French bistro ethos, bars that reach out to please, and you have a setting that provides an inspirational background for people to meet, do business, get married, provide a base for golf or fishing, somewhere you can call your own for a private celebration, a spa or - most engagingly - a wine school that breaks the mould.

Situated close to the centre of the historic North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate, du Vin has brought together eight Georgian styled houses overlooking the 200 acre common, called The Stray. Within they have installed 48 superb bedrooms and strikingly airy loft suites, with pristine beds, luxurious Egyptian linen and unique décor. All beds have handsprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, deep baths and power showers. High speed wireless internet access is available in all rooms.

The 2 AA Rosette bistro serviced by Head Chef, Murray Wilson and his team expect to find the impeccable service for which Hotel du Vin is renowned. Starters include honey glazed ham served with fried eggs, pineapple; homemade pork pie with apple piccalilli; and a salad of beef rib, truffle potatoes, watercress and hazelnuts. From amongst seven or so main courses the roasted pigeon breast and braised leg with wild mushroom and broad bean risotto appeals to those who like something a little different, whilst carnivores can enjoy themselves with a Donald Russell, dry aged, grass fed, rib eye steak served with fat cut chips.

Amongst the simple classics spare more than a thought for the oxtail terrine and horseradish cream, or the artichoke barigoule.

Whilst one might argue that the whole point of being in a du Vin is to snuggle up to the wine list, this list is designed to march with the food and can only be described as superb. With a team of four sommeliers, headed here by Mark Perlaki, there is no room for anything but the best. They have a Cruvinet wine machine, said to be possessed of magical powers. Perhaps a little testing might be in order. Service is telepathic in the best possible sense.

Click on their Website for full information and rates. Hotel du Vin, with fourteen options throughout Britain, awaits your call.