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.

With all the charm and attractiveness that comes with so many riverside pubs, this particular version has an added extra, called The Regatta. It seems that only if you display plenty of foresight, your chances of getting a worthwhile view - unless of course you are competing in which case you have a different set of problems - is to book very well in advance.

On days when it's storm force Force 9 blowing down the river, the place still has plenty to offer. A quick dash from the car to the door will admit you to a very different world, one of log fires and cocooned warmth. Talking of which, fire also features in the open kitchens and stone fired ovens, now very much a talking point.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, box baked Camembert with red onion jam and rustic bread and Greek mezze of taramasalata with red pepper hummus, tzatziki, feta and flatbreads.

Amongst the starters, there is freshly made soup, smoked mackerel pâté, seared pigeon breast, or a red onion tart. The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer Persian chicken kebabs, fattoush salad, yoghurt and mint dressing, and for the seafood fiends some smoked trout, prawn, pancetta, horseradish dressing, watercress, spinach and baby potatoes.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic Margherita of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, another with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños. Pastas include rigatoni, pork, veal and oregano meatballs with arrabiata sauce, and smoked haddock risotto.

The grills for hearty eaters are worth trying and choices include pork chops and salmon among others. These are all served with frites, garlic butter, brandy peppercorn sauce, béarnaise, burnt tomato and onion salsa or mango and chilli. For the big event there is always a fish of the day on request.

For the big event, there is always a fish of the day on request. The spit chicken with roast garlic, lemon, thyme, aioli and frites is worth trying too. The classic burger, which has risen from the confines of fast food chains, carves a niche for itself on the menu and comes with onion, gherkin, mustard mayo, cheese and bacon. For hearty eaters there is a five spice duck confit, or lamb rack with a spiced dukkah crust.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes 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.

A well travelled wine list does the business well with a list that, whilst fairly modest covers most eventualities at prices that don't break the bank, and are described under such cost headings as 'vibrant and soft or luxurious and rich' - just like people.

For up to date information click on their well set out Website  - and don't forget to book for the Regatta. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

The White Horse on Bearsted Green dates back to the sixteenth century, when it was the centre of village life. Tastefully restored to its former glory with a thoroughly modern design, it somehow fits with the traditional exterior. The pub overlooks the cricket pitch and their garden is an ideal spot to relax in and enjoy balmy evenings, whilst in the winter, log fires crackle and spit as customers relax over a glass of wine. The atmosphere inside is comfortable, friendly and informal.
 
The menu is simple but up-to-the-minute with lots of comfort appeal and offers homely dishes like pizza, steaks and pasta as well as ones with more contemporary, global touches, all delivered by cheerful staff. Their wine list contains well known favourites alongside more unusual numbers from around the world.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, antipasti of Italian meats with dolcelatte, stuffed peppers, marinated vegetables and warm stone-baked flatbreads, or Mediterranean mezze of hummus, roasted vegetables, fregola, tzatziki, feta, spinach and ricotta pâté with warm flatbreads.

Amongst the starters, there is always freshly made soup; lamb koftas, mint yoghurt, kohlrabi, cumin and carrot salad, or gambas with rocket, garlic, aioli and rustic bread. Look, too, for scallops of the day. The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer pang pang chicken with pak choi, satay, cashew nuts and cucumber; for the seafood fiends some prawn, avocado, pecans, mango, bacon with orange and pomegranate vinaigrette are a real treat.

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

The rotisserie dishes for hearty eaters are worth trying and choices include spit chicken, calves liver, half rib-eye steak or fillet steak. These are all served with a choice from amongst frites, steak sauces, chips, cracked black pepper, béarnaise or red wine and shallot jus among others. For the big event the roast rump of lamb with sauce soubise, asparagus, pancetta, button onions and baby potatoes measures up well to any occasion.

The smoked haddock fishcakes with curry Hollandaise, mango, tomato, coriander and red onion salad is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating. There is spit chicken with lemon, garlic, thyme and chips as well as blackened cod fillet with egg noodles, pak choi, mango and chilli salsa.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes Belgium chips and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. From a list of attractive desserts choose between a Eton mess or limoncello posset with Langues de Chat biscuits. There is also a selection of cheeses to please the gourmets.

Their excellent Website will keep you up to date on any changes. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but occasionally 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.

Think quintessential British style - elegant and unpretentious. Combine this with a great spirit, wit, and an unquestionable devotion to wine, and you have captured the essence of Hotel du Vin.

In Winchester, Hotel du Vin is a unique luxury boutique hotel set in the heart of this historic capital of ancient Wessex. Housed in the distinctive architecture of one of Winchester's most notable Georgian buildings dating back to 1715, it is also the smallest and original du Vin, first opened in 1994, with 24 exquisite bedrooms and suites. Every room has handsprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, deep baths, power showers and high speed wireless internet access.

The 2 AA Rosette bistro is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and offers a menu rooted in classic European cuisine with a contemporary edge. Their Head Chef introduces notes of originality by adding his own selections daily, all supporting the overall philosophy of using the finest and freshest local produce, cooked simply and priced sensibly.

From a choice of six starters expect to find devil lamb kidneys on brioche, roasted quail with mushroom duxelle and cep sauce, crayfish and dill crouton with basil dressing or fillet of mackerel with slow roast cherry tomatoes and aged balsamic. The simple classics menu embraces both starters and main courses; for the former look also for Uig Lodge smoked salmon, or the ever faithful moules marinières. Amongst the main courses cast an eye for the classic fish pie, a real juicy beauty, moist but packed with goodness and topped off with crisp cheese.

Other main courses delight customers with a whole plaice and beurre noisette, roast loin of cod with bok choi and prawn bisque, or braised ham hock with pea puree and cider velouté.

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 three sommeliers, headed here by Yohann Jousselin, there is no room for anything but the best. 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.

The Forth Floor Restaurant, Brasserie and Bar offer guests a stylish, striking venue for lunch, dinner or drinks; floor to ceiling windows run the length of the restaurant and brasserie giving spectacular views over the Edinburgh skyline from the Castle to The Firth of Forth, making it an ideal venue for entertaining. A thirty two metre Terrace poised high over St Andrew Square provides the opportunity to dine in the fresh air and sunshine for which the capital is renowned.

Whether dining in the more formal Restaurant, meeting friends for a casual supper in the Brasserie or starting the night with a cocktail or glass of champagne in the Bar the Forth Floor provides the very best in contemporary entertaining.

The Restaurant opens for lunch every day and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. The Brasserie serves breakfast every day; lunch and an afternoon menu from Monday to Saturday - as well as brunch on a Sunday and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday. In the evening, diners enter the restaurants via a dedicated express lift situated at the side of the store off Multrees Walk.

Stuart Muir, Scottish born and bred Executive Chef, has been at the Forth Floor since day one and is passionate about the excellent Scottish produce he has available to him and the ever-growing restaurant scene. Whether using hand dived scallops from Tarbert or Loch Etive oysters, Stuart is proud to feature Scottish produce on the menu. The restaurant serves modern British cooking with a twist, while the Brasserie serves classic British and European food for more casual dining.

Lunch in the restaurant might include beetroot cured salmon with lemon salted cucumber and poached Loch Etive oyster with pickled ginger, or milk poached loin of rabbit with roast black fig, grapefruit jelly and homemade citrus cream cheese. Main courses of roast halibut with camembert fritter have smoked garlic, chive potato duchess and cauliflower puree on the side, and roast loin of pork with ginger bread Melba combines wonderfully with cinnamon apple puree, trompette mushrooms, honey comb and thyme jus. Pear bread and butter pudding with rum and raisin ice cream or a selection of Scottish cheeses with heather honeycomb and homemade crackers make a blissful end to a perfect meal with a skyline view.

At dinner dishes are more elaborate and could start with ceviche of North Atlantic monkfish with spiced candied pumpkin seeds, chilli, Thai fish bon bon and soya sauce, or tarragon and mushroom gnocchi with crispy shallots and caramelized hazelnut, before moving on to braised shin of Scottish beef with spiced aubergine puree, roast provençal vegetables, truffle potato crisp and confit garlic, or maybe smoked cheddar and thyme risotto with honey glazed beets, carrots and navets. Desserts tend to have a wow factor with chocolate assiette, saffron poached pears with honey cream and lemon sweet pastry.

The Sommelier at the Forth Floor is on hand and happy to help you negotiate your way around an extensive selection of wines, and champagnes, from all over world, with many bottles exclusive to Harvey Nichols in Scotland. The list is full of treats for every pocket from £18.50 to £2,500. Should wine not be your particular tipple, they also have a full range of spirits from small batch bourbons to unusual malts to fine cognacs.

The Brasserie offers stylish casual dining for lunch and dinner and the menu might include favourites such as Scottish rib-eye steak frites, pan-fried fillets and marinated lamb gigot. Desserts include a flourless chocolate mousse cake with berry sorbet and ice creams from S. Luca of Musselburgh.

The Bar features comfy leather banquettes, low leather stools and an unexpected view of Leith and the sea. Most importantly the extensive back bar accommodates numerous unusual spirits that help the bar team conjure up the freshest and most exciting cocktails.

In addition to Forth Floor Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie, the fourth floor also has a 3000 sq ft Foodmarket with Wineshop that sells fresh foods with a strong emphasis on local sourcing and grocery products from across the world - often sold exclusively to Harvey Nichols - as well as their award-winning own-label range. The Wineshop stocks a wide variety of interesting spirits and over 300 hand picked wines and Champagnes.

For more details please visit the Website.

Photographs - Copyright Chris Gascoigne.

The Ferry opened on Sutton Road in 2005 after a refurbishment and is today a warm, cosy pub with deep leather seating and teak furnishings. Its subtle lighting and spacious layout give it a comfortable and unpretentious ambiance. Expect to find no one single cuisine, but a blend designed to provide something for everybody, no matter what their tastes may be. Service is cheerful, brisk and totally in keeping with the friendly nature of a good English public house.

Modern day pubs usually share a number of characteristics and an important feature is space, preferably a restaurant where you are comfortable, not over-awed, and not sharing elbow space with the next table, however sociable they may be. Good, too, to have a garden, in this case a riverside one adjacent to the bridge at Cookham, and by no means least a roomy and well-stocked bar where you can actually get served without undue delay. After all, drinking should be taken seriously.

If a pub offers all of these, and is in a good location, there is little reason in today's economic climate why it should not flourish. The Ferry provides ample evidence that this is true. But of course there are other factors, not least of which is the food and drink. The term 'gastropub' covers a multitude of blessings and it is possible to see influences of brasserie, bistro, restaurant and even café at work within the great gastro umbrella.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates; garlic pizzette with caramelised onion and rocket, a box baked camembert with stiratta romagna and homemade tomato jam, Mediterranean mezze of hummus, roasted vegetables, feta, fregola, tzatziki, spinach and ricotta pâté with warm flatbreads. Amongst the starters is freshly made soup, gambas with garlic, rocket, aioli and rustic bread, and, spiced crab, avocado, prawns, ginger and pink grapefruit. Look, too, for scallops of the day. The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer crispy duck, mouli, carrots, spring onions, water cress, hoisin and plum sauce, and for the seafood fiends some prawn, avocado, pecans, bacon with orange, mango and pomegranate vinaigrette 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 pomodoro, mozzarella, oregano and basil; piccante with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños or rustica with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats' cheese and cherry tomatoes.

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 chips. The freshly battered haddock with minted mushy peas, chips and tartare sauce is worth trying too. For hearty eaters there are rib-eye and fillet steaks, and roast rump of lamb with sauce soubise, pancetta, asparagus, button onions and baby potatoes. Desserts are some of the best you'll encounter with apple, blackcurrant crumble and vanilla custard and sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, and there is also a selection of cheeses to set the buffs alight.

The Ferry stocks a wide range of beers, both well-loved draught ales and bottled from further afield. The wine list covers plenty of territory from traditional clarets to Pinot Grigio, and champagne by the glass or bottle is always available.

Their excellent Website will keep you up to date on any changes. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

The Plough in Eynsford is a warm, elegant riverside pub and eating house located just off Station Road, on the banks of the Darent. The grassy playground area by the river becomes packed with children enjoying themselves during fine weather. Whilst in more inclement times customers can relax in front of log fires and enjoy real ales in the pub's comfortable and informal atmosphere.

The Plough's menu is contemporary with lots of tempting homely dishes - to set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, antipasti of Italian meats with dolcelatte, stuffed peppers, marinated vegetables and warm stone-baked flatbreads, or Mediterranean mezze of hummus, roasted vegetables, fregola, tzatziki, feta, spinach and ricotta pâté with warm flatbreads.

Amongst the appetisers is freshly made soup, lamb koftas, mint yoghurt, kohlrabi, cumin and carrot salad, or spiced crab with avocado, prawns, ginger and pink grapefruit. Look, too, for scallops of the day.

The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer crispy duck, mouli, carrots, hoisin, spring onions, watercress and plum sauce, and for the seafood fiends some prawn, avocado, pecans, mango, bacon, orange and pomegranate vinaigrette is received with enthusiasm.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic margherita of pomodoro, mozzarella, oregano and basil, the rustica with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats' cheese and cherry tomatoes, or the piccante with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños. Pastas include bucatini with salmon, chilli, almonds, red pepper pesto, pecorino and rocket; spaghetti with spit chicken, spring onions and blue cheese pesto, 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 calves liver with tray baked potatoes, red onion, bacon and sage panagrattato is popular, a sign of the times and improved taste in eating. Smoked haddock fishcakes with curry Hollandaise, mango, tomato, coriander and red onion salad is a popular choice too. The rotisserie dishes for hearty eaters are well worth trying and choices include spit chicken with lemon, garlic, thyme and frites.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes Belgium chips and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. For desserts choose between Eton mess or limoncello posset with Langues de Chat biscuits. The selection of cheeses is likely to set the buffs alight.

Their bar stocks different beers on tap ranging from continental lagers to European speciality beers as well as ales. For those celebrating a special occasion there are champagnes at reasonable prices. The wine list has an even balance of New and Old World wines with a variety of styles to choose from.

Their excellent Website will keep you up to date on any changes. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

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.

A watering hole, well known amongst ramblers who often set out to explore the countryside of West Midlands, The Cock Inn at Wishaw, has an interior all set for a fine dining experience. Such features as an open kitchen, stone fired ovens and log burning fires all combine to make this a friendly local that draws people in from a wide area. The landscaped decking outside provides a good spot for dining al fresco, or just enjoying a few pints as the velvet night soothes the mood.

The proximity of the internationally renowned Belfry Golf Course means that the odd celebrity may be spotted, and walkers enjoying the magnificent countryside between the pub and the golf course find welcome refreshment at the pub.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, box baked Camembert with red onion jam and rustic bread and Greek mezze of taramasalata with red pepper hummus, tzatziki, feta and flatbreads.

Amongst the starters, there is freshly made soup, smoked mackerel pâté, seared pigeon breast, or a red onion tart. The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer Persian chicken kebabs, fattoush salad, yoghurt and mint dressing, and for the seafood fiends some smoked trout, prawn, pancetta, horseradish dressing, watercress, spinach and baby potatoes.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic Margherita of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, another with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños. Pastas include rigatoni, pork, veal and oregano meatballs with arrabiata sauce, and smoked haddock risotto.

For the big event, there is always a fish of the day on request. The spit chicken with roast garlic, lemon, thyme, aioli and frites is worth trying too. The classic burger, which has risen from the confines of fast food chains, carves a niche for itself on the menu and comes with onion, gherkin, mustard mayo, cheese and bacon. For hearty eaters there is a five spice duck confit, or lamb rack with a spiced dukkah crust.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes 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.

A sensible wine list that matches the cuisine to perfection trawls the world and comes up with some pretty interesting numbers - almost as interesting as the laconic descriptions, mostly one word but very accurate, even if 'luxurious and rich' does sound rather like a generous heiress of infinite promise. One of the most expensive bottles - and even then it's only £39.95 - earns the appellation 'silky, smooth and intense'.

Check regularly on their Website for menu changes and arrangements for special occasions like Christmas and Valentine's Day. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

In the heart of the shopping capital of England, sandwiched between Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, Browns Mayfair provides a welcome oasis from the stresses, some of them pleasantly self-inflicted, of London life.

In keeping with the tradition established by Browns when considering their restaurant sites, this beautifully converted Georgian tailors has a wealth of history, for those who spent their working days there were responsible for outfitting such dignitaries as Winston Churchill and Clem Atlee into a state of sartorial elegance, before Browns restored the building.

Lunch times are frantic as those working locally wine and dine with friends and clients, while the afternoons and evenings are a more relaxed affair as weary shoppers and ebullient theatre-goers meet for quality food and drink. In addition to the restaurant there is a separate cocktail-wine bar and private dining rooms for a more secluded event. Those who haven't been to Browns Mayfair are missing out on one of the area's classiest restaurants.

The weekends tend to be an oasis of calm by comparison as shoppers, tourists and local residents escape form the hectic bustle of the West End. Saturday has its own buzz as people meet for a spot of supper before going on to one of the many near-by theatres, or simply relax with friends over a cocktail and a bite to eat.

Browns is a classic English restaurant with a menu that has evolved rather than changed over the last thirty years. It offers a genuine value for money experience and can also cater for large parties with a more expansive budget. A plate of appetisers to share comes in vegetarian, seafood or Italian meat form, and there are thin and crisp flatbreads topped with such delights as prosciutto, chorizo, mozzarella and roasted peppers.

Starters cleverly re-invent some of the classic brasserie dishes; expect to find crab and avocado salad, baked Scottish langoustine with spinach, cream and Emmental, and a fine selection of freshly made soups depending on the day.

Fish dishes include salmon fillet marinated and baked in soy sauce, with shitake and button mushrooms served on a char-grilled pak choi. Mains take in beef and olive ragu in a tomato sauce tossed with pennette rigate, and tender roasted four bone rack of lamb with a red wine jus, sprouting broccoli and dauphinoise potatoes. Brioche bread and butter pudding and Pimms jelly with strawberry coulis and apple and fresh mint combine traditional with new classic, but the fact is that after years of experience in the field of what might be termed comfortable eating, Browns have it pretty well stitched up.

There is a full wine, cocktail and champagne list with the champagnes being particularly notable for their sensible pricing. For further information, including their full menu and details on private dining, visit their Website.