The history of The Old Bull and Bush goes back to 1721 but it leapt to fame in the 1920s with the music hall song 'The Old Bull and Bush' sung by Florrie Ford, the 'Madonna' of her time. It is one of those pubs that have surfaced on the mainstream of casual eating in the UK and are taking an increasing share of the market, evidenced by their growth in numbers and the popularity of what they have to offer. If this results in a 'type' there is certainly no harm in that.

Contemporary pubs such as these usually share a number of characteristics. 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 an al fresco eating out space - The Old Bull and Bush has a front courtyard with soft bench seating and cafe style furniture - 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 Old Bull and Bush, with its traditional pub hospitality, deep leather seating and attractive teak furniture 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. So expect to find no one single cuisine, but a blend designed to provide something for everybody, no matter what their treat may be.

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, and Mediterranean mezze of hummus, roasted vegetables, fregola, tzatziki, feta, spinach and ricotta pâté with warm flatbreads. Amongst the starters is freshly made soup, baked mushrooms, spinach, dolcelatte and stiratta romagna, and gambas, garlic, rocket and aioli with rustic bread. Look, too, for scallops of the day.

The salads - sorry that should read 'leaves' - offer crispy duck, mouli, hoisin, carrots, spring onions, watercress with plum sauce, and for the seafood fiends some prawn, avocado, pecans, mango, bacon with 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 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. For the big event there is a roast rump of lamb with sauce soubise, asparagus, pancetta, button onions and baby potatoes.

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. For hearty eaters there are rib-eye and fillet steaks, and spit chicken with lemon, garlic, thyme and chips. A wide range of supporting dishes include green salad, Belgian chips and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. 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 Old Bull and Bush stocks a wide range of beers, both 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. Service is cheerful, brisk and totally in keeping with the friendly nature of a good traditional English gastropub.

A well constructed Website enables you to keep in touch with menu changes or forthcoming events. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

In the heart of the University city, a stone's throw from the Odeon Cinema and the New Theatre, Fire & Stone Oxford offers a range of flavourful stone-baked pizzas in a relaxed modern setting. Located on George Street, nestled among other restaurants and shops, Fire & Stone is spread over two levels with seating for 217 people.

Fire and Stone's stone-baked pizzas are made from fresh ingredients and cooked in a wood-fired oven. Inspired by flavours of the world, the pizzas are grouped into classic, Africa, Asia, Americas, Australasia and Europe. A party menu, kids menu and special offers are also available.

The range of starters includes grilled bruschetta with Parma ham, melted brie, caramelized onion jam and pesto; a Mediterranean board with mixed olives, Italian breadsticks, taramasalata and houmous; crisp fried calamari served with tartare sauce and spicy mixed nuts.

Fire & Stone's signature Pembroke pizza combines the classic flavours of roast lamb with butternut squash, grated mozzarella, roast potatoes and leeks on a red wine gravy base, topped off with a piquant mint sauce. Other classic pizzas include the Naples with mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil and the San Sebastian with mozzarella, tomato sauce, spicy chorizo sausage, garlic and rosemary roast potatoes, roasted red peppers, topped with aioli and chives.

Going further east, there's the Cairo topped with fire roasted red and yellow peppers, courgettes, aubergines, balsamic roasted red onions, mozzarella and tomato sauce topped with crumbled goat's cheese and pine nuts. Lombok has Indonesian flavours with garlic marinated prawns, Chinese hoi sin sauce, fire roasted red peppers, sliced spring onions and mozzarella, drizzled with chilli oil.
 
For New World flavours try an Acapulco with mozzarella, tomato sauce, slow cooked ground chilli beef, jalapenos, sliced red onions, topped with sour cream and guacamole or, from the Australasia section you could opt for the Byron Bay topped with basil pesto, mozzarella, field mushrooms, cumin roasted sweet potato, cherry tomatoes, green olives, topped with crushed macadamia nuts.

The salads section offers a refreshing choice of chicken Caesar salad with roast chicken breast, cos lettuce, parmesan, rustic croutons and classic Caesar salad dressing; Israeli cous cous salad with mixed peppers, roasted aubergine, whole roast chicken breast, coriander, tzatziki and spicy harissa and spinach, bacon, avocado and artichoke salad tossed with a creamy grain mustard vinaigrette.

If you prefer a pasta there's spaghetti primavera with broccoli, courgettes, peas, broad beans, garlic, sugar snaps, white wine, parmesan and double cream; spicy sausage rigatoni with tomato sauce, chorizo sausage, pepperoni, black olives, chilli and oregano and penne with chicken tossed in a tomato and mascarpone sauce with courgettes, butternut squash, red chilli and topped with pumpkin seeds.

Finish with tempting dessert of rich chocolate brownie with Madagascan vanilla ice cream, vanilla pannacotta with mixed berry compote or a sweet slider with banoffee pizza, rich chocolate brownie, almond biscotti, nut Florentines and honeycomb ice cream, perfect for sharing.

The drinks menu includes a selection of wines, beers, spirits, cocktails, smoothies and shakes..

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

It can't be every restaurant that can claim to have had an elephant as one of the star attractions at its opening, but Zouk Manchester did. Alright, so it was a baby elephant and it was on the stage not the menu, just in case anyone gets carried away in reporting this unusual event.

Zouk specialises in the traditional Asian eating experience. Located opposite the BBC building in Chester Street, off Oxford Road, Manchester it could hardly be in a better position to bring its up to date approach to an ancient and respected cuisine to a wider clientele. And as the saying is - it's BIG! 4.5 thousand square feet big to be precise, which means that some 200 covers can be accommodated using the mezzanine and al fresco options.

Manchester is a boom city with plenty of heart and a reputation for enjoyment. Zouk's contribution is going to be another cog in the wheel of pleasure in a city where they work and play hard.

A menu of extensive proportions provides opportunities for even the most exacting customer to find what they want. Add to this the use of the sigri charcoal grill, look for the S logo against menu items, and you have healthy eating with flavours fully retained and fats burned off. Many of the main ingredients will not be unfamiliar to diners, but given the distinctive Zouk touch they take on new dimensions.

Starters could include tandoori haddock, or king prawns marinated with olive oil, crushed cumin and coriander seeds. The tandoori mixed grill involves chicken imlee, seekh kebab, lamb chops and chicken drumsticks. Chicken livers are cooked on a tawa Asian griddle after being marinated with crushed chillies and lemon juice.

Asian food has always been well orientated towards vegetables, long before vegetarianism became an issue, and the paneer tikka, spicy Indian cottage cheese with herbs cooked in tandoor is one of the most attractive starters on the menu.

Cooked in a karahi bowl from the tandoori foundries of the Khyber Pass, this is Indian cooking in one of its most traditional phases, using lamb, chicken and king prawn with plenty of ginger and garlic, crushed peppercorn and cumin seeds. Zouk's steaks are marinated with special herbs, spices, served with handcut Maris potato chips and selection of garden vegetables.

Seafood features strongly, and amongst the real delicacies is sea bass, marinated with special herbs and spices and served after gently grilled over the pani sigri. Lobster thermidor is prepared out of the shell, then the whole delicious mix of succulent meat, panfried with mustard, onions, mushrooms, garlic goes back into the shell to be covered with cheese and grilled, before serving with a selection of rice and sautéed vegetables - indeed a dish fit for a king.

People of good taste are turning increasingly to a wider interpretation of what drinks complement fine Indian cooking, so whilst King Cobra, Red Storm, freshly squeezed juices and smoothies or lassis, not to mention our own much loved Black Sheep all appear, there is a sensible selection of distinctive wines that are able to blend well with the widely spread flavours of Asian cuisine.

Zouk does not stop at food and drink, so check on their Website for such events as Bollywood Nights or an Asian comedy night. And the elephant? Made it safely back home after a thoroughly enjoyable night out. Magic!

Nestled amongst the shops and boutiques on Epping's bustling High Street, The George and Dragon delivers a premium dining experience in elegant surroundings in the heart of this leafy Essex town. With Epping Forest on the doorstep, and both Theydon Bois and Epping Golf courses just short drive away, the pub is the perfect place to recharge your batteries after a bracing country walk or a round of golf. An excellent modern British menu with Mediterranean influences delights the palate while a range of expertly kept cask ales, chilled draught and bottled beers, and a superb wine list will quench your thirst.
 
Each day of the week there's something exciting going on at The George and Dragon. On Wednesdays, steak lovers can look forward to enjoying a range of superb 21-day matured steaks with a generous 50% discount on a bottle of red wine. Enliven your Thursdays with a tempting range of sparkling wines including creamy Proseccos, vibrant Reserve de Sours Rose Sparkling and luxurious Moet offered at special rates. Fish Fridays invites customers to indulge in a range of delicious fresh fish and seafood dishes put together by the talented kitchen team, while the delectable roasts on Sundays make for the perfect weekend treat.

A large courtyard offers plenty of outside seating, perfect for al fresco dining in the summer, while the bright and airy bar also boasts a cozy real log fire in the winter. Diners can enjoy a reviving aperitif at the bar before wandering through to restaurant area, alternatively you could choose a quick snack or main course from the bar menu.

The seasonally changing à la carte, made with the finest fresh ingredients, matches style with substance and delivers a range of Mediterranean influenced sharing platters including lamb koftas served with flatbreads, chilli jam, and tzatziki. Alternatively you could choose an individual starter including a zingy smoked haddock kedgeree with poached egg. 

The mains selection includes a range of hearty selections, from the traditional favourite of freshly battered haddock with chips, tartare sauce and minted mushy peas to more exotic fare such as duck confit with honey, chilli, pineapple, shallots, sweet potato and butter beans. The grill delivers spit chicken with lemon, garlic, thyme and chips; black and blue burger with dolcelatte, mushroom and chips and fillet steak garni with watercress, confit tomato, grilled mushroom and hand-cut jenga chips. There are also a number of lighter options including chermoula spiced mackerel served with a salad of potato, orange, olives and fennel.

Vegetarians have not been forgotten at The George and Dragon and they can look forward to equally delicious dishes such as box baked camembert with stirata Romana bread and homemade tomato jam, salad of spiced pear, roast squash, beetroot, hazelnut and gorgonzola with tomato pesto and cannelloni al forno with spinach, butternut squash, ricotta and tomato sauce. Where many 'gastro pubs' may neglect the weekday lunch crowd, the George and Dragon display admirable commitment to excellence with their two-course prix fixe menu that changes weekly and could include starter of butternut squash risotto followed by ham hock served with creamy mustard mash.

You can of course opt for a main and a dessert and who could blame you with temptations such as Black Forest tiramisu; white chocolate crème brûlée; bourbon and raisin pudding with vanilla ice cream and limoncello posset with langues de chat biscuits to round it all off perfectly. 

The carefully compiled wine list boasts a variety of first-rate white and red wines drawn from all over the world and including classics such as zesty Pinot Grigio from Italy, meaty Spanish Rioja and a lovely Viognier Rothschild from France.

You might also want to consider visiting nearby sister pubs The Goffs Oak or The Dukes Head.

More information can be found on their Website.

Cha Plu has become something of a local West London landmark for Thai cuisine. On Fulham Road, right opposite the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, it's the sort of place where you could linger over a relaxed meal and drink with family and friends. The restaurant's stylish interior blends Thai statues, bronze masks and other traditional artefacts with leather chairs and dark metallic tables to create a delightful contemporary ambience.

The extensive à la carte menu includes starters such as yum pu nim, a dish of succulent deep fried soft shell crab served with Thai mango salad; pla murk gra tieum, dried crispy squid with garlic and pepper and typical Thai style charcoal grilled loin pork on a stick served with a tamarind chilli dip. If you prefer a salad then go for charcoal grilled duck breast mixed with fresh chillies and lime juice, minced chicken with spring onions, lime juice and dried chilli or som tum, a traditional papaya salad.

Main course dishes capture the essence of authentic Thai cooking with offerings such as lamb massaman, lamb braised and cooked with mussaman paste, potatoes, onions, and peanuts; beef pad kra chai, stir fried sliced tender beef with sweet basil, krachai leaves, pepper seeds and fresh chillies; stir fried light buttered crispy pork loin with pepper and garlic and tamarind duck, roast duck breast on pak choi topped with tamarind sauce.

The seafood section offers a variety of delectable dishes including sea bass neung see eiw, steamed sea bass fillet with light soy sauce, ginger and spring onions; stir fried river prawn with red curry paste and lime leaves and stir fried scallop with asparagus.

You could also try house specialities of stir fried sirloin with Thai green curry paste, coconut milk lime leaves, bamboo shoots, kra chai roots and sweet basil; spicy pan fried sea bass topped with Panang curry sauce or stir fried soft shell crab with black pepper seeds, red and green peppers and chillies. The assorted seafood sizzling platter delivers stir fried king prawns, squids, scallops and mussels, cooked and flavoured with sweet basil, fine beans, onions, red and green peppers and chillies.

The royal banquet set menu for a minimum of four persons offers a platter of mixed appetisers such as chicken satay, Thai fishcake, crab spring rolls and goong hom pah, all served with variety of dips and followed by tom yum tiger prawn or chicken tom kha soup. For mains, there's a choice of dried green curry halibut fillet, duck red curry, beef pad lemongrass or pad Thai prawn and chicken served with steamed jasmine rice. Round off with Thai pancake served with vanilla ice cream. A three-course set menu is also available.

The same care and attention to detail extends to the drinks list which offers a selection of wines and champagnes from around the world as well as cold beers, ales and spirits. The cocktail menu includes classics such as pina colada, mai tai, mojito, daiquiri and margarita as well as a range of non-alcoholic cocktails to enhance the pleasure.

More information can be found on their Website.

What can be better than to relax with fine food, drink and good company within view of flowing water? The Scotsbridge Mill is one such riverside pub and restaurant that offers fresh food and warm hospitality in that lovely part of Hertfordshire where three rivers meet.

Located in Croxley Green and only minutes away from the bustling Rickmansworth area, modern life seems miles away once inside this quaint haven. Amidst log fires and cosy corners, the vibrant dining area reverberates with the happy chatter of diners, both local and visitors. The simple menu offers a variety of homely dishes and the emphasis is strongly on fresh ingredients and quality service.

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 pang pang chicken with pak choi, satay, cashew nuts and cucumber, and for the seafood fiends some prawn, avocado, pecans, mango, bacon with 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.

The calves liver with tray baked potatoes, red onion, bacon and sage panagrattato is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating, as are the roast rump of lamb with sauce soubise, asparagus, pancetta, button onions and baby potatoes and the freshly battered haddock with tartare sauce, minted mushy peas and chips.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes Belgium frites and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. For desserts choose between Eton mess or limoncello posset with langues de chat biscuits. There is also a selection of cheeses to set the buffs alight.

A well-travelled wine list and service that is cheerful and efficient completes the recipe for success. It offers a fine balance of Old and New World wines and for special occasions some great champagnes. They also have different beers on tap ranging from some great ales and continental lagers to European speciality beers, ensuring there is something for everyone. All of these topped with the warm hospitality of the staff and their attention to detail make an evening at The Scotsbridge Mill memorable.

For up to date information please refer to their Website. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

The first Browns opened at Brighton in 1973 with one simple guiding belief, that classic food, well delivered in a stylish environment, would be a recipe for success. The only thing that has changed since then is the number of Browns, now running at fourteen, of which six are in London, all prospering with the same theme.

Some of their buildings are particularly legendary in style, sometimes listed and always interesting. The premises at Edinburgh are located in George Street, the street that runs parallel with Princes Street and is, in a Sassenach view, far more Scottish.

The main menu, available throughout the day, starts with appetisers, designed for sharing, with antipasti of Italian meat, vegetarian or seafood. Try also the flatbreads with a range of interesting toppings. In amongst the thirteen starters expect to come across smoked duck, crisp noodle and cashew nut salad with red peppers, tumeric cauliflower, spring onions and a sherry vinaigrette. The fish and salad choices include fish and chips tempura battered cod with minted mushy peas and tartar sauce and seared beef fillet salad with chilli, garlic, soy and spring onions.

The same theme of comfortable food, well-cooked and presented, continues throughout the mains course with roast chicken breast in sour dough bread with baby spinach, tomato and mayonnaise, served with seasoned chips, and steak frites 6oz prime sirloin, served with a lemon, parsley and peppercorn butter.

Desserts include some indulgent Browns cheesecake with a selection of baked vanilla, chocolate, lemon, strawberry, banoffee or rum and raisin. By the way their breakfast and brunch menu is just one of the best as is the lunch and early menu. Little ones have their own dedicated menu where they can choose between tomato penne pasta and smoked fishcake with a hollandaise sauce and green salad.

The wine list is masterful and not over long, sometimes a great relief to those who find it difficult to navigate their way through a lengthier list, however interesting. Many bottles are available by the glass and helpfully each group of wines is classified under headings such as white, red and rose with house recommendations, New and Old World wines under them.

Browns in Edinburgh are well able to deal with groups, and have special menus to look after their particular interests. Click on their excellent Website for further details and menu changes.

'Chinese restaurant opens in London' not a headline that is normally likely to inspire enormous interest, however, in the case of the 3 AA Rosette Min Jiang at The Royal Garden in Kensington it ought to as has set new quality standards in so many areas. Managed by the irrepressible and enthusiastic Jason Li, formerly of Hakkasan and the Oriental at The Dorchester - what an impeccable pedigree - it serves superb and interesting food.

But it also starts with the huge advantage of one of the finest views in London from the tenth floor of the hotel, as, if you are lucky enough to get a table by the windows, you would be looking out right across Kensington Gardens and the whole of Hyde Park. On a fine day you can see the Gherkin, London Eye, Post Office Tower and many of the landmark structures of London.

However, the décor is equally unusual; the most prominent colour is red, with dark wood shelves lining some of walls or breaking the area up, these contain niches filled with an enormous selection of Chinese pots, and there is also the wide use of mirrors, on walls and ceilings, definitely not your standard look.

They bring you hot towels first, and then, as we looked at the menu, we realised that we were in for a rather special experience and that the greatest difficulty was going to come in deciding what to select as it all sounded so tempting.

The dim sum platter was first among the appetisers, a must for us, though it is unusual to find them being served in the evening, they had clearly been prepared with great care, absolutely perfect and symmetrical - eight pieces of four different styles, crab meat, pumpkin with mixed seafood, vegetable and prawn.

We accompanied these with crispy fried squid with salt, pepper and chilli, and soft shell crab done the same way, particularly impressive was the fact that they were not greasy - so often a fault with them elsewhere.

Mains of sautéed gung bao king prawns, done with dried whole chillies, which carried a warning of being very spicy, though it was rather milder than might have been expected, and steamed sea bass with back fungus and golden mushrooms were both beautifully presented and tasted perfectly delicious, with a side order of stir-fried asparagus with hoshimeji mushrooms.

We washed this down with a bottle of South African Sauvignon Blanc, recommended by the helpful wine waitress, at £34 it was a good choice, demonstrating her knowledge of the subject. Finally we couldn't resist their snowy flake jasmine tea tiramisu, though we were tempted by the cinnamon cheesecake with green tea ice cream, but lacked room for two desserts.

Miang Jang is mostly busy, always a good sign, and it is worth noting that they offer excellent value with their dim sum menu at lunchtime. Check out full details on their Website.

Chapel Quarter has swiftly emerged as one of Nottingham's premier destinations very much thanks to places like Tonic, which can be aptly described as a welcome addition to this culinary oasis. There's plenty to explore once you're inside; the first floor restaurant is a striking combination of comfort and style with smart furnishings and atmospheric lighting. The impressive cinematic art installation grips your attention instantly and the open kitchen exemplifies the theatrical experience.

Tonic is certainly causing a stir on the Nottingham eating out scene, winning Best Newcomer in the Nottingham Restaurant Awards 2007 and following this up with runner up in the overall category of Nottingham Restaurant of the Year and Best Drinks and Wine List in the 2008 awards, and Young Chef of The Year in 2009.

If a steaming hot cup of Fair Trade coffee with some pastries helps you kick start the day, then just head to Tonic. What's more? Well, you could even pack a gourmet sandwich or salad for lunch. The main bar with its timber ceilings is the perfect place for an after-work drink and at weekends DJs tactfully pump up the decibels by playing an eclectic mix of funky, vocal, soul, Motown and house while ensuring that the sound levels do not disrupt conversation.

The regularly changing menu is in tune with the seasons and brings in a modern twist to formula British cooking. So there's leek and potato soup; home cured salmon, rocket, capers, lemon and rye bread, and confit and smoked duck salad, pickled walnuts, honey and glazed parsnips to be enjoyed as starters. This could be followed by roast Goosnargh turkey, apricot and sage stuffing, fondant potato and mini toad in the hole, or poached organic salmon accompanied by spinach, basil mash and fish velouté. A sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and crème anglaise or Bailey?s cheesecake with almond tuile and chocolate sauce will delight those with a sweet tooth.

If you fancy a nibble at the bar, classics of smoked haddock fishcake, creamed wild mushroom on toast, Mr. Dooley's sausages and char-grilled chicken burger are there aplenty, and the opportunity to indulge in one of their extensive cocktail selections should not be missed. Never mind if you decide to have a burst of originality and try something different, the bartender enjoys a challenge.

With several entertainment venues nearby, Tonic's pre-theatre deals are designed to work in tandem with a diner's theatre plans and who'd not love a local game terrine or pan-fried sea bass before hitting the shows?

Whether it's soulful live music to ignite the spirit or nail-biting sporting events, it's all happening here at Tonic. For those who want to be a part of this fun-filled night out experience or are just looking to explore what this wonderful place has to offer, delving through their Website should do the trick.

Think of Brighton, and English's springs to mind, particularly if seafood is your weakness; owned by the Leigh-Jones family since 1945, English's has established itself as one of the most famous seafood restaurants in the South of England. Established by the Braziers during the last century, the restaurant is set within three fishermen's cottages dating back 400 years with wonderful al fresco dining. The three series of murals painted in 1996 by two local art students, Catarina Perestrello and Mark Davies feature Edwardian dinner scenes in the Spode Room. The Wedgwood Room has after dinner pleasures, and the Minton commemorates the handbag scene from 'The Importance of Being Ernest', with none other than the author himself casting a sardonic eye over proceedings. The menu includes a comprehensive array of seafood dishes with a particular emphasis on local and sustainable produce.

Head Chef Gavin Lee started his career about 19 years ago at The Savoy in London, his interest in food started from a very young age, and he was lucky to be offered an apprenticeship in this premier London hotel at the age of 16. He has not looked back since. Gavin draws his inspiration from the creative process; the way a dish starts out in his head and culminates in a delicious meal. It's really about how the journey evolves along the way. Being a chef has also given him the opportunity to travel, having worked in some of the best kitchens in America and New Zealand amongst others.

Due to the seasonality of the products, the menu changes regularly to take advantage of the best that the markets have to offer. Ingredients are, whenever possible sourced locally and an ever increasing emphasis is put on sustainable sources both locally and further afield. Oysters are particularly popular, with a selection of rock oysters available all year round and a selection of native oysters available from September till the end of April. All the oysters come from well respected suppliers who take the utmost care and attention to ensure a superior product for the customer.

Great care and attention is taken in the selection of wines making the List. Bringing you a variety of wines with interesting back stories as well as great tone, character and taste. A good deal of time and effort has been spent sourcing, tasting and compiling a carefully chosen mix of wines, champagnes, dessert wines and half bottles which means it goes beyond the examples widely available on the High Street. The list is tweaked and refreshed on an on-going basis, whilst retaining many of the firm favourites. You also cannot fail to be impressed with the selection available by the glass, which offers variety and flexibility to your choice.

Whether you choose to sit 'sur le terroir', at the famous Oyster Bar or in one of the Edwardian plush dining rooms you will experience a traditional and expertly executed service which has all but disappeared in the modern wave of the branded restaurants. Whether it's due to the notable volumes of regular guests or the confidence and surety throughout this establishment, there is a genuine and relaxed friendliness in the air. The stereotypical pretentious nature synonymous with celebrated restaurants certainly does not exist here.

It's hard to say anything more about this restaurant so just go there, sit outside on a good day and enjoy superb seafood with the salty breeze off the Channel; or nestle into the plush red velvet and gold décor for an evening of unbridled pleasure.

For vastly more information about English's, a unique Brighton institution, their private dining and full menus, do visit their Website.