The Phoenix is situated in a quiet residential area on Smith Street which runs south from the Kings Road close to the Duke of York's Barracks. The pub nestles attractively with a southerly facing aspect and offers substantial terraced outdoor seating.

It benefits from relaxed, informal and comfortable surroundings and offers a mix of modern and traditional British food, with fast efficient service and a large selection of wines by the glass. Their Chef sources excellent produce, including 21 day aged West Country beef and Portland crab. At lunchtime they offer a full choice and some simple dishes like baked chicken and woodland mushroom pie, or crispy warm Provençal tart.

The dinner menu could contain truffle artichoke with crispy bacon and baby leaf salad or eggs Benedict with toasted muffin, ham, wilted spinach and hollandaise, followed by slow roasted pork belly or roast four-bone rack of 'salt marsh' lamb. An extensive wine list has been put together by Master of Wine John Clevely, which adds to the gastronomic experience.
 
To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Queans was taken over in 2005 by Laura Hamilton, who was formerly a chef-manager in Warwick, she offers a selection of dishes that are both inventive and tempting to a pleasing degree, and as a result she is now enjoying well-deserved popularity in Leamington Spa. Laura has been a chef locally for the best part of 20 years during much of which she was Head Chef at The Grand Union Restaurant, before her three years at Robbie's in Warwick.

As might be expected her menus are pleasantly challenging with starters such as crab and spring onion fishcake served with a lemon and lime dressing; artichoke and asparagus tart with a toasted almond salad, or broccoli and smoked brie soup.

Main courses move along with the likes of pan-fried wild duck breast served on a bed of wilted spinach and baked Portobello mushroom, served with a whiskey and ginger gravy; medallion of pork served on a bed of chive and lemon rice, finished with a yellow pepper cream, or supreme of chicken stuffed with a basil and mascarpone mousse, poached in a creamy garlic sauce.

For those of a seaward inclination there may be grilled whole black bream glazed with orange and sweet mustard and finished with a watercress dressing. Vegetarians will surely rejoice in the delicious tarragon pastry basket filled with a layer of chickpea mousse, braised courgette and leeks, topped with roasted beetroot.

Laura's homemade ice creams are legendary and arrive at the table with fresh baked cookies. Wildly popular is the peach and raspberry suet pudding served with custard, cream, or ice cream, and sometimes, we are told, all three. The rich chocolate and orange cheesecake is a clever blend of flavours, but for many the simple sharp tang of a fresh fruit cocktail, well laced with cointreau has familiar appeal. To play safe go for the banoffee pie, an international favourite that never fails to please.

From all of which it will be obvious that Laura is certainly no slouch in the kitchen and explains why those with an eye for food that has been prepared with care and imagination are beating a path to her door.

The wine list is equally full of character with some nice Burgundy and really daring reds from South Africa, Chile, Spain and Italy. Two dessert wines are listed, including an intriguing rich Black Muscat from California.

As one might expect the general layout and presentation is cool and elegant, in keeping with the service. This is a restaurant that would hold its own well in London, and in Leamington Spa it is indeed a gift sent from on high. They were the proud winners at the Coventry and Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards 2006 for Best Restaurant and Excellence in Quality and Customer Service.

If you want to know more about this superb restaurant, then their Website should prove to be a mine of information.

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 Betjeman Arms at St Pancras Station is part of a small group of friendly, but individualistic pubs, which if you pressed me I would concede are probably gastropubs - reluctantly, because I am never quite sure what the term means.

The fight to preserve St Pancras Station is well catalogued, and it is very much to the credit of Sir John Betjeman that it stands today restored, reinvigorated and ready for the 21st century with a series of dining rooms, terraces and drinking spots to accommodate a range of customers, moods, events and offers.

The station terrace allows views of the arriving trains and a full length view of the truly spectacular Barlow shed. The Euston Road terrace makes the most of our limited English sunshine, under the façade of the gothic station and hotel.

Inside the high bar helps identify the weary traveller or local over a sea of faces, seeking a pint of ale in a handled glass. Through the bar are two dining rooms as well as a boardroom. The Kitchen dining room is reminiscent of the country kitchens of old and is ideal for a glass of wine and a quick bite to eat before heading under the Channel to foreign fields, whilst the main dining room is wonderfully grand without being imposing.

Betjeman Arms opens at 7.30am and serves breakfast until 11am. Naturally this includes the Full English, traditional fare for those away from home, the hungry, and some would say the wise. Scottish smoked salmon and scrambled eggs or a bacon sandwich with tomato chutney are also available, and for those who prefer the healthy option there is Greek yoghurt with granola and honey, or a fresh salad of seasonal fruit. Croissants, pain au chocolat and toasted buttered crumpets all help to revitalise the spirit, as well as the body. Sir John would have approved.

The all day menu kicks in at 11am with a good selection of gastro dishes, and seven starters could include a Welsh rabbit (or rarebit depending on your opinion), bubble and squeak with soft poached egg and smoked bacon or chicken liver and wild mushroom pate with rye toast. Some of these dishes make good light meals.

Main courses of beer battered fish and chips is served with crushed peas, 28 day aged Hereford rib eye steak has chips and béarnaise sauce for company, or head for the tuna steak with white beans and chorizo. More light meals of a ploughman's made with Cornish Yarg, pickles, bread and salad, or a salt beef sandwich with pickle and English mustard are available, before a look at the short but versatile puddings list where rhubarb crumble is served with fresh cream, or enjoy a deliciously moist treacle tart with crème fraiche.

The Betjeman and its siblings have not been slow to appeal to a discerning public, and their list of Awards from 1996 onwards demonstrates beyond doubt that here is a small group of pubs, wise enough to retain the Britishness of its houses to the obvious delight of its customers.

Looking for interesting, seasonal and light, well-prepared food in a galleried setting with stunning views. The Bay, at Penzance, helped establish the now well-tried tradition of combining culture, in the form of a serious art gallery, with cuisine and rooms - and succeeds. The setting is chic, unstuffy, with superb views above the rooftops of Penzance to Mount's Bay. An excellent place to kick back, relax and enjoy their mix of a Modern European approach to serving seafood and other English dishes.

Throughout the whole year look forward to eating the best of the local produce, in an imaginative and attractive form and calling on an impressive list of local suppliers from Cornwall, where the environment is naturally fresh.

During the day an all day dining menu offers such dishes as prosciutto ham with herbed olive hummus and balsamic vinegar, steamed Fowey mussels in a shallot, garlic and Cornish cider cream sauce, or pan-fried rump steak with baby spinach leaf, straw potatoes and herb hollandaise. At The Bay it's always worth asking what the boats have brought in; fish does not come any fresher than this.

Try a roast Pollock fillet on braised saffron leeks and lemon cream sauce, or a local handpicked white crabmeat open sandwich on homemade granary bread with lemon mayonnaise. For vegetarian tastes there could be a baked aubergine and tomato gateaux.

In the evenings the menu expands and starters could include home smoked breast of guinea fowl, ox tongue and hazelnut salad and date purée, or pan-fried South Coast scallops, potato and vanilla cream with steamed spring onions.

Main courses follow the same pattern with a pan-fried West Country duck breast with smoked fennel, polenta cake and a preserved orange jus; roast fillet of Newlyn landed pollack, baby brown shrimps, cucumber and watercress, and roast Cornish double beef - for two to share - with pan fried foie gras and oxtail ravioli, black truffle and port wine jus.

As you watch the sun subside into the light mists of a velvet Cornish sea evening, you will find the desserts even more beguiling than usual, headed by the white chocolate mousse, sultana fancler and rice wine vinegar reduction, closely followed by the coconut crème brûlée with passion fruit madeleines and dark chocolate sorbet or assortment of miniature desserts.

Local wines, beers and an elite list offer further variety and choice, and, with at least eight available by the glass or 1/2 bottle, you can change wines with each course. Dessert wines are encouraged and include Pedro Ximenez- Jerez from Spain, and Nederburg from South Africa.

The Bay is quality eating amidst beautiful surroundings both in and out, at prices that will leave room for you to contemplate further indulgence amongst the many pictures tastefully displayed in the Gallery.

The past years have firmly established the Bay, in the diners Awards of the Region, they were named West Country Restaurant of the Year in 2002, and Restaurant of the Year 2006-8 in the Cornwall Tourism Awards. Consistently awarded 2 AA rosettes annually, and listed in the Michelin Guide, The Good Hotel Guide and The Good Food Guide.

For those of you wanting further information about The Bay, a visit to their Website would be a sensible idea.

Located at Exchange Place on Appold Street, The White Horse is minutes away from Moorgate Tube Station and Liverpool Street Rail Station. In the heart of London's financial district, and just a short walk from the Barbican Centre, The White Horse offers a cosy British pub ambience with a stylish blend of contemporary and rustic décor that mixes classic leather armchairs with rugged work benches. A secluded terrace is perfect for al fresco dining in warmer weather. Guests can select from an international cuisine menu which includes signature versions of classic pub favourites.
 
Breakfast is served Monday to Friday from 7.30 am and offers choice that ranges from continental pastries including croissant, pan au chocolate and muffins, or a more substantial bowl of Scotch porridge. Other choices include eggs Benedict, toasted crumpets with butter, and smoked salmon and scrambled egg on toast all accompanied by breakfast tea, cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate or a range of soft drinks. For something more substantial try the Full City Breakfast.

A meal from the a la carte menu could begin with starters of smoked salmon served with artichoke salsa and brown bread; Cromer crab on toast with poached egg and horseradish hollandaise; or blue cheese and spinach tart with mixed leaves. Follow with main course of the White Horse cheese burger with hand cut chips and relish; pearl barley risotto with wild mushroom and pumpkin; roast salmon with herb crust, creamed leeks, cabbage and new potatoes or roast Norfolk chicken with warm salad of new potatoes and bacon. Don't miss perennial pub favourites of haddock and chips with mushy peas and tartare sauce, Cumberland sausages with mash and onion gravy, beef and Guinness pie with creamy mash and roast carrots and rib eye on the bone with béarnaise, bone marrow and hand cut chips.

The pub also serves a choice of sandwiches on crusty bloomer or wholemeal bread includes chicken and bacon, West Country cheddar cheese and Branston pickle and crayfish and prawn wrap with Marie Rose sauce. For a quick lunch try the plat rapides which offers two or three courses served together on one large slate such as the Fishmongers board which includes market fresh Valley farm smoked salmon, smoked mackerel pate, shell on prawns, home-made fish fingers and luxurious Jersey rock oysters.

Alternatively chill out at the smart bar with your favourite drink in hand and a range of tasty snacks such as pork pie, raw vegetables with flat bread and hummus, cold roast chicken, salt and pepper squid or artichokes on toast.

The globally representative wine list includes fine examples of champagne and sparkling, whites and reds including Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Le Coq Rouge, Terres du Sud Grenache, Côtes-du-Rhône and Veuve Clicquot. There's also a selection of real ales, bottled beers, spirits and liqueurs.

The White Horse is available for private hire, be it a wedding reception, birthday party or corporate event, on a Saturday or Sunday for up to 80 seated or 180 standing guests. It's also available for group dinners and drinks bookings Monday to Friday.

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

Blackpool is enjoying something of a renaissance more recently, and whilst the reputation for bright and breezy is never too far away - and why should it not be - there is now a wider spread of expectations from those who come to enjoy this icon of British seaside entertainment.

ToasT Cafe Bar and Grill Restaurant sets out to meet these head on, offering something for everybody, with a Taste Lancashire Quality Assured award to demonstrate their success in so doing. Located in Corporation Street Toast is not far from the Grand Theatre, Blackpool's famous Tower and the Winter Gardens, and close enough to the city centre nightlife if it's the clubs and bars you are after later in the evening.

As with most things in Blackpool, there's nothing particularly formal about ToasT. Most people are there to enjoy and relax, and escaping from formality is high on the list. So too is the freshly cooked food, the ingredients for which are sourced locally wherever possible.

One of the delights of being away from home on holiday is the relaxed breakfast prepared for you by somebody else and at ToasT it's on offer all day, so no risk of feeling deprived if you're a late riser. A Lancashire rarebit to start the day is made from Bowland Cheddar cheese and bacon, and baked beans are the product of Mr Heinz, so have that extra zing factor.

Later in the day the speciality sandwiches such as chicken Club triple decker do more than just fill a gap, and different types of more conventional sandwich keep all tastes happy. Toast is a place where imagination is positively encouraged amongst both customers and staff. More substantial dishes might include the highly popular beer battered haddock and chips, with fresh fish from nearby Fleetwood, chilli con carne and a delightful steak and ale pie, the meat slow-cooked for full flavour and tenderness.

Amongst the burgers look out for the Blue and Black version, a 6oz steak seasoned with Cajun spices and topped with blue cheese. Plenty of pasta dishes have salmon and prawn, tomato and basil or tuna and sweetcorn amongst their constituents, and light bites of loaded potato skins, prawn cocktail and lamb koftas are also popular.

Every day from 5pm ToasT shifts mode, with the emphasis on an à la carte menu that offers more elaborate dishes such as blackened salmon, apricot pork, Bowland lamb shoulder and a nice range of tapas, fast becoming one of Britain's established must-haves.

A well annotated wine list offers a good range by the glass and a French house selection that gives full value for money. The net is well cast with Argentina, South Africa, Italy and California all included. Service is of the sort given by staff who are clearly valued and trained, and as a result enjoy their work, hence well-pleased customers.

Do check on their Website for special events, menu changes and other details.

Windsor Grill, only a stone's throw from Windsor's Long Walk, is a continuation of the Antony Worrall Thompson crusade for simple, honest food, largely British, to be served in his restaurants, using only the finest ingredients. The Grill is a welcome addition to the pleasures of this historical royal fortress town.

One of the principal attractions of the Grill is the expert attention paid to the selection of the meat courses, combined with a certain leaning towards some of the more traditional dishes as befits a decent brasserie type menu. Devilled lamb's kidneys, or bang bang chicken with peanut sauce, Mr Machin's Scottish smoked salmon and avocado prawns all carry connotations of red damask and shiny brass rails. But for many the steak tartare never fails, served as a starter or main course compete with capers, shallots, gherkins with grilled bread, and chips with the mains.

There is a culinary symmetry at work here and it is little surprise to find seared scallops, salmon and smoked haddock fishcake with buttered spinach and Hollandaise, or chilli salt squid with guacamole, sour cream, and chilli jam sitting comfortably within range of sumptuous steaks.

Few burgers have a better pedigree than those offered by AWT, and the eponymous version weighing in at 8oz is good value, made with 35 day hung Scottish beef and served on an onion bun with salad horseradish and tomato sauce, mayonnaise and skinny or chunky chips.

Six different cuts of steak start with a 10oz rib-eye, and move through a 24oz rib-chop on the bone, described as "a mega piece of meat", a modest 6oz fillet that is very tender and fat free, finishing with a 16oz Chateaubriand for two. Five different sauces give pretty total taste coverage.

That traditional piece of indulgence in the form of a classic mixed grill brings to your plate steak, lamb cutlet, pork sausage, calf's liver, dry cured bacon, lamb's kidney, black pudding, tomato and mushroom, though pork enthusiasts are likely to be sidetracked with a plate of porchetta, black pudding, sausage, belly, bacon, sage and onion stuffing and a good helping of apple chilli jelly.

A menu of daily specials explores Parma ham, grilled figs and melon salad, slow cooked duck leg served with soy and sesame Asian salad, a 9oz fillet steak, fillet of brill with a medley of greens, creamy garlic and white wine prawns, and a vegetarian dish.

One always has the feeling that desserts at a robust restaurant such as this are a bit of an afterthought, but a vanilla pannacotta, berry coulis and tuille biscuit, fresh English strawberries with pouring cream in season, or some very agreeable Wigmore soft cheese are certainly not to be ignored. Their lunch and late supper menu meet a real need in the town and at less than £15 for three courses who's to grumble?

A well selected wine list yields some intensely interesting prospects and those who like their cocktails will certainly not be disappointed. AWT these days wears the contented smile of a man who has escaped the rat race and settled down with a nice number of restaurants in each of which he can take a close interest. For further information a quick click on their Website does the trick.

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 the Capital's best. Located off the main lobby, this expansive new Lounge Bar is an ideal place to conduct a discrete meeting or host a friendly get-together. Serving a wide range of coffees and teas, and with a well stocked bar, this popular meeting place is a welcoming spot for drinks and snacks throughout the day or for afternoon tea.

Short eats such as eggs benedict topped with hollandaise sauce gratin, toasted foccacia bread with Scottish smoked salmon and tossed ham and cheese sandwiches are popular among regulars. A business occasion may call for a discreet order of tortilla wraps with grilled breast of chicken and king prawns tempura. Desserts include homemade cheesecake and chocolate fondant.

The wine list is short but features an impressive assortment of red and white wines along with liqueurs.

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

Located at the St. James end of Jermyn Street, Franco's has been serving the local community, from early morning to late night, for over 60 years. Surrounded by private clubs, lifestyle boutiques, art galleries and hotels, this restaurant has amassed a remarkable customer base who are impressed with the team's relaxed, friendly approach and attention to detail.

The interior is stylishly decorated with a 1940s theme with walls adorned with attractive modern paintings and mirrors creating a luxurious appearance that is comfortably reassuring. Part of the Hambro family portfolio, Franco's is a reliable favourite, its character evolves throughout the day from the early morning breakfast, to the charged lunches and romantic candle lit dinners in the evening; an all day operation that is perfectly tuned.

The menu has been developed by the Head Chef Paulo Parlanti and combines both traditional and modern dishes. Only the very best seasonal ingredients are often flown in from Italy to ensure that the food is not only authentic but wonderfully flavoursome.

Whether it's a strong coffee and warm croissant before work or a hearty cooked breakfast, Franco's is the perfect setting for all those that prefer an early rise. The outside tables provide an excellent opportunity to watch the world go by whilst being warmed by the heaters. The menu comprises of old favourites such as eggs Benedict, as well as Franco's complete breakfast; a combination of both cooked and continental elements. For those more formal business meetings the smaller private dining room is an ideal space if privacy is required.

The lunches attract regulars and locals alike. Those who require a speedy meal generally head to the main restaurant to be part of the buzzing atmosphere, whilst those who prefer a more leisurely affair, head downstairs to the quieter and more relaxed ambience of the mirrored room. On the à la carte starters such as pan fried scallops with mustard, pear purée and beetroot or white crab meat with tomato and avocado purée can be found along with mains of roast duck breast with braised onion and mustard fruit chutney and a vast selection of quality cuts from the grill. Alternatively the splendid set lunch, that offers a choice of 2, 3 and 4 courses, pinches less in the current climate.

For the serious shoppers who have skipped lunch or those who are in search of a decadent treat, Franco's has introduced a full Afternoon Tea Menu with scones, clotted cream and finger sandwiches. In comparison with those offered by other establishments, who shall remain nameless, it is truly a steal. As evening falls, the lights of the West End beam and attract many to the theatre menu, which is probably the best value of the day, with a collaboration of dishes from the lunch and dinner menus. By dinner Franco's has changed gear again and offers an impressive range of classic dishes with asparagus salad with poached egg and black truffle, sliced Parma ham with marinated artichoke, followed by grilled king prawns with cherry tomatoes, capers and mixed leaves.

The wine list has been expertly devised to include a selection that is understandably of 80% Italian origin. Every year Franco's hosts Europe's largest Rose Wine list featuring wines from around the world. Whatever the grape variety you prefer there will be something for you!

From intimate dinners, or lavish banquets to cocktail receptions and product launches the private dining room is exceptionally versatile and can be transformed for any occasion. The space can hold up to 60 guests seated and can also be divided for smaller functions to allow an area for pre-dinner drinks or a break out space.

As Time Out magazine explains 'Franco's succeeds...by getting dozens of small details exactly right'. Their Website will tell you more.