A cool contemporary Italian restaurant and venue with brown, red, and cream colour scheme, lots of exposed brickwork and sleek leather sofas in the bar area for drinks, lounging or coffee. Al Duomo is next door to the Royal Pavilion and close to the main shops, hotels, theatre and Dome complex.

The restaurant-venue is open all day is spread over five floors, and with a variety of separate eating and drinking areas, is ideal for both couples and groups. The ground floor consists of a restaurant area to the back, with a fantastic open oven where diners can watch their pizzas being cooked, offset by a mezzanine level with a conservatory-style glass ceiling above the main restaurant.

Three private rooms available for meetings and conferences can accommodate from 6 to 50 delegates and private dining area up to 120 guests for an intimate family occasion, corporate dining or a party celebration. The basement has a late licence and as such is the perfect party venue, with no need for guests to move on elsewhere once they have finished their meal.

There is also a large cordoned off patio to the front of the restaurant seating up to 60 people, a lovely spot to enjoy a bite to eat on a summer afternoon. Customers can take advantage of spectacular views of the Pavilion and the area enjoys full sunlight for most of the afternoon.

The setup of the restaurant means that there can be several parties going on at the same time, completely separately from each other, as well as a regular restaurant service on the ground floor, mezzanine and outside.

The extensive menu offers tempting Italian dishes, with a Neapolitan bias, plus a large selection of vegetarian dishes, meat and fresh fish. There are also daily specials such as fresh sea bass, sea bream and mussels, when in season, as well as the usual pizzas and pastas. All meals are cooked fresh on order and diners are free to enjoy their meal at leisure, rather than being hurried through.

Parties can choose one of the set menus, or Al Duomo can tailor create one to your exact wishes, depending on budgets and other requirements, and Alberto is happy to act as party planner, offering advice on how to throw the best bash for the occasion. A buffet and canapé menu is also available for a party or cocktail party, in one of the party rooms.

Whether it's an intimate meal, a quick spot of lunch or coffee or a full-on celebration you're after, Al Duomo offers a comfortable, stylish setting, a friendly atmosphere and a comprehensive, wide-ranging menu, for the real taste of Italy. Perfetto! To find out more, just visit their comprehensive Website.

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.

If you haven't discovered this part of London's riverside area yet, you really have missed out. Butler's Wharf has grown over the years and the formerly derelict warehouses have been converted into luxury flats, boutique shops and designer restaurants and bars.

Located in the shadow of Tower Bridge, Browns occupies the area's premier site with a stunning restaurant overlooking the Thames and the magnificent architecture of riverside London. Al fresco dining is always popular in the warmer months as the area's workers and residents enjoy the capital's impressive external decks. The whole area is thriving during the weekend as families and friends enjoy the relaxing feel to Shad Thames and the wonderful food and drink that Browns offers.

Browns is a classic English restaurant with a menu that evolves rather than changes. It offers a genuine value for money experience for guests 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 antipasti form, or there are thin and crisp flatbreads topped with such delights as garlic, rocket and Parmesan, and spicy beef and mushroom. Starters cleverly re-invent some of the classic brasserie dishes; expect to find crab and avocado salad, ham hock terrine, pan-seared scallops and a fine selection of freshly made soups depending on the day.

Fish and pasta dishes include prawn and chorizo linguine, served with tomato and chorizo sauce. A real value seafood platter will have smoked salmon, Browns crab mix, squid, kiln cured salmon with horseradish crème fraîche, large shell-on tiger prawn and marinated king scallops assembled together, whilst hungry chaps may well opt for the whole baked sea bream with lemon and ginger served with wilted spinach and new potatoes.

Browns's own steak, mushroom and Guinness pie is a real puller, with the rack of lamb not too far behind. Desserts include raspberry and chocolate brownie and cheese board with fresh bread, crackers, grapes and celery. The fact is that after years of experience in the field of what might be termed comfortable eating; Browns have it pretty well tied up.

On Sundays step into Browns for a relaxed Sunday brunch with newspapers, simple food and a well constructed Bloody Mary. And what a brunch it is! Smoked fishcake with poached egg and hollandaise, eggs Florentine, Royal or Benedict, the full English, or smoothies, it's all there.

Their afternoon tea is a real treat at any time, and two people can get into a friendly huddle over their Most Unusual version that introduces even more indulgence into the equation, including two large G & Ts. There is a full wine, cocktail and Champagne list with the Champagnes being particularly notable for their sensible pricing.

Adjacent to the stunning design museum, Browns has become an ideal neighbourhood restaurant and bar to those fortunate to live in the area, but also a perfect destination to those visiting this magnificent addition to London's amenities. Browns's private dining room is the ideal venue for corporate entertaining especially for those who want to offer their guests something a little bit different and special.

More information, including details on their full menu and private rooms, can be viewed on their Website.

"Where everybody goes and quite rightly so" - The Guardian

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.

The main menu, available throughout the day, starts with appetisers, designed for sharing, with antipasti of Italian meat, vegetarian or seafood. Try 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 pan-fried butterflied tiger prawns tossed with linguine in a tomato, coriander and chorizo sauce.

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.

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

Browns at Manchester 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.

Offering a sumptuous and diverse spread of Italian, Indian, Thai and Chinese dishes, Jimmy Spice's on The Parade has something for everyone. The spacious, open plan restaurant is perfect for the groundbreaking multi-national buffet style service on offer. Located in the heart of the town, the restaurant is a 2-minute drive from Sutton Coldfield Rail Station.

The eclectic menu is filled with a variety of delicious items, made with the highest quality ingredients, to deliver the best of the range of cuisines on offer. Guests have the option of selecting their vegetables and meat along with a sauce of their choice and have it cooked on the spot.

A sample Italian menu offers freshly made pizza, a fine combination of pomodiro pillete and home-made pizza base with toppings of pineapple, ham, sweet corn, mushrooms, mixed peppers, pepperoni, chicken, jalapeno, olives and green chillies. The pasta menu offers a choice of penne or spaghetti served with Bolognese or al formaggi sauce along with basil pesto, chilli flakes, bacon, capers, olives, sun-dried tomatoes. Other main course dishes include baked fish, chicken in mustard sauce, vegetable lasagne and herb roasted potatoes.

The tempting Indian selection features starters of mint chicken pakora, vegetable samosa, aloo chaat and onion bhaji as well as mains of lamb rogan josh, saag paneer, tarka daal and vegetable jalfrezi along with seekh kebab, chicken malai tikka, garlic naan, tandoori roti and onion kulcha from the tandoor.

Chinese cuisine choices include spicy chicken wings, prawn crackers, pork spare ribs, egg fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, beef in black bean sauce, chicken with cashewnuts and water chestnuts and shrimp in garlic sauce along. Jimmy Spice's stir fry options include lamb, chicken, prawns, egg noodles, mushrooms, pok choy, bean sprouts and mixed peppers served with a sauce of your choice.

The Thai menu offers fish cake, vegetable spring roll, prawn toast, beef red curry, chicken green curry, prawn Penang curry, gaeng phed  and nuer pad namman hoy.

From the salad station diners can help themselves to freshly prepared Moroccan carrot salad with green olives and mint, chicken and mango salad, strawberry and feta cheese salad, tuna salad, Thai sorn tarn and potato au gratin. 

If you fancy a quick lunch choose from a selection of sandwiches, pizzas, starters with choice of sauces, salads with choice of dressings, Chinese stir fry dishes and Indian main courses with rice and naan bread.

The restaurant also provides a tempting, and equally eclectic array of desserts for diners with a sweet tooth. Choices include familiar dishes such as strawberry cheesecake, chocolate brownies, pineapple cake, and fresh cut fruit to more exotic options including, gulab jamun, moong daal halwa, and banana fritters. Alternatively you could opt for ginger pudding, crème caramel, chocolate fudge cake, apple crumble, coconut and raisin cake and kiwi pannacotta all of which bring any meal to a fitting end.

At the bar enjoy a range of red, white and rose wines as well as champagne, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails and shooters, soft drinks and juices, aperitifs and liqueurs in addition to a variety of spirits including single malt whiskies and cognac.

An early bird deal is value for money at £9.99 per person from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Check out their Website for the latest offers.

It is a welcome surprise to find a pub that has firmly grasped the gastro nettle in and around the Midlands, with pretty sensational results that include demonstrably freshly cooked food and a high zing factor, all sited in an imposing Tudor building of great character and true heritage. It also benefits from outside seating both in the front and the rear with delightfully tended gardens, seating up to a hundred and twenty, and dining 'al fresco' for sixty-four people.

Amongst the attractions are a 100-cover area for dining, an inviting drinking area, with staff who are friendly and professional. Equally people are drawn to the Barnt Green Inn by the interior which is stylish, very much open plan, and a return to such homely features as open log fires, stone-fired ovens, open kitchens and for that al fresco evening, some well landscaped decking.

The Inn is truly a place for all seasons, and the menu reflects this as it embraces not only the seasons but also the atmosphere within, ranging from cool chic in summer to the cosy warmth of a winter's day with the hatches well battened down.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, antipasti of cured meats, dolcelatte, roasted vegetables, parmesan, rocket, stuffed peppers, green chillies and baked flat bread, or Greek mezze of taramasalata with red pepper humus, tzatziki, feta and flatbreads.

Amongst the starters, expect to find freshly made soup, sake cured salmon with wasabi crème fraîche and pickled ginger, or fennel with chilli crusted squid, pineapple and coriander salsa. The salads offer pang pang chicken, Asian greens, satay, cashew nuts and cucumber, and for the seafood enthusiasts some prawn, avocado, spinach, watercress, crispy bacon and garlic dressing tends to please.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; look for a classic margherita of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, the rustica with roasted vegetables, goats' cheese, tomatoes and rocket, or a Siciliana with Serrano ham, roast artichoke, olives and mozzarella. 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 are choices such as calves' liver with sweet potato, beetroot gratin and watercress or sea bass fillets with stuffed Romano peppers, caponata, pesto and baby new potatoes. The Persian spiced lamb chops with tzatziki, tomato and red onion salad is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating. For hearty eaters there are good fillet and rib-eye steaks, and lemon sole with prawn and scallop butter, watercress and baby potatoes.

A wide range of supporting dishes include tomato, rocket and mozzarella, 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 and service that is cheerful and efficient completes the recipe for success. Check their Website for further information on this attractive eating out haven. 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 sometimes 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.

In Cheltenham, a sacred spot when it comes to horse racing in Britain, du Vin has transformed the former Carlton Hotel into a luxury boutique hotel located in the trés chic Montpellier district of this elegant Regency spa town, strategically placed for exploration of some of the best of the nearby Cotswolds.

The Hotel is noted for its spacious public areas centred on a magnificent spiral staircase. The trademark Hotel du Vin Bistro is but one of these areas. Each of the 49 bedrooms and suites room has handsprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, deep baths and power showers in great en-suite bathrooms, and high speed wireless internet access is standard throughout.

Classic bistro fare is served and dishes such as chicken liver parfait, red onion marmalade and toasted brioche or ribeye steak with pommes frites are commonplace on the menu. Other dishes of note are the fillet of salmon, buttered leeks, mussels, and curry cream and the whole grilled lemon sole, tomato and caper beurre noisette.

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 two sommeliers, headed here by Victor Amaro, there is no room for anything but the best. Service is telepathic in the best possible sense.

If you want to be ahead of the crowd at race times do be sure to book early - there can be few better places in Cheltenham than du Vin from which to conduct an attractive day's racing and celebrate afterwards, or to base yourself for some leisurely touring in the heart of England.

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

With a name like Cambridge Chop House, one can assume that meat is not in short supply there. It's not just meat but the local ales served straight from the cask, attentive service, and classic British food that draw locals and tourists alike. Located in the corner of Kings Parade and Benet Street, with an entrance on the main street, this vast underground space has been meticulously transformed into a spacious restaurant.

Split over two levels, you could pick a table outside and sip a beer as you watch the world go by, or just head to the basement where the cavernous feel is accentuated by the white washed brick walls and ample lighting, brilliantly contrasted by the polished wooden tables. The cosy little nooks with leather banquettes could just be the place for a group of friends to meet for a good gossip, away from eavesdropping neighbours, and indulge in some delicious food.

The kitchen's philosophy is evident in their dishes, all British fare focusing on seasonality and loyalty to local suppliers. Starters range from cold sliced beef with green sauce, crayfish, prawn and crab cocktail and pressed ham hock terrine, to salads such as tripe and horseradish; herring, cucumber, new potato and dill, or seared wood pigeon, mushroom and tomato. Robust main courses of Grasmere Farm thick cut bacon comes with duck egg and chips, and a 16oz beef chop with roast vegetables and wild mushroom sauce, while a whole sea bass is accompanied by new potatoes and wholegrain mustard sauce.

Those keen on Sunday roasts will be happy to know that here they do them every day at lunchtime. The blackboard lists the available sausages with different varieties of mash and sauce, in addition to meat pudding of the day.

To finish there is Trinity burnt cream, fruit crumble with custard, and chocolate tart with ice cream. The wine list, which includes a Suffolk sparkler, is well thought out and achieves a primary Chop House aim - to provide quality at sensible prices.

If you thought Cambridge was only a favourite with scholars and academics think again, because this chop champion aspires to give everyone a reason to visit Cambridge. A quick click on their Website will tell you why.

The first Browns opened in 1973 at Brighton, 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 second Browns to open was here at Oxford, in an old Morris garage, now an archetypal British brasserie. Inside the large windows open on to the street in summer and attract a mixed clientele that include students, families, businessmen and tourists.

A plate of appetisers to share comes in either vegetarian or seafood antipasti form. Try also the flatbreads with a range of interesting toppings. In amongst the thirteen starters expect to come across baked Scottish langoustine with spinach, cream and Emmental, served with crusty bread. 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 grilled chicken topped with prosciutto and taleggio cheese with Hollandaise and chips, and calf's liver and bacon with mashed potato and a green peppercorn sauce. Their fantastic selection of cheesecakes arrives in interesting flavours such as baked vanilla, blueberry and banoffee. Brown's afternoon tea is served from 2 to 5.30 pm.

By the way their breakfast and brunch menu is just one of the best. There is also a prix fixe menu, served from 4 to 6.30pm and 9.30 to 10.30 pm and you are not interrogated as to whether you are actually attending the theatre.

The wine list is masterfully compiled but not over long, sometimes a great relief to those who find it difficult to navigate their way through a lengthier list, however many are available by the glass. 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 at Oxford 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.

As a name for a restaurant it is hardly likely that The Purple Goose will fail to attract attention, but it is for the quality of its quality classic cuisine that it is more likely to be remembered. Scott Ludlow, Head Chef and Proprietor of this friendly place, aims to offer the things that so many restaurants aspire to, such as locally sourced produce of high quality and a wine list that inspires and complements, and unlike some actually achieves the desired results.

Their mission statement (whatever happened to all those worthy and often totally unattainable essays into optimism?) is short and pithy: 'The Purple Goose Restaurant - you either love it or you haven't eaten there'. So let's examine that claim.

The notion of having a great list of dishes under each course is fast fading - partly because the credit crunch has brought a sense of reality to such matters - and six opening courses, say, gives not unreasonable scope. Soup of the day is a steady survivor and with imagination brought into play, is sound judgement. A grilled whole Brixham lemon sole with a caramelised shallot and parsley butter make regular appearances as does the twice baked crab and smoked salmon soufflé with prawn velouté.

The Purple Goose is big on its chargrill, offering a range of weights from sirloin, ribeye and prime fillet. A choice of three sauces will satisfy most though I have the distinct feeling that another personal favourite might not be refused - just ask. The meat is sourced from the local butcher and is matured for a minimum of three weeks. And should you aspire to a T-bone or some other weight of steak, again do ask.

Seven main courses may include slow braised shoulder of lamb stuffed with herbs and fruit, confit garlic and blue cheese sauce, pan-roasted cod in aromatic spices, or corn-fed chicken breast wrapped in Parma ham.

The habit of passing up on a dessert course could be quite distressing, and often so symbolic that it hardly survives the first 'oh, go on'. In any case a list of seven mouth watering options is not the easiest of temptations to avoid, particularly when it is supplemented by a cheese trolley to die for. Eton mess, vanilla pod Chantilly cream, or seasonal fruit and spring berry coulis contains all the delights you might expect to find, and the duo of chocolate terrine with frozen aerated strawberry milk bottle could well prove to be the undoing of all your good intentions.

Lunch is served Wednesday to Saturday from an imaginative 2 or 3 course menu. The wine list at The Purple Goose is an example of its kind in that there are some 36 by the glass, making for really interesting drinking.

The Purple Room is an excellent haven for a party of up to 6 who want somewhere quiet and private to enjoy lunch or dinner. With its own private lounge, it is very affordable. Meanwhile the special events of the year are observed with élan.

Their Website provides further information and updates on menus for those wanting to plan in advance.