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Plum in the middle of pretty Woburn village sits The Black Horse. Its eighteenth century terraced frontage belies a Tardis-like interior in which the cosy bar, lined with old leather-upholstered settles, leads on to a smart restaurant beyond. Through the carriage arch to the side, meanwhile, lies a secluded courtyard garden - 'a secret well worth discovering' as described by The Independent.

The Black Horse is a sister pub to The Swan at Salford. It is a tribute to the success of both pubs that Andrew Coath, the manager, was voted Licensee of the Year in 2007 by the British Institute of Innkeepers, out of 8,000 nominees!

It would be possible to enlarge upon all this indefinitely, but our purpose here is to tell you about The Black Horse and how they put into practice their strongly held principles. First the property, a genuine Georgian building in the middle of an estate town which draws heavily on visitors to Woburn Abbey nearby, home to the Russell family for nearly 400 years and one of the starting points for the surge in stately home interest some fifty years ago.

The pub is open all day from 11am for coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, drinks and dinner. Whether you pop in for a pint, a business lunch or a special dinner, you are guaranteed a friendly welcome. For dinner a deli board opens up a menu that explores the possibilities of mixed olives, black ham and fish leaving you to make up your own selection or, if the chatter's compelling leave it to the staff who will choose a board for you including the bread and chutney. This is the perfect start in trying some of the fantastic ingredients that they take such pride in sourcing, and a splendid way to chill out after a hard day before getting down to the main meal.

On their menu, you will find the very best quality fresh ingredients - fantastic sausages; free range chicken and eggs; Cornish lamb cutlets; 28 day dry-aged Aberdeenshire rump cap steaks - sourced from producers who take pride in their products and an ethical stance in their production.

The Black Horses menu always makes the most of seasonal ingredients, this ensures they avoid air-freighting and keeps us in touch with the cycle of the year, while combining the best of great British cooking and influences from around the world that are now part of our culture.

When the menu emerges can the wine list be far behind - in this case, no, thankfully since tucker like this deserves a sympathetic and timely response from the cellar which, whilst drawing quite heavily on France by no means neglects the exciting new outlets for quality wine. Greene King IPA, continental beers and lagers are well kept and endlessly popular.

While the à la carte menu is served 6.30 - 9.30 pm daily, a selection of great Sunday roasts is also served noon - 5 pm on Sunday.

Click on their Website for latest news, reservations, private room hire and nice comments from happy diners. Do have a look also at The Swan, Salford, the sister pub to The Black Horse, and not far away.

Nestling in acres of tranquil gardens and wooded parkland, Menzies Flitwick Manor is a classic Georgian country house hotel located near the historic village of Woburn, which boasts over 200 listed buildings, as well as stylish restaurants, pubs and shops.

You could visit the hotel to spend time in relaxation or to enjoy the sauna, a game of croquet or an intimate meal in the comfort of the AA Rosette restaurant. The décor is elegant with fine antique and period furniture and carpeted floors.

Sample traditional British fare created from local and seasonal produce, whenever possible. Start with a bowl of mussels before moving on to a lovely game terrine with homemade marmalade and toasted brioche. Mains consist of grilled fillets of lemon sole and confit of Barbary duck while desserts take in warm pecan pie with homemade vanilla ice cream.

There is a comprehensive range of wine to complement the dishes you order. Weddings and private functions are organised beautifully.

Whilst strolling through scenic Woburn Park you might spot a deer grazing lazily in the lush green turf and a charming mock Tudor styled building, which was originally created in 1878 for the Paris exhibition. Later this timbered structure was trundled over the Channel, to eventually adopt a new role as home to the Restaurant at Paris House.

Following the footsteps of the late Peter Chandler, who formerly ran Paris House and built its reputation on superb French cuisine, the inspirational cooking embodies the culinary ethos that exudes passion. The 'retro' menu du jour that evoke memories of the past may include classics such as smoked ham hock terrine, the flavour accentuated by dry pineapple, quail eggs and chips, or a confit pork belly. Refreshing desserts of carrot and mandarin jelly topped with cream cheese ice cream or chocolate tart make a delightful ending to this robust French affair.

Whilst the 42 Loch Fyne restaurants have a shared background there is a welcome degree of individuality encouraged throughout the group, which makes for customer interest. If you like wholesome, fresh and reliable seafood caught and reared under carefully controlled conditions, well presented in unfussy surroundings, and you enjoy being well looked after by pleasant staff, Loch Fyne is for you.

There is an increasing awareness of other food staples with an extended choice of meat dishes, but it is the original fare upon which their success was created that prevails. Loch Fyne kippers, a fine bouillabaisse, braden rost, kiln-roasted salmon fillet, and the toothsome oysters on ice, with a selection of accompaniments, all are to be found throughout the various restaurants, as well as Glen Fyne 21 day aged rib-eye steak and Scottish smoked venison. There is invariably a well-travelled wine list available which is sensible, both in content and prices.

Loch Fyne's greatest achievement has been to prove to a sceptical populace that chains or conglomerates can be made to work in the eating-out public's best interests.

The Inn at Woburn made a humble beginning as an 18th century coaching inn situated in the heart of the Georgian village of Woburn. Today, it functions as a charming hotel and a base for visits to Woburn Abbey, Safari Park and the golf club.

The décor reflects its character and the facilities meet the expectations of modern day visitors. Olivier's for example, is the inviting two AA Rosette restaurant that focuses on imaginative, contemporary English and continental dishes, open for brunch and snacks, lunch, afternoon tea and enjoyable dinners.

Dishes such as smoked eel with horseradish cream, potted confit of duck leg, loin of cod wrapped in Brickhill ham, gourmet offerings of crab and scallop twice baked soufflé, and lemongrass infused red peach consommé make the menu special. Assorted finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, glazed lemon tart and marmalade cake is served in the afternoon throughout the summer.

The inn provides a wonderful setting for conferences, weddings and civil ceremonies for up to 65 guests.

The Birch at Woburn is a small, family run establishment, located just outside Woburn village and known in the area for delivering good quality English cuisine. Walk down from the entrance and stop at the bar for a drink before proceeding to the bright and airy restaurant. You could choose a cosy little spot there and enjoy a romantic meal or catch up with friends over good food and wine.

Plates of salmon and potato fishcakes or house smoked venison signal the start of a wonderful meal. Mains encompass saddle of lamb Wellington, potato gnocchi with broad beans, tarragon and peas and slow cooked belly of pork with black pudding and roasted apples. Light lunchtime dishes could include mussels with white wine, pasta and fresh meat cooked on the griddle.

The Birch always has a selection of fresh desserts as well as British and continental cheese and biscuits.