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First licensed in 1602, only to sell ale, The Green Man always was and still remains to be a quintessential English country pub, with no music, no machines, just great beer and excellent food. However, the size and structure of the building it is housed in has changed several times since, expanding manifolds. Replete with traditional period décor, including oak beams, inglenook fireplace and sturdy wooden furniture, the pub provides a relaxed and convivial atmosphere to guests.

Expect flavourful cooking conjured from quality ingredients; crispy fried prawns with sweet and sour dip, smoked salmon with granary bread and grilled mushrooms filled with garlic cheese. Follow with a spicy Cajun chicken, Mexican beef chilli or a char-grilled lamb rump steak.

In addition to a good range of ales and wines, tea, coffee and hot chocolate are some other beverages to hand at The Green Man.

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.