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The Dundas Arms in Kintbury is very fortunate to have such a magnificent location on the banks of the River Kennet and The Kennet and Avon canal. The natural beauty of the area is inspiring and this friendly establishment has been looking after the needs, offering both food and drink, for famished and parched folk since the end of the 18th century. In the past three decades it has belonged to just one family and owner David Dalzell-Piper has worked and cooked at The Dundas Arms throughout that time.

As it happens to be at the crossroads of Southern England, it is only a short distance by road or rail from many national and local places of interest and entertainment. Oxford of the famed dreaming spires, Winchester, Salisbury and its Cathedral, and Stonehenge are only around 25 miles away and the village is halfway between London and Bath, with its Roman Baths and The Royal Crescent.

If you are so inclined, you could attend the races in the famous Newbury racecourse and spend the day in an exciting way. More sedate pursuits might include a visit to the close by Highclere Castle, home to the Earls of Carnarvon, where tours include the Egyptian centre with numerous artefacts from the tomb of Tutankhamen.

The restaurant is quiet and peaceful, an oasis of sorts, but more like a French Auberge, and has delightful views over the canal, a perfect setting in which to enjoy the local produce, imaginatively cooked. The bar is livelier and offers updated modern food; there is also an extensive wine list from which to choose to complement your meal.
 
The bar menu is chalked up on a blackboard and changes from day to day; it could feature crispy duck salad, steak and kidney pie with vegetables, or avocado and hot roast salmon salad.
 
Starters from the à la carte in the restaurant could typically include grilled goat's cheese on Italian bread on sweet tomato purée; potted brown shrimps with toast, or avocado and hot roast salmon salad while there's a delightful choice for vegetarians with the spinach and red pepper lasagne with salad.

Moving on to the main courses, dishes such as the roast breast of English duck with cider, apple sauce and vegetables stand out, while the grilled rib eye steak with mushrooms and chips could be considered a firm favourite. There's also battered cod fillet with chips and mushy peas; fried calves' liver with bacon, mash and onion gravy or steak and kidney pie with vegetables for those looking to tantalise their taste buds with an interesting confluence of textures and tastes.

The Dundas Arms has five bedrooms on the ground floor of the old stable block and all are comfortably furnished with telephones and en-suite bathrooms. Patio doors in each of the rooms open on to a terrace that offers marvellous views of the River Kennet and the trees beyond. More information is available on their Website.

Strada describes itself as 'a group of stylish, contemporary Italian restaurants, serving good quality, simple and freshly prepared dishes'. The statement sums up what this group of around seventy restaurants offers to people looking for good Italian food. The first outlet opened in Battersea in 1999 and their clientele has been increasing steadily ever since.

Though Strada has grown into a fair sized group, each outlet retains the feel of being a local neighbourhood Italian restaurant. The menu includes pastas, risottos, salads, and fish dishes, but they are best known for their quality pizzas.

They present authentic Italian dishes in contemporary surroundings and aim to use only the freshest and finest ingredients, such as Luganica sausages, Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella, imported from Italy to provide exactly the kind of rustic, traditional dishes one would expect to find travelling around its regions.

A meal could kick off with zuppa vongole e fregola, a traditional clam soup with Sardinian fregola pasta grains, wine, chilli and parsley, served with bread, or the delicious sautéed king prawns with garlic, white wine, chilli, and lemon butter served with your choice of bread.

Move on to their creamy risotto verdure, freshly grilled asparagus, broad beans, peas, spring onions, zucchini, green beans, white wine and mint, finished with baby spinach leaves. Or you could opt for the healthier, tagliolini nero granchio, black cuttlefish ink pasta with crab, courgette, red and yellow peppers, spring onion, and a hint of chilli and parsley. A real treat for the taste buds comes in the form of the bistecca manzo, a 10oz rosemary-marinated char-grilled, rib-eye steak with fries and fresh rocket.

A range of pizzas, all spun by hand, is an integral feature of each restaurant. They include the rossa, with spicy southern Italian salami, roasted red peppers, chilli, caramelised onion, garlic, fresh oregano, tomato and mozzarella. Nor are vegetarians are overlooked, and can be found tucking into dishes such as fiorentina, made of spinach cooked with garlic, nutmeg and black pepper with mozzarella, parmesan, tomato and an egg.

For those wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth, there is torroncino affogato, an iced nougat semi freddo with a shot of espresso to pour over, or a classic Italian tiramisu and, as you might expect coffee to round off the meal.

A wine list consisting of purely regional Italian wines, beers and liqueurs, all carefully chosen to complement the menu comes as no surprise and in addition, every table receives a complimentary bottle of purified water.

For further details including their latest news, menus and deals, and to find a Strada nearest to you, their Website certainly warrants a visit.

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets.

Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. The conversion of the Newbury library and other listed buildings, such as those in Salisbury, Romsey and Mayfair, are all welcome examples of 'new use'. Their trendy and sophisticated décor usually consists of tiled or wooden floors with delicate lights and colourful paintings, along with wooden furniture and sparkling cutlery, creating a setting that is suitable for a relaxed lunch, a family meal or an evening out with friends.

The restaurants are of particular appeal to those who like genuine Italian cuisine, and they use only the best seasonal products, many of which are imported directly from Italy. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, fresh salads and frequently changing specials.

The freshly baked breads, like the garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crab cakes served with garlic mayonnaise or grilled goat's cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on foccacia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal. Best fun is to order an antipasto platter to share made up from seven well loved Italian nibbles.

Find pastas such as the unusual penne con salmone, with oak-roasted salmon, broccoli and fresh chillies in a red pesto and cream sauce, or firm favourites like spaghetti with meatballs, spaghetti Bolognese, and fusilli al pesto, asparagus spears with field mushrooms and roasted peppers in a basil pesto sauce.

Amongst the special pastas, the pollo mariano, seasoned chicken, pepperoni sausage, roasted peppers and fusilli in tomato sauce, is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like tiger prawns with petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular napoletana, topped with yellowfin tuna, tomato, white anchovies, capers, red onion, mozzarella and marinated olives, and the much loved quattro stagioni - pepperoni sausage, prosciutto ham, artichoke, field mushrooms, capers, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, char-grilled chicken breast, prosciutto ham and plum tomato slices, baked with their blend of cheese, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can accompany the food with a variety of tipples, though for many, Italian food requires Italian wines to be enjoyed to the full, ranging from house wine through Morellino di Scansano and Prosecco to liqueurs and beer, and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal, in company with a glass of grappa or sambuca.

This is Italian food at its attractive best, convincing and bringing together the traditional with the modern twist or two against a background of excellent value.

Prezzo is a lively group and opportunities to improve and update are never left on the table for long. Keep up to date with a quick click on their Website.

A modern hotel with full golf course attached. The restaurant is part of the pattern and cuisine is a pleasing combination of steady-as-you-go and some interesting additions from a more global perspective. As one might expect with Sir Peter Michael as proprietor, the wine list carries all the hallmarks of the connoisseur. House wine is £11.50.

A traditional style restaurant with mahogany timber and glass display. Tables are situated around a carousel area with hot & cold buffet areas. Also includes 120 covers, with a split-level, and disabled access to the restaurant and toilets.

A traditional inn run by Paul and Helen Lavis, The Bell at Boxford serves an international cuisine menu that delivers a modern take on old favourites. Set in the midst of the idyllic Lambourn Valley, it is just five minutes from the A4 and M4.

Wherever possible supplies are locally and sustainability sourced. Enjoy starters of wild mushroom, chorizo and tiger prawn risotto, grilled Cornish sardines with herb and garlic bread or an oak smoked salmon platter. The house special Bellburger with 8oz of beef, cheese and bacon placed in a sesame seed bun and smothered in homemade mayo cannot but leave you well fortified. There are also mains of pan fried Wantage duck breast with seasoned leeks and wilted baby spinach and beef bourguignon with Yorkshire pudding. This is where you can 'go the whole hog' with hog roast if you plan to have a party for 40 or more people. A range of real ales, fine wines, international beers and lagers are always available.

Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Berkshire Downs in the village of Chaddleworth, The Ibex is housed in a Grade II-listed cottage that once served as a bakery before being turned into a traditional country pub. Guests can let their hair down in the comfortable setting for an evening of conviviality with wholesome pub grub fare in what is the village?s hot spot.

Several months of refurbishment have returned the Ibex to the heart of the community. Diners can expect to enjoy dishes such as fishcakes, beef lasagne, chicken chasseur, carpaccio of tuna with rocket and red pepper coulis and open beef Wellington with thyme jus. Staples of beer battered fish and chips, bangers and mash, steak and ale pie, shepherd's pie and chicken curry with rice as well as a range of burgers and sandwiches could do justice just as well. Round off the satisfying meal with spotted dick or pear and almond tart. Greene King real ales and guest brews plus a range of wines by the glass provide further cause for pleasure.