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This imposing 13th century inn, built in the reign of King John I, originally formed part of a monastery, and has retained its antiquity well through the centuries. Well favoured by Egon Ronay's 2006 Guide, and Les Routiers, it was taken over in 2004 by Richard and Sherry Martin and is now visibly thriving under their ownership.

Head Chef Steve Hogben-Lambert makes good use of the locally caught fresh fish and his a la carte menu pays more than a passing tribute to its quality. Starters might consist of wild risotto of brown shrimp, made with cockles and razor clam with sorrel and double cream, a Lagavulin cured wild salmon with tiger tail prawns served with dill and mustard sauce or smoked Dungeness eel with fresh horseradish mousse and oak smoked sprats. A lobster bisque has all the piquancy that one expects in that fine but simple dish, and foie gras with port and rosemary jelly is served with toasted brioche and a shot glass of Chapel Down Nectar.

Main courses are classified as runners or swimmers, and amongst the former expect to meet roasted Romney Marsh lamb rump, free range pork and parsley bangers served with herbed mash and three onion gravy, char grilled best end of English veal cop, supreme of local free range chicken wrapped in air-dried ham and served with fondant potato, roasted Jerusalem artichoke and tarragon sauce.

Wild mushroom risotto is the real thing, with oyster, chestnut, Portobello and shitake mushrooms. Amongst the swimmers are beer battered haddock, cod and whiting cooked in a light batter of wheat beer, cumin and poppy seed, served with hand-cut chips and mint and pea puree, a very fleshy Whitstable seafood chowder, described as an ensemble of locally caught fish with saffron potatoes and chive, or a whole roasted line-caught local Gurnard with a confit of sweet cherry tomatoes and new potatoes.

Make sure not to miss enjoying the fascinating range of artisan-produced breads produced by Paul Hollywood, now resident locally after periods as Head Baker at Cliveden and The Dorchester.

A relatively brief but punchy wine list has been cleverly chosen to embrace quality and all tastes, with a welcome inclusion from Chapel Down, mainly whites but a 2003 Pinot Noir red, and a sparkling Pinot Brut deriving from Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc.

The Dog Inn is a place for those who relish the good things of life in an atmosphere that is both restful and welcoming. Learn more from a quick click on their excellent Website, including details of arrangements for licensed weddings.

The Bell Hotel and the AA-Rossetted Old Dining Room are some of those features in the life of a community that defines character and fills a significant niche in history, in this case since Tudor times when the Bell Inn, alongside the Barbican Gate and Toll, was a respected place of refreshment at the hub of the port's maritime activity.

Some 700 years later it stands proudly still, grown in stature and respect, overlooking the River Stour and serving a community that extends well beyond the thriving town of Sandwich. With 37 en-suite bedrooms, the Georgian Regency Room that will comfortably accommodate up to 100 guests, and the Stour Conference suite it is the place to which to turn when important events, be they personal or commercial, are afoot.

There is a choice of bedrooms consisting of single, twin, double rooms and suites. Some bedrooms have balconies and river views with others overlooking the roofscape of Sandwich. All have en-suite bathrooms, bespoke toiletries, hair dryers, coffee and tea-making facilities, digital radios and remote controlled televisions and telephones. There is Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel.

If the day ever comes that plaques are placed on the accommodations recommended by Paddy Burt, the Daily Telegraph's much respected hotel reviewer over 18 years, The Bell will have one! The seasonal menus look both to the sea and inland. Starters of beetroot cured salmon, lime and dill crème fraiche and watercress salad, or glazed smoked haddock with Montgomery cheddar omelette, roquette and chives set the scene and vegetarians will approve of a chilled gazpacho soup with tomato and olive bruschetta.

There's plenty of choice, with a rump of Romney Marsh lamb with niçoise, rosemary, garlic fondant and pesto, or local black sea bream roasted on the bone, Charlotte potatoes, sea spinach, baked fennel and herb dressing commanding a steady demand. Pursuing the classical trend a Valrhona dark chocolate tart with orange sorbet pops up for attention, but for sheer artistry local strawberry cheesecake, vanilla anglaise with honeycomb is recommended. There's a trend these days for cheese selections to become more than a little pricey, but here at The Bell a selection of artisan made cheeses accompanied by orchard fruit chutney and Bath Oliver biscuits is commendable in every way, not least as value for money.

A fixed lunch menu offers the sort of choices - four per course - that you know betokens culinary spontaneity. A three course lunch could consist of parfait of chicken livers, toasted brioche, port and red currant reduction followed by fish from South East coast day boats with seasonal accompaniments and finally by a local elderflower pannacotta, poached gooseberries and lemon balm, all at a price that, along with everything else, would justify the trip from the Midlands to Kent alone.

A wine list of over 50 bins amply provides for the needs of anyone but the most pedantic of oenophiles, with a sensible selection by the glass including a Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne house wine that is crying out for you to cast care aside and buy the bottle.

The Bell at Sandwich is one of those places that should be enshrined in our native consciousness, but having survived all those years one doubts if it needs such protection. Their Website, dignified, clear and friendly, like everything else about them, will keep you up to speed on what else they can offer, menu changes and the like.

This is the fifth Belgo restaurant to be established in south-east England, and as with the other four it is essentially a coming together of beer and food, not always in that order, but pretty often. Put another way round it offers La Cuisine à la biere, since much of the union involves the preparation of food with the aid of beer via a sauce or marinade. Beer lends itself well to the stewing of beef and also enjoys a reputation for being a good tenderiser.

It's a strictly Belgian notion to combine moules, frites and beers, and a very fine one too. But whilst that may be typical it's but the tip of the iceberg. In any case before you gain anything like access to the food there are some 50 specialist Belgian beers to be assessed. Amongst this rich harvest you will find Chimay Rouge, brewed under the supervision of Trappist Monks, dark roasted Grottenbier and fruity Floris beers.

Décor is relaxed and good humour abounds. Promotions include Beat the Clock and an Express Lunch menu at under £7 enables decent food and work to co-exist comfortably. Those who revel in statistics may not by this time be surprised to hear the average Belgian drinks 150 litres of beer per head every year, with 800 different beers from which to choose.

So on to the food where a warm salad of smoked bacon, shredded duck, eggs and black pudding with garlic croutons and a Dijon mustard dressing could make your day. Mussel pots offer the fine mollusc in six manifestations, all of them mouth-watering, or you can order a platter with frites. Braised red cabbage with raspberry beer sounds pretty adventurous and stoemp mash introduces a mash of root vegetables, often mixed with cream. A beef carbonnade is braised in sweet Gueuze beer with apples and plums, served with frites.

Monday to Fridays five rattling good dishes are on offer from 5 to 7 pm., including the bowl of marinière mussels with frites; you pay the price of the time you order. But it's the children who come off best at Belgo, with free eating to spur them on, as if the little devils need any spurring when it comes to tucker time.

Michael Jackson in his book The Beer Hunter says, 'Belgium is the land of beer, seafood and the world's finest chocolate. It is a land of German portions and French culinary skills', which seems to sum up the situation admirably. To crown it all you will by now be not in the least surprised to hear that the world's first beer academy opened in 1999 at Herk-de-Stad.

Details of other Belgo branches, prize draws and the solution to a Belgian maths equation can all be found by a click on their Website.

In the heart of the historic city, just a 5-minute walk from Canterbury Cathedral, Chimichanga Canterbury is just the place weary tourists can retreat to for a delicious Mexican meal in a comfortable setting. Located on the busy High Street, the restaurant is close to historic such as the ruins of Canterbury Castle, while more modern attractions including the feted Marlowe Theatre are just a short walk away.

Chimichanga's extensive à la carte caters to a variety of palates. A wide range of delicious appetisers includes crab cakes, Buffalo chicken wings and empanadas, a traditional crispy pastry filled with a choice of chicken or chorizo sausage with cheese and served with sour cream. Other choices include piri piri prawns, Cajun chicken with chilli sauce and jalapeno bullets, a dish of deep fried jalapeno peppers with cream cheese and chilli sauce. Appetisers to share include chicken nachos or taquitos, crispy flour tortilla tubes with a range of fillings including cheese and black beans, chicken, cheese and salsa and chorizo and cheese.

Light bites include a range of tortilla wraps including a classic fajita wrap with a choice of char grilled fajita steak or chicken served with peppers and onions in a tortilla with Jack cheese. Vegetarians are catered for with the delicious courgette and Portobello mushroom wraps which comes with chipotle chilli sauce and jack cheese. There's also a number of tempting salad options such as blackened tuna salad with tuna steak coated in a special blend of Cajun spices, blacked on a hot skillet and served over a bed of mixed leaves with roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.

For something more filling diners could opt for a tortilla burger, made from 100 per cent fully traceable prime Scottish beef wrapped in a flour tortilla with mayonnaise and served with changa chips.
 
The char grill section's succulent offerings include barbecue baby back ribs served with change chips and jalapeno coleslaw; sirloin mojo rojo, a centre cut sirloin steak marinated in chilli, garlic and coriander and served with beer battered onion rings and change chips, Santa Fe chicken with rice, black beans and guacamole or flame grilled piri piri chicken.
 
Sumptuous Mexican specialities naturally include chimichanga, a flour tortilla fried golden brown with Jack cheese and served with your choice of filling - either chunky beef chilli con carne, BBQ pulled pork or bean chilli - sautéed onions and peppers and garnished with sour cream, chives, guacamole and tortilla croutons, as well as a variety of burritos, enchiladas and tostadas. There are also chipotle meatballs, Mexican paella, chilli de la casa and south-western crab cakes. The grande quesadilla is a baked flour tortilla sandwich with your choice of filling and drizzled with sour cream and served with Mexican rice and chipotle chilli sauce.

The lunch menu offers a choice of two or three courses while a children?s menu caters to the tastes of the little ones.
Round off the satisfying meal with scrumptious dessert of giant Mexican profiterole, chocolate fudge brownie or honeycomb smash cheesecake. Alternatively, end with a speciality coffee or liqueur. Chimichanga offers a variety of wines, beers, cocktails, margheritas, sangria and soft drinks to quench the thirst.

More information can be found on their Website.

Set in a charming 17th-century building, The Ferry Inn offers delicious British cuisine made using fine local produce. From the pleasant riverside garden, guests can enjoy views onto the splendid Kentish countryside.

Led by Head Chef Dominic Wright, formerly of the Savoy in London, The Ferry Inn menu compiles locally sourced fish, meat and vegetables, as well as seasonal game. Whet the appetite with starters of oak-smoked Scottish salmon and Mackley Farm free range eggs on toasted brioche, and follow with main courses like roast rump of Romney Marsh lamb with bubble and squeak.

Tempting desserts of chocolate fudge cake or orange Grand Marnier cheesecake offer an indulgent close. A variety of real ales and fine wines are served from the bar at The Ferry restaurant, and a creative specials menu is offered.

A charming setting, The Ferry Inn is perched between the pretty towns of Tenterden and Appledore.

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

The Beefeater Grill range of restaurants, owned by the well established firm of Whitbread has transformed over time into what is now predominantly a cooking platform for chargrill. The restaurants are warm, modern and stylish, with low lighting and contemporary artwork. A comfortable, cosy, mainly booth layout offers guests their own space with no feeling of being hurried at any point. Staff are friendly and helpful if need be - what a difference that can make to a good evening out.

Be it the wide open spaces of Argentina, the intimate setting of a French restaurant, or a busy grill in London's West End, there's no denying the popularity of chargrill. As the production of quality beef, chicken, fish and lamb has grown, prices have come down by comparison, and the simple and traditional art of minimally cooking dishes by chargrill, sealing in the flavours and tastes by intense heat has caught the public imagination.

All the steaks at Beefeater Grill are matured for a minimum of 28 days before being seasoned. Whether it be juicy rib eye, the classic sirloin, that emblem of the Sunday lunch, a tender fillet, or a delicious 7oz rump, all grilled to your own specification, you're never far away from perfection. Even beefburgers have shaken off their dubious image and the highly popular Beefeater burgers are made from 100% beef.

The popular sirloin with giant prawns offers a treat to those for whom an alliance between sea and pasture is a natural attraction, whilst a 16oz steak platter links rump, fillet, sirloin and rib eye into one mouth-watering dish served with chips, battered onion rings, grilled tomato, a flat mushroom and peppercorn and brandy sauce.

Many of us love rib meat, and the rack of ribs at a Beefeater Grill has a meaty rack smoky flavour; maple ribs of pork with a choice of three sauces, mojito, smoked caramel and apple glaze, or Bourbon and black BBQ. And if all else fails and you are totally baffled by the wealth of choices, ask to have a word with the Steakmaster who will help find what is right for you, together with the best cooking method. These guys leave nothing to chance.

On a menu that is a delight to read, let alone choose a meal from, expect to find smaller dishes such as traditional prawn cocktail, whitebait, chicken liver pâté and baked Camembert, or juicy lamb koftas served with yoghurt and mint dip. There's something about a good steak meal that always leaves a gap for a little temptation to sweeten up the scene and from amongst twelve options look for Belgian chocolate cheesecake, treacle sponge pudding or a caramel apple crumble pie.

Throughout the day a wide range of more general dishes are yours for the ordering, sandwiches, jackets, classic favourites like fish and chips, pasta, salads, and sharing dishes of nachos, potato shells and a Beefeater Grill combo. Next door to many of the restaurants are Premier Inns, so staying the night whatever the circumstances need not be a problem.

And what about wine? Endorsed by Matthew Jukes, wine writer in the Daily Mail and bon viveur in his own right, a wine list that marches with the menu completes an impressive and compelling invitation to enjoy whatever takes your fancy at the nearest Beefeater Grill.

Click on their Website for menu updates and special offers.

Café Rouge has over one hundred branches throughout Britain all offering a wide range of dishes drawn from the French cuisine. Slightly less than half their branches are in or close to London. Almost inevitably the décor and design of each restaurant differs from the others, but there is a general curtsy towards La France.

Many restaurants do an excellent breakfast, or shall we say petit dejeuner, at which such delights as scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toasted brioche, croque Madame, croissants and pain au chocolat make welcome appearances, and to their credit the English traditional gets top billing.

An array of small dishes takes in pulled pork pâté with French bread, and spicy beef and lamb sausage with harissa mayonnaise. Salads and pasta feature largely, as do baguettes and croques. Quick dishes, ideal for lunch, include slices of saucisson and cured pork loin with French bread.

Moving on to more serious stuff we find steaks, an 8oz bavette and thin cut rib eye, with a choice of béarnaise or peppercorn sauce. No French menu would be complete without the poulet jaune grille, pan-roasted breast of corn-fed chicken served on a warm taboulé of bulgar wheat and a medley of roasted vegetables with minted crème fraîche, or a steak frites before moving on to the crème brûlée, or the tart tatin. Almost invariably the coffee tastes like coffee should, something that sadly can all too often still not be said of our English restaurants, who depend too much upon technology and too little on the acquisition of a certain flair for this important conclusion to a meal.

By now we all know that the French, despite their distinctive habits when it comes to matters of satisfying the inner man, maintain a miraculous longevity of life. This is generally attributed to a number of causes, of which a measured consumption of decent wine is foremost. Café Rouge, you may be pleased to hear, encourages this with a well-chosen selection of French wines. Their prix fixe lunch and meals for children, both at a very reasonable figure, also offer excellent value.

Their Website will keep you updated on menu changes, news and other competitions and offers from the Café Society.

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.

In a location renowned across Kent for its beauty, The Coastguard lives up to its reputation for excellent food and drink served with a pleasing informality. All this is complimented by breathtaking views out to sea, and only a stone's throw from the water's edge, surrounded by the renowned impressive white cliffs.

Within, the décor is all seamanlike and ship-shape with plenty of wood surfaces, decent wooden furniture and the odd touch of brass. Described as being 'between the bottom of the hill and the deep blue sea', with the cries of the seabirds, the bracing whiff of the briny and those compelling marine vistas, there can be few places on the coast of Britain that are more inspiring, and certainly no pub that is so near to France.

Sitting at the Coastguard you can look out over the English Channel, feel the sea wind on your face and listen to the sound of the waves. In the winter head to the cosy restaurant and watch the stormy seas buffeting the cliffs, making for one of the most dramatic landscapes in Britain. In the summer relax on the terrace, enjoy the rays of the sun, and look across the blue Channel.

The kitchen is run by Chef Sam who selects the best of local ingredients according to the tides and the season. The result is simple, delicious food and judging by the reaction from their visitors and locals alike, it's well worth the visit. The menu changes twice daily and many dishes have a story behind them, they might be based on an old Roman recipe, a classic dish revitalised or an original creation by Sam in response to some particularly outstanding local produce

A typical carte might include king scallops, smoked haddock, or individual savoury tarts with local free range eggs. Main courses could yield devilled crab, fresh local cod in Hoegaarden batter, or matured steaks.

A stem ginger pudding is served with cinnamon custard, or there's likely to be a sticky toffee pudding or a spiced fruit flapjack, but for a real treat keep an eye open for the sea salt caramel and chocolate tart with fresh berries.

For cheese buffs, the Coastguard is seventh heaven. Sam has a passion for cheese that shines through on each of her carefully selected cheeseboards, whether it's a cheese that's been locally produced for hundreds of years, or a new brand that's making a dramatic entrance to the market, and with the present renaissance in British cheese they are right on the mark.

With the proximity of the continent just across the water it is perhaps hardly surprising that the excellent array of local beers are well supplemented by worthy contributions from further afield. A wine list garnered from none other than Nigel, the pub landlord, rubs shoulders with a collection of distinguished single malts starting in the Orkneys with celebrated Highland Park.

For further information, including their menu and an ever growing list of Awards, do take a look at their Website.

Housed within the Dickens World theme park, Chimichanga Chatham is the perfect place for tired tourists to take a break and enjoy a delicious Mexican meal. The Odeon Cinema is nearby, while the bustling Dockside Outlet Shopping Centre is just a 5-minute walk from the restaurant and with plenty of on-site parking it's only a 5-minute drive to the centre of Chatham.

Chimichanga's extensive à la carte caters to a variety of palates. A wide range of delicious appetisers includes crab cakes, Buffalo chicken wings and empanadas, a traditional crispy pastry filled with a choice of chicken or chorizo sausage with cheese and served with sour cream. Other choices include piri piri prawns, Cajun chicken with chilli sauce and jalapeno bullets, a dish of deep fried jalapeno peppers with cream cheese and chilli sauce. Appetisers to share include chicken nachos or taquitos, crispy flour tortilla tubes with a range of fillings including cheese and black beans, chicken, cheese and salsa and chorizo and cheese.

Light bites include a range of tortilla wraps including a classic fajita wrap with a choice of char grilled fajita steak or chicken served with peppers and onions in a tortilla with Jack cheese. Vegetarians are catered for with the delicious courgette and Portobello mushroom wraps which comes with chipotle chilli sauce and jack cheese. There's also a number of tempting salad options such as blackened tuna salad with tuna steak coated in a special blend of Cajun spices, blacked on a hot skillet and served over a bed of mixed leaves with roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.

For something more filling diners could opt for a tortilla burger, made from 100 per cent fully traceable prime Scottish beef wrapped in a flour tortilla with mayonnaise and served with changa chips.
 
The char grill section's succulent offerings include barbecue baby back ribs served with change chips and jalapeno coleslaw; sirloin mojo rojo, a centre cut sirloin steak marinated in chilli, garlic and coriander and served with beer battered onion rings and change chips, Santa Fe chicken with rice, black beans and guacamole or flame grilled piri piri chicken.
 
Sumptuous Mexican specialities naturally include chimichanga, a flour tortilla fried golden brown with Jack cheese and served with your choice of filling ? either chunky beef chilli con carne, BBQ pulled pork or bean chilli - sautéed onions and peppers and garnished with sour cream, chives, guacamole and tortilla croutons, as well as a variety of burritos, enchiladas and tostadas. There are also chipotle meatballs, Mexican paella, chilli de la casa and south-western crab cakes. The grande quesadilla is a baked flour tortilla sandwich with your choice of filling and drizzled with sour cream and served with Mexican rice and chipotle chilli sauce.
 
The lunch menu offers a choice of two or three courses while a children's menu caters to the tastes of the little ones.

Round off the satisfying meal with scrumptious dessert of giant Mexican profiterole, chocolate fudge brownie or honeycomb smash cheesecake. Alternatively, end with a speciality coffee or liqueur. Chimichanga offers a variety of wines, beers, cocktails, margheritas, sangria and soft drinks to quench the thirst. More information can be found on their Website.