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Described, quite justifiably, as a 'proper pub, The James Figg graces the heart of the English market town of Thame offering well kept beer, honest pub food and a warm welcome. As a mission statement that's pretty undefeatable, and it works. Named after James Figg, England's first undisputed champion boxer, who is believed to have lived in the building during the 18th century, the opening of his eponymous pub has been hailed as a great addition to the town's amenities.

The James Figg takes great pride in serving some of the best of British ales, with Bombardier from Charles Wells in Bedfordshire, UBU from Stratford-on-Avon's award-winning Purity Brewery, guest ales from our local Vale Brewery, lager from Kirin Ichiban and cider from Addlestone's.

The menu is delightfully simple and very appealing. Small food offers home-made pork scratchings; soup of the day or Scotch egg, and breaded camembert. Sausage rolls strike a pleasantly retro note, and there are spicy prawns for those who like their starter small and flavoursome. Main courses have a great proper pub appeal, starting with a slab of home-roast ham, egg and chips; traditional fish and chips to classic Ploughman's. Chocolate Sundae, and banana split are one of life's little comforts, but others are available along the same lines.

The James Figg makes the most of nature's bounty in the form of ham from outdoor-reared pigs, then roast at home. Newitt's Butchers are conveniently close so hardly surprising their pies and sausage rolls are part of the more casual fare.

A simple selection of sandwiches and side dishes looks after the needs of those in search of something swift and simple. Expect to find cheese and tomato toasties; prawn Marie Rose, hot beef bap and roast potatoes or Caesar chicken wrap.

The wine list is brief, but good value is never far away. All are available by the glass, or 'pinta' which corresponds to a 500 ml carafe served in an old fashioned milk bottle. Only two stray over the £20 bottle price, but not drastically.

Behind the pub, in what used to be the Stables Block, a large events space has been created for happenings night or day. Private parties of up to 60 people seated or 100 standing can be comfortably accommodated, with its own bar and facilities for live bands, DJs and a dance floor. Business meetings, product launches or small conferences can also be made welcome. Call to discuss your requirements.

A vigorous programme of events is never far away, and whilst you may have missed the first Thursday music club on first Thursday of every month, plenty of sporting watching on the large screen ensures there are few dull moments. This is a child and dog friendly establishment, with treats for pooches and double lollies for children.

This is a thoroughly refreshing, in every sense, pub that will appeal to those who are looking for a genuinely welcoming, no-nonsense approach to pub-keeping which not unnaturally attracts the same sort of customers. Do check on their Website for further details and read, if you need any further encouragement, what the press coverage has to say about The James Figg.

The Thatch has an interesting history to add to its ancient origins way back in the 16th century. Many will recall the BBC2 show, The Restaurant, which culminated in the renovation of The Thatch as the prize won by Jeremy and Jane Hooper, who moved in November 2008. Following their decision to move back to Cornwall partly for family reasons but also to open a restaurant there, a team from the award-winning Peach Pub Company moved in.

Partner Frazer Sutherland has worked everywhere from the dizzy heights of the OXO Tower, London and The Summit in Sydney and is now, with his team, working his magic in Thame. In charge amongst the stoves is Paul Whitby, a real professional. The menu designed specially by Paul and his team features the traditional favourites as well as something a little different.

The Thatch opens at 10am daily, serving coffee and cake, with hot food available from noon onwards. The all-day menu served from noon to 6.00pm includes an express menu for those on the move, with a good range of sandwiches as well as hot meals.

Their renowned deli board is also available with cheese, charcuterie, antipasti, fish and favourites offering a rich harvest of tasty bites at £2.25 a go. Or take the easy route and ask the staff to make up your own board at great value for £11 served with choice of rustic or pitta bread. This is the perfect start in trying some of the fantastic ingredients and a splendid way to chill out after a hard day before getting down to the meal.

On their menu, you will find the very best quality fresh ingredients - fantastic sausages; free-range chicken and eggs; simple, pan-fried cod fillet and seafood; rib eye steaks - sourced from producers who take pride in their products and an ethical stance in their production. The Thatch's 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.

The à la carte menu is served from noon ? 2.45pm and evenings. The starters could consist of soup of the day with crusty bread, or beef carpaccio with rocket, parmesan, lemon and truffle oil. This could be followed by rump of lamb with Welsh potato cake, tender stem broccoli and minted salsa verde, or loin of pork, French beans, mushrooms and horseradish fettuccini. The meal can be rounded off with a summer pudding or chocolate tart and salted caramel peanuts.

Pubs are so much concerned with food these days that it is sometimes easy to forget their traditional function in life, to provide a comfortable place in which to drink. A short but very serviceable wine list packs in quality and variety, described in the 2008 Michelin Guide as 'small but well-chosen with a decent selection by the glass'. Well-kept real ales and continental lagers keep the long thirsts contented, and premium spirits hit the spot when needed.

To help you keep an eye on developments at this highly attractive country pub/restaurant a quick click on the Website will reveal all. You might also want to consider a visit to The Thatch's sister pubs - The Old Mill in Berkhamsted and The Fishes at North Hinksey near Oxford.

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.

The very name Moti Mahal conjures up splendid images of sprawling palaces and an India that is no longer what it used to be, quaint and simply delightful. But this restaurant in Tiddington with its British backdrop of the Fox Inn and decor, which almost strays into the staid category were it not for the colourful curtains, is a remarkable choice for lunch or dinner. There may not be any palatial influences as suggested by the name but the food is rich, indulgent and completely Indian.

Start the meal with the leheriki macchli, cubes of succulent, flaked Bangladeshi freshwater fish sautéed with green chillies, garlic and coriander. Move on to some of the specials such as Kashmiri masalla kofta, spicy lamb meatballs cooked with cubes of bell peppers or the farhani murgh, chicken breast stuffed with minced lamb and cooked in a rich sauce. All your favourites are present and the choices of rice and breads make perfect accompaniments.

Like many large modern hotels the Belfry does not go out of its way to promote what is at the very core of its day-to-day life, the restaurant. This is not good marketing. As the public awareness and appreciation of good food grows so those hotels that offer decent food should let it be widely known. The Belfry's light oak panelled Rycote Restaurant has good reason to be proud of its cuisine. A starter could consist of chicken, apple and walnut terrine with rosemary toast and a fig compote, followed by a seared escalope of salmon on asparagus risotto. For those who can manage to summon the necessary willpower to avoid the cheese board salvation might take the form of a fresh fruit salad with a brandy snap roll. A good wine list leaves plenty of room for manoeuvre and house wine is at £12.95.

The British are noted for many things, not least that object of gastronomic derision, the humble sausage. Quite why this should be so beats me, after all the Germans also have a vested interest in the propagation of the banger, snorker or whatever other name you may care to give it. Perhaps it has something to do with the shape, but at Kathy's Bistro they are concerned less with the shape and far more with the contents, which leave me, a hardened connoisseur of this wonderful delicacy, totally impressed. In an age when black pudding has assumed respectability can the sausage be far behind?

It is the sheer range that is so impressive. Starting with might be termed as designer sausages no surprise to find the Australians up there with the kangaroo version, which will leave you jumping no doubt, followed by the ostrich variety which will just leave you - period. The Brits weigh in with the pheasant and whiskey version before we move on to tried and tested favourites from Lincolnshire, Cumberland and Newmarket. The best seller, believe it or not, is the South African traditional Boerewors. A welcome note of standardisation is reached by the accompaniments which are uncompromisingly mash, beans (as in baked), fried onions and gravy.

When I tell you that a normal helping of your chosen sausage consists of two quarter pounders at £7.95, whilst others may elect for the small at £6.95, which is just one, you will get the sense of scale. It is greatly to the credit of Kathy that they do cater for the less enthusiastic non-banger-fiends, with a good range of tapas and other more universally acceptable dishes.

No prizes for guessing that some of our more respected ales are on offer, along with the Hoegaarden on tap and a good range of New World wines. How refreshing to find someone taking a quirky, though I should think very profitable dig at some of the over-seriousness of our attitudes to food.

One hears of restaurants with rooms but antiques with restaurants is a new twist, and it seems to work very well at The Swan, housed in a historic Grade II Elizabethan coaching inn, and home to the collections of over eighty antique dealers in forty showrooms.

The décor and fittings of the restaurant benefits from the other activity, the modern British cuisine uses produce that has clearly been well sourced and the menu lists many old favourites that would feel at home with the antiques in the nicest possible way.

Weary travellers have been visiting The Swan for over 500 years for good food and wine. Highlights include a traditional Sunday roasts, or the weekday a la carte menu where customers can choose from seared scallops with black pudding and basil oil; wild mushroom and artichoke risotto; filleted red mullet, caper and chive butter with baby vegetables, and a dessert of rich chocolate fondant. Lighter lunchtime choices include eggs Benedict, smoked salmon, chive pancake and scrambled eggs.

The Swan is a lovely place to celebrate birthdays, weddings or anniversaries.