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The lively La Tasca chain caters for parties, children's events and family gatherings in addition to anytime dining. These restaurants capture well the warm and vibrant spirit of Spain, and are best known for their tapas and traditional paellas.

Their star player is tapas, which can be had solo or in tandem with a meal. The calamares andaluza, deep-fried squid rings, served with roasted garlic mayonnaise and lemon, is great for sharing, while the chorizo frito al vino, spicy Spanish sausage flavoured with paprika, garlic and herbs, sautéed in red wine, offers a real treat. Chicken lovers order alitas de pollo, marinated chicken wings, or have skewers of chicken breast and pepper, marinated in paprika.

Valenciana is an interesting paella that combines seafood with chicken, and if you have a taste for trivia, you may be surprised to learn that 'la paella' actually refers to the utensil in which the dish is cooked.

Other than liqueurs and beer, there are wines from Spanish vineyards and sparkling cava. All of these, especially the dry rosé wines combine well with tapas. And you would be really getting into the spirit of things if you rounded off with the crema Catalana, traditional Spanish-style vanilla custard, topped with caramelised sugar.

La Tasca Spanish Tapas Restaurants and Bars today have over sixty outlets across the UK, so it is odds on there is a branch fairly close to your home.

This award winning inn with rooms continues to delight under the initiatives of Paul Gilchrist and chef Richard Coates. Whilst there is plenty for fans of English cooking to be happy about, a wider approach is taken whenever the chance arises.

Originally a group of 400 year old brick and flint cottages, now blended skilfully together, the completed building represents a splendid meeting of old and new with subdued lighting bringing out the best in ancient timbers and flagstones polished with age.

A lively lunch time menu could include a crispy duck salad with bean shoots, followed by wild boar and Chimay beer sausages with red cabbage rounding off with chocolate and raspberry pudding and white chocolate ice cream. Many dishes have a guiding note towards a particular beer or wine, some of the beers with a pretty eye-watering s.g.

The evening menu expands the choices, offering terrine of foie gras and ham hock with a pear and beer chutney, crab and brandy bisque, roast rump of English lamb, or slow roasted belly of pork served with creamed mash, smoked black pudding, caramelised apples and cider jus.

The range of beers is impressive, including Brakspear on draught, with a good wine list that travels the world, starting with house wine at £12.95.

Of the many inns of this name throughout Britain, the one near Witney has to be the one that springs to mind for many folk, tucked away in the rolling folds of the Cotswold countryside, and possessing tremendous warmth and character. The provision of food that provides a good blend between gourmet and comfort is uppermost in their minds, with an invocation of local ingredients wherever possible. Within a few miles of Oxford, Chipping Norton and major motorways the Bird is an ideal location, and its Cotswold stone construction echoes a note of stability and permanence that reassures and encourages close contact.

The recent redesigning of the interiors has brought an acceptable note of comfort and 21st century living, without impeding the historic features that are a much loved part of our ancient inns, the sort of things that visitors from afar marvel at, and the locals quietly admire and accept as part of their heritage. A large part of the work has revolved round the bedrooms which offer modern luxury and comfort to a high level. Egyptian cotton bed linen, wall mounted plasma TV with freeview channels, direct dial telephones are amongst the amenities that these well furnished suites take in their stride. Their per room rates are particularly attractive.

In a dining room rich with dark colour, dishes that transcend the normal rules of engagement gladden the hearts of those who look for food that pleases and restores. The evening menu opens with some nibbles, mixed olives, anchovy sticks, followed by a selection of six starters amongst which expect to find smoked salmon macaroni with fresh basil, Serrano ham, celeriac remoulade and aged balsamic, or pan fried scallops, with celeraric, apples and bacon.

Main courses weave a steady route amongst renowned British favourites, with pan-fried calf's liver, confit cabbage and rosti potato, a grilled pork chop with roast garlic and lemon oil or wild sea bass fillet, braised fennel and sauce vierge. All the meat on their menu is locally sourced, thus greatly increasing the feelings one may have towards the prospect of a rib-eye steak with foie gras butter, fries and watercress.

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.

The Old Parsonage is one of the best loved landmarks in Oxford, a typical Cotswold composition of style and substance. At one stage of its history it served as a refuge for clergy, and has been home to a number of distinguished literati, including Oscar Wilde.

Nowadays it provides a refuge of a different kind and being handy for the city centre is convenient for both town and gown. The bar and restaurant are combined and offer breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner from an imaginative menu. Do not expect the full dining experience, but bear in mind that Gee's, fives minutes away, is part of the same group.

The menu could include baked goats' cheese and roast beetroot salad; spicy Moroccan lamb tagine; roast partridge, game chips and bread sauce; fillet of halibut, crushed potatoes and hollandaise, and a selection of British cheeses or simply a delicious glass of mulled wine for warmth and cheer.

If you?re getting married in Oxford, The Old Parsonage offers a delightful setting for your big day.

The Mill Brook Room is part of the Mill House Hotel, the leading independent family owned country house hotel in the heart of the Cotswolds. This superbly converted stone mill house dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086 is set in ten acres of fabulous lawned gardens in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. It is located in the heart of Kingham, voted "England's Favourite Village" by Country Life Magazine in 2006.

The Mill Brook Room Restaurant enjoys a high standard of cuisine. Chef Giles Lee holds 2 AA Rosettes and has recently developed a completely new £32 a la carte dinner menu. A typical meal could be a starter of ham hock and foie gras terrine with pickled wild mushrooms, a main course of roast pollock, warm salad of aubergine, plum tomatoes, mint and coriander and a dessert of mini crème brulées of mint, cinnamon and chocolate. A choice of 120 bins is available, with house wines starting at £15.50.

The Mill is currently offering a wide choice of lunch light bite and bar meal menus in the Mill Stream Bar and Terrace at very competitive prices, with an introductory two course lunch for £10, three courses for £14.50. The hotel is featured in the AA's Best Places to Stay for Food Lovers, Britain's Best hotels and the Michelin Guide for 2008.

One of the greatest pleasures in life for celebrity chef Raymond Blanc is sharing a good meal with family and friends. He achieves this through Brasserie Blanc, where his team take great joy in serving authentic French cuisine in a modern, brasserie atmosphere. All their dishes use the finest ingredients, sustainable freedom foods, free range and natural or wild produce.

With eight outlets, the brasserie retains the individuality of each of the locations, while maintaining a uniform standard of food and service. The menu has several signature dishes like Maman Blanc's miscellany of salads, Loch Fyne mussels and Burgundy snails in garlic herb butter.

Some interesting mains are Cumberland sausages with bubble and squeak, Aberdeenshire rump steak and chips, Dutch calf's liver served with bacon, sage and smooth mash, and of course, Raymond's smoked haddock, leek and gruyère fish cake. There is a healthy selection of children's options also.

The wine list is French in concept, but includes New World wines, and offers over forty-five varieties, ensuring there is something for everyone. In addition to a range of French cheeses, selected by the Premier Cheese Company, you could settle for their favourite dessert, baked Alaska with flaming Grand Marnier, to end the meal on a sweet note.

If you're someone who likes the Mediterranean and their relaxed and informal ways of life then RJ @ 21 will make you especially happy because they're inspired by the cafes and restaurants of Barcelona and specialise in fresh, seasonal and simply created food.

The stylish little place with its minimalist design, vibrant colours, cosy couches and wooden furniture, all complemented by pictures from the streets of Barcelona, exudes quality and charm. Consider visiting RJ with friends, the family or children and experience Mediterranean flair in Cowley Road.

The seasonally changing menu offers continental and English breakfasts, meals and a range of wine and cocktails. Consider starting with a plate of manchego cheese with sultanas, pine nuts and olive oil before moving on to Kelmscott honey roasted ham, egg and chips, a salad of endive, walnut, gorgonzola and apple, or mains of wild mushroom tagliatelle; grilled swordfish, roasted tomatoes on the vine or rib eye steak frites.

Desserts could include sweet 'coca' with vanilla ice cream or banana flambé.