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Housed in a 16th century building, the Red Lion Inn, located in the delightful market town of Marlborough certainly draws attention on all counts, from the charming interior with ancient beams and an inglenook fireplace, to the panoramic views of the River Kennet flowing nearby. Add to this a seasonal menu featuring game and fish and you can be sure of a wonderful dining experience.

A quick survey of the starters might reveal six bourguignon escargots with garlic and chopped parsley, homemade Wiltshire ham hock terrine with sauce gribiche, and warm salad of woodpigeon with lardons of smoked bacon and black pudding. For main courses expect to find confit of slowly braised belly pork served with a sauté of scallops and dressed with a honey and sweet chilli glaze and coriander, while sautéed frogs legs in rich garlic and tomato introduces a whiff of La France to this very English inn.

During summer months, the terrace at The Red Lion Inn is teeming with lunchtime crowd enjoying sunshine, fresh air and fine food.

Fat Fowl occupies the original site of Bradford on Avon's post office and delights customers with its interior of muted colours, wooden furniture and an abundance of fresh flowers in the restaurant and conservatory. The Parisian terrace allows for guests to enjoy al fresco dining during the summer months and when the colder nights draw in the staff are happy to supply rugs to keep the chill at bay.

Pop in for a cup of morning coffee or a pleasing meal of rustic and provincial dishes where you could find potted brown shrimps or a pig cheek potato cake with creamed onions to start off, and red legged partridge with puy lentils, or bourride of grey mullet, confit fennel, saffron potatoes and aioli as mains from a weekly changing menu.

A rustic tapas bar called The Roost complements the restaurant. Visit them when you have time and linger over tasty snacks, good wine, conversation and live jazz. Expect to find chicken peri peri, oriental beef, saffron risotto and shellfish, a charcuterie selection and homemade breads.

Prejudice is a terrible thing. If you had told me that one of the most attractive Indian restaurants in the south-west was to be found in the cathedral city of Salisbury, you would have found me lacking in conviction. I mean what would have Deans and Bishops past have thought of whiffs of the Orient wafting round the lanes and closes of their ecclesiastical city. In fact they might well have said, "jolly good, how soon do they open after Evensong?" and how perceptive of them to ask. For Anokaa offers serious Indian food against a background of oriental glitter, smooth service and a well-justified air of confidence.

Consider starters of crab cake with ginger, basil and fennel seeds, or chicken breast pieces dusted with garlic, mint, green chilli and coriander, then lightly grilled, or a lamb rump kebab marinated with red wine and spices, then barbecued served with juicy skewed mince of lamb.

Main courses include king prawn delight, king prawns lightly barbecued then cooked in caramelised onions and cinnamon and finished in almond based saffron sauce served with lemon rice, or sea bass with garlic spiced spinach served on a bed of yoghurt sauce.

As well as wine list that would tickle the most critical clerical palate there is the customary selection of beers and soft drinks. For myself I believe that the genuine article in Indian cuisine is well worthy of the wines of another continent, or maybe even its own, notably those from the Maharashtra state.

For some time I made the mistake of thinking that no group of restaurants in the region of 200 locations could hope to maintain the quality for which I was looking.

Then one day I decided to put my prejudices to the test, walked into Oxford Ask! and discovered that I could not have been more mistaken. Their claim to serve freshly prepared quality food in stylish and comfortable surroundings with friendly and efficient service proved to be absolutely spot on.

Since then I have also discovered that a degree of consistency seems to operate throughout their restaurants, and that certainly does take some achieving, implying a degree of management that is enviable. They are perfect places for an impromptu snack, a bit of culinary grazing, or the full works, and families are catered for particularly well.

Their trendy décor usually comprises tiled floors and black furniture with well set tables that sparkle with glass, silver and spotless linen. Ten starters include crostini and bruschetta, followed by a range of salads, pasta and al forno, oven baked pasta, some with chicken.

The pizzas are stone baked in the oven, creating a crisp, authentic and delicious flavour, and they all come topped with mozzarella and tomato. Calzone introduce a touch of opulence with a folded pizza baked in the oven and topped with garlic butter and melted grana padano, whilst inside expect to find chicken or a vegetarian mix.

Amongst the specials may I warmly, in every sense, recommend the polpette al forno, a popular Milanese dish of beef meatballs sautéed in garlic with fire roasted peppers, caramelised onions, chilli and pomodoro sauce, with penne pasta, topped with cheese and oven baked.

An enticing selection of desserts list banoffee pie and tiramisu amongst them, and the coffee tastes like coffee, which may sound banal, but I guess you know what I mean.

Thanks to a well selected wine list speculative drinking can offer handsome dividends, even with prices rarely crossing the £20 barrier.

The Pheasant Inn is well received by both locals and tourists following a change in ownership in September 2010. Located in one of Salisbury's most historic buildings, it was once known as 'The Crispin Inn', named after the patron saint of shoemakers, who also donated the upstairs function and meeting room, 'The Shoemaker's Hall'. This is now available for private or business hire and offer a wide range of menus to suit every occasion.

Although there were several changes in the last few centuries, The Pheasant is now a cosy and warm place that focuses on providing a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The eclectic menu delivers a certain Gallic charm focusing on local and regional fresh ingredients. So expect to find a traditional selection of 'pub classics' as well as an excellent range of locally sourced steaks and grills.