QH Hotels' first Ramada franchise opened in Wrexham, offering 85 air-conditioned bedrooms, and for matters of inner comfort the Fusilier Lounge Bar and Zara Restaurant is available to guests and visitors alike.

Typical starters may include crab and crayfish risotto, and warm French bean and chorizo salad, or pan fried langoustines. Fillet of Welsh black beef with trimmings, carries the flag for Wales, as does local rump of Welsh lamb. Other main courses include pan fried red mullet served with basil and lemon linguini, confit of belly pork with crushed new potatoes and seared duck breast with duck leg salad and orange reduction. The range of desserts is a source of great pride to Head Chef and his brigade, with Zara's crème brûlèe and homemade bread and butter pudding leading the list of in-house delights. Yet, despite all the care and inspiration taken over these dishes, a glass of fresh strawberries served simply with pouring cream still tends to outfox the pastry chef's best efforts. There's no justice!

A short but inspiring wine list is designed to catch all tastes, with three house wines by the glass. A selection of New World brings the customary crop of uplifting names - Mill Cellars, named after a great outback surveyor, or Cullinan View Pinotage, offering a further contribution from South Africa's up and coming wine industry, with a good fruit and smoke character.

Ramada at Wrexham is clearly making a real effort to capture the restaurant business in the area and on present form should succeed.