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Out of Town Restaurants

ANGELFISH
Brassknocker Hill, Monkton Combe, BA2 7JD
Tel: 01225 723483
At the very bottom of the hill, and situated right on the banks of the restored Somerset Coal canal, this delightful little café and bistro offers ramblers and daytrippers the chance to take a break and watch the boats go by while enjoying panoramic views of the picturesque Limpley Stoke valley. Owners Lionel and Victoria preside over a resolutely informal eaterie, serving everything from breakfasts, snacks, light lunches and cream teas through to more substantial meals and daily specials. They also run an outside catering company, Gourmet Delicious. Open Mon-Thur 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-6pm.

AT THE SIGN OF THE ANGEL
Church St, Lacock, nr Chippenham, Wilts, SN15 2LB
Tel: 01249 730230, web: www.lacock.co.uk
Elegant, traditional 16th-century inn complete with original oak panelling, beautiful antique furniture and low ceilings: the perfect place for a weekend break or an intimate, romantic evening. The restaurant, candlelit in the evening, is renowned for its traditional English cooking. Daily changing range of specialities includes Lacock beef, fish direct from Cornwall, vegetarian options and full a la carte.

BARLEY WOOD WALLED GARDEN
Long Lane, Wrington, N. Somerset, BS40 5SA
Tel: 01934 863713, email: walled.garden@virgin.net, web: www.betterfood.co.uk
Fresh, organic ingredients - from the owners of the Easton-based Better Food Co - make this charming cafe in Wrington well worth the trip. Full English breakfasts, Sunday lunches (£9.95) and homemade dishes: vegetable bakes using seasonal veg, pate de campagne and their own sausages. The café is also available for private parties and weddings, daytime or evening, for groups of eight or more. Wherever possible, all ingredients are organic and grown in the Walled Garden, and all meat is free-range and organic. Open Daily 9.30am-4.30pm.

BATHAMPTON MILL
Mill Lane, Bathampton, BA2 6TS
Tel: 01225 469758
It may date back to the 17th century, but time has not stood still at the Bathampton Mill. A perfect place to while away warmer days, with a gorgeous garden, two decked patios and a balcony overlooking the river, it’s also a snug spot in winter, with the option to curl up with a coffee, a glass of wine or a bite to eat in front of one of three open fires. A modern country pub on a grand scale, the menu is simple and contemporary, with sharing platters and tapas available all day in the bar area or more substantial a la carte dishes served lunch and evening either in the stylish restaurant or wherever you want to pull up a chair. Food served All day 12noon-9.30pm, until 7pm Sun; a la carte served 12noon-2.30pm and 6-9.30pm.

BRAZZ
Castle Bow, Taunton, TA1 1NF
Tel: 01823 25 2000, web: www.brazz.co.uk
A brasserie bringing the real concept of an open-all-hours (well, nearly) watering hole and eating house to the region for the first time. You can drop in for mid-morning coffee or a lunchtime glass of chardonnay. There’s a selection of lunch dishes that can be on the table in minutes and, naturally, they serve a beer after work before moving onto dinner, where you can indulge yourself in some specialities from the daily changing menu. Extensive wine list, with around 20 available by the glass. Open Mon-Fri 10am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10.30pm.

CALCOT MANOR
Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8YJ
Tel: 01666 890391, web: www.calcotmanor.co.uk
Voted Hotel Spa of the Year 2007, and proud possessor of four AA Red Stars and two AA Rosettes, this beautiful country manor offers a choice of two highly acclaimed restaurants: the Conservatory Restaurant for traditional food or fine dining in a relaxed but stylish setting, and the Gumstool Inn, which provides a more casual but contemporary country pub atmosphere. Fish and meat lovers are in their element here, with sea bass and trout jockeying for position on the menu along with lamb and beef from Prince Charles’s own herds. Three-course a la carte comes in at around £35-£40 a head, with a set lunch at £19 for two courses or £23 for three.

CALDICOT CASTLE
Church Rd, Caldicot, Monmouthshire NP26 4HU
Catering at the castle set in more than 50 acres of tranquil country park has been taken over by Jamesons Events (see Caterers) who have revamped the castle café and offer a range of stylish events in the Great Hall, from sumptuous medieval banquets and weddings to murder mysteries, Victorian supper evenings and children’s parties. See p.109 for more.

THE CELLAR
36 Hill Road, Clevedon BS21 7PJ
Tel: 01275 877766
This Grade II listed building was originally a chemists and still has the original counter. The menu is simple, with continental tapas, salads, jacket potatoes or pastas washed down by any of six house wines. The whites and roses are from chilled barrels, on the counter, which are supplemented by over 100 different wines from around the world, The list of mainly locally sourced beers and ciders is no less impressive, with again over 100 to choose from. To round off, try their acclaimed coffees or teas. Open Tue-Wed 10.30am-9pm, Thur-Sat 10.30am-10pm, Sun 12noon-4pm.

CHARLTON HOUSE
Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4PR
Tel: 01749 342008, web: www.charltonhouse.com
Charlton House’s stylish restaurant, Sharpham Park, showcases both the culinary talents of head chef Elisha Carter and the organically grown produce of Sharpham Park Farm. Also caters for those with a wheat intolerance by using organic spelt in dishes such as fillet of West Coast lemon sole with spelt tagliatelle and Sharpham Park spelt risotto. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm, Sun 12.30-2.30pm, daily 7-9.30pm.

CINNAMON
8 High St, Corsham, Wilts, SN13 0HB
Tel: 01249 701190
Housed in a beautiful 17th-century building with oak beams and stone walls, this place is an elegant but cosy Anglo-French restaurant by night with starters coming in at around a fiver and mains around £14, and a delightful tea and coffee shop by day, serving snacks and light lunches. Tony Chivers and wife Sara offer up great rustic fare with the evening a la carte favourites including a wide variety of fish, meat and poultry dishes. Extensive wine list. Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, Tue-Sat 7-9pm. IDC: Complimentary main course.

COMBE GROVE MANOR HOTEL
Brassknocker Hill, Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7HS
Tel: 01225 834644, web: www.combegrovemanor.com
The sumptuous 17th-century Combe Grove Manor Hotel and Country Club nestles in 69 acres overlooking the breathtaking views of Limpley Stoke Valley on the outskirts of Bath. Its two restaurants, the Cellars Bistro and the Georgian Rooms, offer two distinctly different dining experiences, with the Cellars Bistro menu offering international cuisine in a relaxed, contemporary atmosphere, with a terrace for alfresco dining (weather permitting) and an excellent range of fresh food for kids and adults alike. The Georgian Rooms provide the option of fine dining a la carte style. The creative menu from head chef Elvis Mayers and his team uses local, seasonal produce where possible and herbs from the Manor’s own garden. Try the slow-cooked rabbit with herb dumplings, pickled red cabbage and fondant potato, or the lamb rump with goat’s cheese mash and honey roast parsnips. Awarded an AA Rosette in 2006, booking essential for the Georgian Rooms (closed Thur and Sun evenings).

COOMBE LODGE
Blagdon, N. Somerset, BS40 7RG
Tel: 01761 463355, email: enquiries@coombelodge.co.uk, web: www.coombelodge.co.uk
Find this lovely country house estate and restaurant at the foot of the Mendips. It’s set within its own elegant gardens and boasts great views across the Chew Valley. Stylish and elegant - all art deco features, opulent furnishings and antique fireplaces - with a wonderful atmosphere, calendar of musical events, lawn concerts, classical recitals and themed house parties. The new grill menu features the best of local produce, with all meats sourced solely from farms within the Mendips; then there’s a midweek lunchtime carvery, great bar snacks, and Sundays see traditional roast lunches and gourmet nights. Booking is essential.

NEW
THE CROWN AT CELTIC MANOR
Celtic Manor Resort, Coldra Woods, Usk Valley, South Wales, NP18 1HQ
Tel: 01633 413000, web: www.celtic-manor.com
Offering an elite fine dining experience, the new flagship restaurant at Celtic Manor, opened in partnership with the Michelin-starred Crown at Whitebrook, has been conceived as a freshly modern environment with a high-quality ambience. Three oval, coffered ceilings with crystal chandeliers provide a shimmering opulence to the dining experience, while a chef’s table located within an anteroom in the conservatory enjoys a dramatic split-screen visual link to the kitchen. Using local produce whenever and wherever possible, The Crown’s menus reflect seasonality, with particular attention to the quality of ingredients and fresh, punchy flavours, served in a welcoming and energetic environment.

FAT FOWL
10 Silver St, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JX
Tel: 01225 863111
Occupying the original site of Bradford on Avon’s post office, Fat Fowl makes for an extremely relaxed and friendly eating experience in the downstairs conservatory, with an elegant restaurant upstairs overlooking the town centre and hosting live jazz sessions every four weeks or so. The constantly changing menu offers essentially modern English cuisine sourced locally wherever possible. Enjoy freshly baked pastries, breads or eggs benedict for breakfast, sweet potato and apple curry or homemade steak and guinness pie for lunch, or rustic dishes of pan-fried haddock with a smoked haddock and shellfish chowder and bubble & squeak, or the risotto of leek and fennel with parmesan and sage followed by brioche bread & butter pudding or winter fruit stacks at dinner. Excellent food in delightful surroundings, garnering an impressive 14 out of 15 from Venue’s reviewer on a recent visit, citing the Fat Fowl as serving ‘possibly the best example of locally sourced, seasonal dishes that I’ve ever come across’. Open All day every day (except Sun evenings), serving breakfast from 9.30am. IDC: 25% off total bill.

FIG TREE RESTAURANT
Manor House, Monkton Combe, nr Bath, BA2 7HD
Tel: 01225 723128, web: www.figtreerestaurantbath.co.uk
An incredible experience awaits at this romantic candlelit restaurant. Within the historic setting of a medieval manor house, the Fig Tree Restaurant is one of the most unusual eateries in the area. Only open Friday and Saturday evenings (you must book to avoid disappointment), there’s no corkage charge on BYO wine (very popular among diners) and the place can cope with everything from birthday parties, gatherings of families and friends, christenings and engagement parties in addition to intimate candlelit dinner for two. French-inspired menu: try the tagliatelle of asparagus served with creamy morel sauce and chervil for starters, or breast of guinea fowl served with a chocolate and chilli sauce with dauphinoise potatoes.

GARDEN CAFE
16 Stony St, Frome, BA11 1BU
Tel: 01373 454178, web: www.gardencafefrome.co.uk
Just off the marketplace in the centre of Frome, this lovely, friendly eaterie will sort you out with secluded seating in the walled garden, in addition to its charming interior and small play area for kids. An extensive menu features daily specials, prepared using the very best natural, organic and Fairtrade ingredients, as well as all-day brekkies, lunches, great coffees, snacks, starters and main meals, including meze platters, Thai burgers, cashew nut and bean patties, daily specials, delicious homemade cakes and lots more. Try one of their organic wines, beers or ciders while you’re there. Open seven days a week, and well worth a visit.

HOLBROOK HOUSE HOTEL
Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 8BS
Tel: 01963 824466, web: www.holbrookhouse.co.uk
Elegant Georgian manor house hotel and spa set in acres of natural woodland and parkland. The Cedar Restaurant at Holbrook House is intimate and elegant, and the kitchen uses fresh local ingredients to create a blend of modern European and classical cuisine: take, for example, the seared scallops with chive mash and black pudding starter or the fillet of red mullet ‘Viennoise’ with a Dijon mustard sabayon. Two-course lunches at the two-AA-Rosette restaurant comes in at £14.95, with the full three courses for just £2 extra. You can dine in the Stables Bar or Lounge for a fraction of the price.

HOMEWOOD PARK
Hinton Charterhouse, nr Bath, BA2 7PT
Tel: 01225 723731
Housed in a gracious country house near Bath is what must be one of the loveliest hotels in the West Country. Set in beautiful countryside, only six miles from Bath and just 30 minutes from the M4, Homewood Park has received much praise for the service and facilities provided: guests can enjoy a stroll in the 10 acres of beautiful gardens (awarded first prize in the Bath in Bloom competition six times in the last decade), and the drawing room, study and bar ooze comfort and unassuming luxury, with log fires blazing during the winter months. The nationally acclaimed restaurant, serving the finest in modern English cuisine, is one of the finest in the south of England, voted Country Restaurant of the Year in the Good Food Guide, and proudly boasts two AA Rosettes, recognition of the technique, flair and imagination of head chef Daniel Moon. Separate a la carte, early bird, lunch and Sunday lunch menus. IDC: Complimentary main course.

JACK’S RESTAURANT
Hartham Park, Corsham, Wilts, SN13 0RP
Tel: 01249 700100, web: www.jacksrestaurantandbar.co.uk
Set in beautiful parklands, Jack’s is an impressive place. Part of the Hartham Park complex (an imposing 18th-century Georgian mansion set in 50 acres which now houses a conference centre, offices and wedding venue), it has the ambience of a posh country home but the comfort of something much more laid back. The menu would probably be best described as modern European: ham hock terrine with pease pudding or gnocci with giroles and spinach for starters, and mains stretching from fish & chips to scallops wrapped in bacon with confit duck and butternut squash puree. Good wine list, impressive use of local, seasonal ingredients.

LA STRADA
13 Cheap St, Frome, BA11 1BN
Tel: 01373 474374, web: www.cafelastrada.co.uk
OK, not really a restaurant, but this is the most delightful cafe and ice-cream parlour you’ve ever been to, boasting homemade, artisan ice-cream using the finest local ingredients, superb coffee, a fantastic range of pastries, savories and exquisite chocolates and, in their recently launched gift shop (situated opposite) a stunning range of gifts and kitchenwares from Alessi, Gaggia, Dualit and others.

LAWRENCE’S BISTRO
2 Kingshill, Nailsea, BS48 2AU
Tel: 01275 858348, web: www.lawrences-bistro.co.uk
Situated in the heart of Old Nailsea, Lawrence’s is the town’s premier eaterie. A warm, friendly welcome is guaranteed in the cosy restaurant, with enough space for parties or that intimate corner table for a romantic night out. An exclusive wine list features only estate wines, and whether you’re after a traditional Sunday lunch or an enjoyable evening out, with selections from simple pork and leek sausages with mash and onion gravy through to duck breast on honey-glazed root vegetables, everyone is catered for. See also Caterers. IDC: 25% off total bill.

LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL
Colerne, Wilts, SN14 8AZ
Tel: 01225 742777, web: www.lucknampark.co.uk
This hotel is renowned for its unique equestrian centre, beauty salon, new world-class spa due to open late summer 2008, 500 acres of listed parkland, and, naturally, its award-winning, Michelin-starred restaurant. Open every day for lunch (three courses from £30) and dinner. Head chef Hywel Jones and team serve up a British-inspired menu using the finest organic and local ingredients to ensure the fullest flavours; full use is also made of the extensive herb garden. The a la carte menu is currently featuring such delights as rare seared blue fin tuna with smoked haddock and sweet potato fritters, aubergine caviar and a citrus glaze - and that’s just for starters. Prices from £65 for three courses, with a special menu gourmand and vegetarian menu gourmand from £75, plus wine.

MANOR HOUSE HOTEL
Castle Combe, Wiltshire, SN14 7HR
Tel: 01249 782206, web: www.exclusivehotels.co.uk
Stunning 14th-century manor house with an amazing view of the breathtaking Cotswold countryside. You can take a seat in the elegant, airy Bybrook restaurant (or, weather permitting, on the terraces), snack in the drawing rooms or enjoy cocktails in the oak-panelled bar which has hosted Sienna Miller, Margaret Thatcher and Robert De Niro among others. Recently appointed executive head chef Richard Davies and his team have developed an imaginative menu based on the latest modern British food styles interlaced with traditional favourites, using local suppliers and their own kitchen garden to provide exceptional ingredients that highlight the distinct flavours of each season. Three-course dinner currently £52.

METHUEN ARMS HOTEL
High St, Corsham, SN13 0HB
Tel: 01249 714867, fax: 01249 712004, web: www.methuenarms.co.uk
The Carver’s restaurant within this elegant, town house hotel set in the pretty market town of Corsham, serves award-winning English and continental cuisine and, with its candlelit, stone-walled charm, offers a mouth-watering selection of homecooked dishes from the superb a la carte menu. The relaxed, informal ambience is conducive to a fine dining experience, and the food is prepared using organic meat and fish wherever possible. Casual dining also available in the lounge and bar areas.

MILLER’S AT GLENCOT HOUSE
Glencot Lane, Wookey Hole, Wells, Somerset BA5 1BH
Tel: 01749 677160, web: www.glencothouse.co.uk
Gorgeous and theatrical restaurant with beautiful views overlooking the River Axe at the foot of the Mendip Hills – the absolutely perfect setting in which to enjoy first-rate French and British cuisine at either lunch or dinner.

MOODY GOOSE
Old Priory, Church Square, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2HX
Tel: 01761 416784/410846, fax: 01761 417851, web: www.theoldpriory.co.uk
The beautiful Old Priory Hotel, dating back to medieval times, is also home to the famed Moody Goose restaurant, originally located in Bath. Lovingly preserved, the hotel features a wealth of character and charm including inglenook fireplaces, flagstone floors and oak beams, a splendid atmosphere in which to dine and relax. Homemade breads, sauces, ice-creams and petits fours are prepared each morning; fresh fish arrives daily from Brixham, and the meat, dairy produce and vegetables are all sourced locally. Local farmers provide cheese and game, and fresh herbs and vegetables are picked from the Old Priory’s kitchen garden.

OLD BUTCHERS
7 Park St, Stow-on-the-Wold, GL54 1AQ
Tel: 01451 831700
Husband-and-wife team Peter and Louise Robinson opened the Old Butchers in 2005, creating a fine dining restaurant with a difference: the food is simple, local and without pretence. Many ingredients are produced within 30 miles of the kitchen door; regulars even bring salad leaves from their allotments, damsons from their orchards, and Cotswold crayfish from secret locations. The pork comes from the couple’s own herd. The restaurant menu changes daily to accommodate the constantly shifting supplies and children can order small portions of any dish on the menu.

OLD MANOR HOUSE & BRASSERIE
5 Bristol Rd, Keynsham, BS31 2BA
Tel: 0117 986 3107, web: www.keynshammanor.co.uk
Restored and renovated 16th century manor house-turned hotel retaining all its period charm and offering consistently high-quality cuisine. Locally sourced produce is the order of the day in dishes such as pan-cooked beef fillet. Nine ensuite bedrooms as well. Open Mon-Sat 7-9pm, Sun 12-2.30pm

THE PARK
Wick, nr Bath, BS30 5RN
Tel: 0117 937 1800, web: www.theparkresort.com
Hotel resort with two championship 18-hole golf courses set in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to Bath and the picturesque villages of the Cotswolds and South Gloucestershire. Set in 240 acres of attractive parkland with streams, lakes and ancient 400-year-old oaks, the house was the inspiration for Birtwick Park in Anna Sewell’s ‘Black Beauty’. Accommodation is built of warm, honey-coloured limestone, mostly arranged around a charming courtyard set just behind the handsome manor house. The beautiful Oakwood Restaurant (once a masonic lodge) is run by award-winning executive head chef Mark Treasure, whose signature dishes include delicious crudités as well as roasted fish of the day, cooked in a wood stone oven. In addition, the hotel has its own popular bar, Greens.

NEW
THE PEPPER POT
Lower Wick, nr Dursley, Glos, GL11 6DD
Tel: 01453 810259
Modern, contemporary décor and imaginative, homecooked food generous of portion and reasonable of price. Formerly the Pickwick Inn (there is still a separate bar area if you don’t want to eat). Modern British/European menu: pork belly with black pudding, fish chowder, mushroom and tomato risotto and lots of locally reared, well-hung meat and game. Rather good puds too.

PRIORY INN
London Rd, Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8JJ
Tel: 01666 50225, web: www.theprioryinn.co.uk
This buzzy hotel and gastropub in the heart of Tetbury blends contemporary design within a historic building. The award-winning gastropub focuses on local and seasonal food - the owners and chefs love to share their passion for local produce - and you can read about the farmers, growers and producers at the table. The style is simple, rustic cuisine: there is a wood-fired oven producing mouth-watering gourmet pizzas, and real ales and local wines feature heavily. Named as one of the top ten child-friendly hotels in Britain by the Good Hotel Guide, they have a kids’ menu (all homegrown ingredients), high chairs and toy box in the coffee bar to keep your little ones happy.

RED OR WHITE
46 Castle St, Trowbridge, BA14 7AY
Tel: 01225 781666, web: www.redorwhite.biz
A contemporary, bright and lively restaurant heavily reliant on local produce. The impressive menu offers a choice between full a la carte and lighter bites, plus some great deals for early evening diners. They can also cater for any special dietary requirements. Fabulous cuisine and over 600 wines, including vegetarian and vegan tipples. Passing through the wine merchant operation on your way to dinner, you hand-select your wine to complement your meal, and pay the retail price plus a small amount for corkage. Also regularly stage wine evenings. Party bookings and private functions catered for in spacious annexe and lounge. IDC: Complimentary main course.

NEW
REFLECTIONS
The Boulevard, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1NA
Tel: 01934 622454, web: www.reflectionsrestuarant.com
Situated on Weston’s Boulevard, Reflections specialises in modern European cuisine, with a focus on seasonal high-quality produce. The team behind the restaurant has impeccable credentials: executive chef Simon Phillips was head chef of Browns Restaurant in Bristol and Bath, and Kevin Seymour was the manager of Rick Stein’s Hotel and Bistro, St Petroc’s, and assistant manager and sommelier of The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow. Menus change every six weeks or so, and there are occasional theme nights featuring live jazz and the like (check the website for details). Sunday lunch comes in at £13.95 for two courses, £15.95 for three (kids’ portions at £8.50/£10.50). Open Wed–Sun 12noon–2.30pm, Thur–Sat 7–9.30pm.

SHARPHAM PARK RESTAURANT
Charlton House Hotel, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4PR
Tel: 01749 342008, web: www.charltonhouse.com
Embracing the trend for using leading organic local produce in the acclaimed restaurant of his Charlton House Hotel, Roger Saul searched high and low to find a head chef who is as passionate about organic produce as he is and, since joining Sharpham Park, Elisha Carter has revamped the menu to feature seasonal, organically grown local produce with the likes of West County pork with turnips and compote of apricots and cider sauce or the poached and grilled red leg partridge with savoy cabbage and thyme sauce. The menu also incorporates rare meats from Saul’s organic farm. Rare breed White Park beef, Hebridean and Manx Loghtan sheep, and red deer are all specialities, with offerings such as the slow-roasted best end of Sharpham Park lamb, served with braised artichokes and cassoulet of beans. The restaurant also caters for the wheat-intolerant with a selection of dishes that replace wheat with the organically grown spelt grain farmed at Sharpham Park.

THE SORREL RESTAURANT
Ston Easton Park Hotel, Ston Easton, nr Bath, Somerset, BA3 4DF
Tel: 01761 241631, web: www.stoneaston.co.uk
As you might expect, the food dished up at the Ston Easton Park Hotel is as impressive as the grounds and the building itself. The team in the kitchen at The Sorrel believe that really fresh vegetables are an essential part of outstanding cuisine, and make great use of their Victorian kitchen garden to provide many of the ingredients needed, backed up by the best local producers. The restaurant is open to non-residents for lunch and dinner, with alfresco dining throughout the summer and full afternoon tea served daily. Check their website for fabulous cookery days and demonstrations.

NEW
SWAN HOTEL
1 Church St, Bradford on Avon, Wilts, BA15 1LN
Tel: 01225 868686, web: www.theswan-hotel.com
Owned by Stephen Ross, who made his name at Bath’s Queensberry Hotel, the Swan offers all of the comfort and style of a quality urban hotel with the character and charm befitting a Grade II listed country inn. The restaurant serves up classic British, seasonal cuisine, honestly priced and beautifully presented for both lunch and dinner sittings and, with its position slap bang in the middle of this pretty-as-a-picture town (and just five minutes’ walk from the train station), you’re missing a real treat if you don’t pay a visit soon. The delights that come out of chef Tom Bridgeman’s kitchen include crab mayonnaise on toast - an enormous mound of white and brown meat containing big, juicy chunks of crustacean, pan-fried lamb’s liver, slow-cooked saddleback pork belly with clapshot and apple sauce, and a rather fine baked lime cheesecake. As if that wasn’t enough of a draw, Bath’s infamous Raincheck Bar is having a bit of a rebirth in the hotel’s atmospheric vaulted cellar bar, thanks to Mark Heather, main man at the Raincheck and now general manager here.

THORNBURY CASTLE
Castle St, Thornbury, BS35 1HH
Tel: 01454 281182, web: www.thornburycastle.co.uk
With 500 years of history, including visits from King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, this 16th-century Tudor castle, standing in 15 acres of grounds, is now a country house hotel and restaurant that’s renowned for its many traditional English favourites, like the famous treacle tart and butterscotch pudding, as well as exceptional Sunday roasts. Cheeseboard features some of the best British and Continental cheeses, and you’ll find plenty of modern, internationally inspired dishes on head chef Lee Heptinstall’s menu. All dishes use only the finest, freshest ingredients, sourced from local markets and suppliers wherever possible, with herbs and vegetables like courgette flowers and cherry tomatoes grown on the premises. Dinner a la carte is £42.50 for three courses. Well worth the trip.

TROUBLE HOUSE
Cirencester Rd, Tetbury, Glos GL8 8SG
Tel: 01666 502206, web: www.thetroublehouse.co.uk
Martin and Neringa Caws (his pedigree includes stints at London’s Michelin-starred Pied a Terre and as head chef at Marco Pierre White’s now-gone Mirabelle) recently took over Tetbury’s Trouble House from Michael and Sarah Bedford, now at their own deli-cum-bistro in the town, the Chef’s Table. The couple clearly realised that taking on one of Britain’s best-loved gastropubs wasn’t going to be easy, and they have made few alterations to the place - apart from the menu, that is: a constantly changing selection featuring no more than a half-dozen starters or mains. There could be grilled sea scallops, caramelised cauliflower and cumin purée, with raisins and capers for starters; braised ox cheek with snails, potato purée and sauce bourguignon for main from a selection that draws heavily on fantastic, seasonal British produce. It’s all good, and Martin should have no Trouble in continuing the House’s impeccable pedigree.

WALNUT TREE HOTEL
North Petherton, nr Bridgwater, TA6 6QA
Tel: 01278 662255, web: www.walnuttreehotel.com
This hotel offers a choice of dining experiences. Their award-winning Lemon Tree Restaurant offers a level of service and hospitality that perfectly complements both the business and casual diner. The team of chefs has been recognised for their culinary talents with RAC and AA Rosettes. Whether it’s a quiet evening for two, special celebration with friends or champagne breakfast meeting, you’ll appreciate the warmth and ambience. For a more informal dining option, try the bistro for delicious, freshly prepared dishes with a European flavour, plus daily specials. Both menus, along with the hotel itself, have had a recent revamp: the confit shoulder of Exmoor lamb basted with foie gras, served with a cabbage and pancetta parcel, sweet potato gratin and provencal jus is just one of the current highlights.

WHATLEY MANOR
Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wilts, SN16 0RB
Tel: 01666 822888, web: www.whatleymanor.com
Exclusive, luxurious hotel in a beautifully restored Cotswold manor house voted ‘Best for Rooms’ by Condé Nast Traveller. Aquarius, the award-winning spa, offers a host of day spa experiences to ease and soothe. There are two superb restaurants: the Swiss chalet-style Le Mazot brasserie serving lunch and dinner daily, with main dishes around the £17 mark; and the recently refurbished restaurant The Dining Room, serving dinner Wed-Sun offering an a la carte menu at £65 a head and an exquisite tasting menu at £80. Both restaurants are helmed by Michelin-starred head chef Martin Burge, whose classical French menu with contemporary touches is inventive and imaginative without being pretentious. Everything is freshly prepared and locally sourced, and the game is superb. Alfresco dining too.

WILD DUCK INN
Drakes Island, Ewen, Glos, GL7 6BY
Tel: 01285 770310, web: www.thewildduckinn.co.uk
Fabulous restaurant in the midst of Gloucestershire’s glorious countryside, with a warm, inviting and relaxed atmosphere. The dining room menu is always changing, and caters for vegetarians and those with special dietary needs. Food is produced from as much local organic produce as possible (all meat comes from their local butcher, not a wholesaler) and head chef Richard Mann designs his menu around modern British and European food with the occasional nod to the Far East. The lunch staple of beer-battered cod is also available at dinner, along with anything from Aberdeen Angus steaks to grilled sea bass or poached salmon, and one of their drop-dead desserts is a must.

WOODFORD LODGE
Chew Valley Lake, BS40 8XH
Tel: 01275 331365
Next to the stunning Chew Valley Lake, a true countryside escape. Superb views, with sailing boats, bird life and patient fishermen creating the most picturesque of settings. Lunch daily and evening meals (Tue-Sun) as well as delicious Sunday roasts. Lunch menu offers a varied selection of fare, from jacket potatoes and sandwiches to lasagne, trout and sole. Dinner prices are reasonable, considering the backdrop and the quality of fare offered, with a la carte mains averaging around £13. A popular place, especially in the summer, so booking is advised. Open from 8am for excellent breakfasts during the fishing season. Sunday roast £12.95 for two courses.

WOODLANDS COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
Hill Lane, Brent Knoll, Somerset, TA9 4DF
Tel: 01278 760232, web: www.woodlands-hotel.co.uk
Eating out at the Woodlands Restaurant, nestled in the Somerset countryside, offers the chance to sit and sample the finer things in life. For that special occasion, from a romantic dinner for two to a family celebration, their chef will delight and surprise with his culinary skill, diversity and mastery, picking only the best and freshest locally produced ingredients to offer cuisine of the highest calibre. With a licensed bar and attentive staff, the restaurant is open to non-residents for dinner Tue-Sat, but booking is essential to avoid disappointment.

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