The Stafford Restaurant

Left cold by the chilly minimalism of modern hotel dining rooms? Then live it up like a lord at The Stafford, where plaster mouldings, busy carpets, elaborately swagged curtains & grand chandeliers are the plush backdrop for a grand old dining experience where gentleman are still required to wear a jacket. With prices of around £30 for a main course, the cooking is as rich as the clientele: lobster & sole souffle with a caviar & Champagne sauce, beef Wellington with Bordelaise sauce & celeriac mash, & crepes Suzette with vanilla ice-cream are among the dishes that might leave you struggling to squeeze out from the arms of your chair, though there are also simpler meat & fish grills which showcase the same excellent British ingredients. A lengthy set-lunch menu is a comparative snip at £29.50 for three courses.