SquareMeal Gold Awards

Gouqi is a fine dining Chinese restaurant from seven Michelin-starred chef Tong Chee Hwee, where he brings innovative contemporary Chinese cuisine to St James’s in London. Tong helped to open Hakkasan Hanway Place in 2001, which gained its Michelin star two years later in 2003, before later becoming the executive chef of the entire Hakkasan Group in 2010. Over the years, he’s also led the kitchens at Hakkasan Mayfair, Yauatcha Soho and HKK, before leaving the group in 2019.

Gouqi marks the chef’s return to London’s dining scene and is his first solo venture, where he offers a contemporary take on Chinese cooking with a range of la carte, tasting and dim sum menus. The name Gouqi (pronounced like ‘goji’) originated as a play on goji berry, traditionally viewed as a symbol of health and vitality and which informs the ethos of the restaurant. As such, dishes are made using the freshest possible seasonal ingredients and offer a fusion of flavours, techniques and ingredients drawn from across China, as well as parts of Europe.

On the a la carte menu, diners are able to tuck into its ‘legendary’ peking duck with Oscietra caviar, as well as other luxurious dishes such as eight treasure crispy chicken with foie gras and a steamed royal dim sum platter. While the eight-course tasting menu combines modern European influences with Chinese flavours to create dishes such as chargrilled silver cod with yellow bean sauce and passion fruit, and black truffle roasted duck with honey-glazed Iberico char siu with salted egg yolk.

Meanwhile, its cocktail menu is inspired by the four Chinese mythological creatures: the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise of the North. Discover four collections of drinks, each offering their own distinctive flavour profile, from floral and fresh to rich and full-bodied. Elsewhere, a premium wine list features a lengthy selection of bottles from across the globe.

Housed inside the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in King’s Cross, The Midland Dining Room is a French brasserie launched by restaurateur and hotelier Harry Handelsman (Chiltern Firehouse, Allegra, Booking Office 1869), chef Patrick Powell (Allegra) and globally-renowned interior designer Hugo Toro. Its named after the Midland Grand Hotel, the Gothic Revival 19th century hotel which originally occupied the building, and its renowned dining and coffee room which was known for its haute French cuisine.

Between 2011 and 2021, the space was known as The Gilbert Scott, which was operated by celebrated Michelin-starred British chef Marcus Wareing. Now, The Midland Dining Room pays tribute to the building's impressive past with its Parisian-inspired design and menu.

Menus are rooted in French cuisine and change regularly according to the seasons, with a particular focus on British fish and meat. Alongside a versatile à la carte menu is a set lunch offering, while signature dishes include the likes of crab and elderflower pain perdu, chicken liver parfait with a truffle and Madeira jelly and Grand Marnier soufflé. These sit alongside broader, more familiar menu items such as salad of English tomatoes, pesto rouge, pickled shallots and soft herbs, wild mushrooms on toast with parsley and garlic, Welsh lamb with Pommes Anna, ratatouille and whipped aubergine, and grilled Dover sole.

As well as an a la carte, The Midland Grand Dining Room also offers a very reasonable lunch set menu that changes weekly. 

The wine offering is a considered list of predominantly old-world varieties, demonstrating established as well as up-and-coming producers. There is also a concise and carefully-crafted cocktail list created specifically for the restaurant to complement Powell’s menu, and overseen by bar manager Jack Porter. For example, Le Pain cocktail is a digestif that takes inspiration from Powell’s grandmother’s soda bread, including soda bread mix, Jameson, Guinness liquor, black walnut bitter and sweet vermouth.

Hugo Toro and Harry Handelsman have overseen the interiors which honour the Victorian origins of the room, while updating it for a cosmopolitan, contemporary audience. The vintage space features a variety of different botanicals and produce, along with bespoke tables, banquettes and its very own bar. Various textures are used via mirrors, rattan and caning, wood columns and glass, while the room’s bespoke orange colour pays homage to its original design.

Prepare to step out of modern-day Mayfair and into Golden Age Shanghai as the concierge at Park Chinois welcomes you with a tip of a hat. This glamorous spot is dedicated to celebrating the romance and etiquette of yesteryear, alongside the thrills and luxury of the present. Park Chinois, which comprises the elegant Salon de Chine and indulgent Club Chinois, is a unique dining experience popular with the well-to-do, so have your credit card at the ready.

The lavish décor within takes inspiration from a 1930s Shanghai speakeasy, so prepare to be ensconced in red velvet upholstery and flashy frills, as you take in one of the venue’s live shows and get acquainted with some seriously special Chinese cooking.

There’s a menu for every occasion at Park Chinois, from light lunches to long, luxurious dinners. For an all-round taste of what’s on offer, try the two- or three-course set lunch menu. The restaurant’s more expensive dishes won’t feature, but you’ll still get to try the likes of bang bang chicken salad,  Cantonese roast duck with Champagne and orange sauce, and an 85% chocolate fondant.

For those looking to make a serious dent in their bank accounts though, the sky is the limit. You’ll find rare caviars, prime cuts of meat including Japanese Hida Wagyu rib-eye, premium fish and shellfish, and other dishes containing the likes of foie gras, black truffle and venison.

Exquisitely-crafted desserts are a must for the sweet-toothed as they include creations such as the Granny Smith apple cheesecake served with vanilla and apple cream, apple gel and crumble, and a decadent dark chocolate fondant made with sweetcorn and Rémy Martin Cognac Sauce and decorated with gold leaf. Drinks are similarly glamorous whether you opt for a cocktail, a glass of Champagne or a pot of rare Japanese tea.

On the beautiful banks of the River Thames in London, the world famous Savoy Hotel has been home to one of London’s most iconic restaurants since 1889, the Savoy Grill, and over the years has been visited by names such as James Dean, Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe. Inside the iconic building, enjoy the grandeur of the Savoy Grill, which is one of the world's most iconic dining destinations.

Following a monumental refurbishment in spring 2023, this historic restaurant on The Strand has undergone a breathtaking transformation. Enjoy the elegant new look that graces the dining room, featuring mirrored walls, plush velvets, and an iconic feather tile feature, paying homage to the glamorous golden age. Open seven days a week, the Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay invites guests to dine amidst Hollywood and history, with a chic chef’s table space overlooking the kitchen and a sublime wine experience room like no other. Enjoy the fruits of wood fired charcoal grills, offering delicious options like the hearty 300g rib eye steak or the indulgent côte de boeuf, which is perfect for sharing.

Seafood lovers will enjoy a showcase of British produce, including oysters, lobster thermidor, or dover sole. Begin your meal with the exquisite Arnold Bennett soufflé made with smoked haddock and Montgomery cheddar sauce, or enjoy the opulence of oscietra caviar with brown butter waffle and smoked sturgeon rillette. If you love a classic, be sure to order the steak tartare with a confit St Ewes egg yolk and black truffle crisps, or enjoy the freshness of kingfish crudo with pickled green apple, radish, and ponzu. The iconic beef Wellington, accompanied by pomme purée, tenderstem broccoli, and red wine jus is delicious, and don’t forget to end on a sweet note with the irresistible Savoy Grill éclair filled with raspberry, vanilla, and lime.

When The Cinnamon Club opened in 2001 it offered up a fine-dining experience when the majority of Indian restaurants in the capital were still subscribing to the curry-house format that had propelled the popularity of the cuisine in the UK.

Classically trained in India, chef Vivek Singh understands the building blocks of age-old cooking techniques and couples them with contemporary twists on classics for unusual and surprising creations that have helped to push his restaurant into the premier league of London eateries. Additional accolades include Singh having authored five bestselling cookbooks and appearing regularly on cooking programmes such as Saturday Kitchen and Celebrity MasterChef.

The Cinnamon Club has undergone a £1 million refurbishment to transform its home in the old Westminster Library into a bright and modern space that still retains much of its original character. Old books line two sides of the dining room while walls are painted bright white and a mezzanine level adds additional seating without detracting from the double-height space.

Priding itself in catering for every eventuality The Cinnamon Club offers all sorts of special menus, including a vegan one which offers a wonderful selection of plant-based Indian dishes. From the main menu you can expect creations like a Bengali-style lobster thermidor and a 48-hour marinated pheasant breast in pickling spices. For those who enjoy communal dining there is also a handful of signature sharing mains, like the Old Delhi-style butter chicken and a whole rack of lamb in a corn and yoghurt sauce.

The Cinnamon Club also offers private dining spaces for special occasions and serves meals from first thing to late into the evening, with a breakfast menu that includes unexpected dishes such as a full traditional cooked English breakfast.

While Sketch is a staunch long-time resident of Mayfair and famed for its unusual, artistic interior design, there's one room within the multi-restaurant venue that you probably won't have seen all over social media. On a private, upper floor, The Lecture Room & Library boasts a more exclusive offering, often used on a sole hire basis and only holding lunch and dinner reservations at restricted timings throughout the week - for example, between midday and 1.30pm, or 6.30pm until 9pm in the evenings. 

The Lecture Room & Library's kitchen was formerly ran by longtime Sketch collaborator, French chef Pierre Gagnaire, who was awarded three Michelin stars for his work here, but now the baton has been passed to head chef Daniel Stucki. The a la carte lunch menu begins with starters such as summer vegetables in herbal broth with Scottish girolles, and mains spanning fish, meat and vegetarian bases. Options here include sea trout with raspberry butter served with maris piper potato and confit shallot, next to creedy duck marinated in cumin and savory served with grilled fruits and nutmeg. 

In the evening, guests are welcomed to try the tasting menu which spans eight courses and includes vegetarian options, as well as a wine pairing. An example of the plates you might see here include roasted slice of pollock with aromatics, Anjou pigeon roasted and smoked with hay, as well as poached native lobster with leafy carrot, peach and watercress. 

As always, the space is also incredibly visually stimulating, making it more than just a feast for the tastebuds. High, corniced ceilings are enhanced by a wall of mirrors, elevating the space to ballroom-like proportions, while rich hues of red, orange, gold and purple flit across the furnishings. The centre piece, though, is without a doubt the huge, red chandelier hanging in the heart of the space, setting the tone for the whole experience. 

Located inside Surrey's luxurious Pennyhill Park Hotel, The Latymer is a fine dining restaurant serving a choice of inventive menus designed by head chef Steve Smith. With a Michelin star to its name, The Latymer prides itself on providing only the highest level of service and a suitably formal atmosphere to best showcase the award-winning food. The restaurant is committed to showcasing only the finest local produce and also has a real focus on seasonality, which means that the menus change every day based on availability of ingredients.

Found in one of the oldest parts of the house, The Latymer's dining room boasts a snug yet grand feel with rustic exposed beams and opulent décor throughout. A mixture of brightly upholstered chairs and banquettes sit on a turquoise carpet while tables are topped with white tablecloths and wooden panels line the walls.

Taking on the position of head chef in 2020, Steve Smith has completely redesigned Latymer's food offering. The focus is on its discovery tasting menu which is available for both lunch and dinner. This is comprised of six regularly changing courses with guests recommended to allow three hours to experience the gastronomic experience. Examples of dishes might include Birxham crab salad and custard with mango and coriander to start, followed by Ventowyn Farm egg with peas, girolles and ham, and sea bass with Roscoff onion, smoked eel and mustard. Sweet dishes might include seasonal delights such as Yorkshire rhubarb with waina and pistachio.

When it comes to drinks at The Latymer, you can opt for a wine pairing designed by head sommelier Sergio Dos Santos to perfectly complement every dish on the tasting menu, or you can choose a bottle from the extensive wine list. There are also plenty of other drinks available for those who don't want wine and for non-drinkers.

34 Mayfair is an up-market, glamorous restaurant in the heart of London's most fabulous postcode, as nodded to by its name. The central space is a smart dining room with polished wood flooring, red leather brasserie seating and a grand art deco bar. 

The outdoor terrace which sits along the front entrance is a pretty place for food and drinks in the summer, while indoors, large windows flood the space with light in the day and atmospheric lighting making the dining room a buzzy place to meet friends, colleagues or a date for lunch or dinner. 

On the menus, you'll find a breadth of modern European dishes, but the rotisserie and grill are certainly a talking point. The a la carte menu starts with small plates like seared scallops with soy glazed pork belly, dashi and shiso butter, alongside Robata grilled octopus with smoked black bean, aji amarillo and avocado, as well as Dorset crab tart with kohlrabi, green apple and yuzu jelly.

The main menu spans salads and fish dishes, plus signature meat mains off the rotisserie and grill. If you fancy something a little lighter, the 34 Caesar salad combines a smoked garlic and parmesan dressing with Ortiz anchovies and the option to add rotisserie chicken. There is also a raw bar, with dishes like salmon sashimi, steak tartare, and shrimp and seabass ceviche. Pescatarians will enjoy the likes of Indonesian BBQ sea bream, alongside Dover sole and the fish of the day, but if steak is on your mind, check out the Wagyu selection, sirloin, fillet, rib-eye, and cuts for two.

When it comes to drinks, wine connoisseurs will want to see the 'legends of wine' list with rare and vintage glasses from the cellar, while the cocktail selection has some creative twists such as an Old Fashioned inspired by banoffie pie. 

Based in North Kensington, not far from Notting Hill, Pollini is an Italian restaurant set in the stunning Grade II-listed Ladbroke Hall. Once an Edwardian car showroom and manufacturing plant, Ladbroke Hall’s remarkable Beaux Arts architectural style infuses even the most casual of lunches with a distinct importance.

Chef Emanuele Pollini, voted best Italian chef by Gambero Rosso magazine in 2020, runs the eponymous restaurant. As a formally trained chef with years of experience working in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world and in Italy, Pollini is now bringing his knowledge of Italian fine dining to North London.

Start off with a drink in the grand hall, below the breathtaking chandelier designed by Vincenzo de Cotiis, which looks like a contemporary interpretation of a tree climbing down from the imposingly high ceiling.

Pollini’s 20-page list of wines, overseen by head sommelier Romain Audrerie, has just about everything guests would expect from an institution which projects such prestige, and with fair pricing. For reds, don’t miss the Tuscan Brunellos nor the great choice of Burgundies.

The menu is organised in traditional Italian fashion: antipasti, primi and secondi - with some fun variations along the way such as the ‘Perche no?’ section of the menu, which translates literally to ‘Why not?’

Dishes include more modern takes on typical Italian flavours - mortadella and black truffle served on a tapioca crisp, for example - down to the classics, like a vitello tonnato, or handmade tagliatelle in a wild boar ragu.

Pollini also hosts dinner and jazz nights on Friday, with special menus on offer for those going to watch live jazz in Ladbroke Hall’s Sunbeam Theatre.

The Greyhound Inn looks like something out of a fairytale, nestled snugly in the sleepy village of Pettistree, Suffolk, its historic facade is completed by a rose-hued door, climbing foliage and even a picket fence. Inside, the story book-feel continues, with a central dining room that boasts cosy fireplaces and low ceilings, studded with wooden beams.

But while visiting The Greyhound Inn might feel a little like going back in time (in a good way, of course) the dining concept is considered and contemporary, with a focus on a short seasonal menu, thoughtful wine list and local cask beer. Here, the team are dedicated to serving up the seasons and only use the freshest produce, meaning the menu changes often always giving guests something new to try.

You can check the website for this week's offering, which to give you a flavour of what to expect, is currently starters of wild rabbit with blood cake, pistachio and apricot terrine with stout mustard, alongside Isle of Wight tomatoes with stracciatella, lovage and bedlam farm radicchio.

For mains, guests might enjoy something like wild Suffolk bass with clams, Norfolk samphire, jersey royals and vermouth sauce, alongside extra special dishes like wood roasted Suffolk chicken with gem lettuce and vinaigrette, as well as chicken fat croutons aioli and smoked jersey royals and sage. Finally, for pudding, we love the sound of the wild strawberry ice cream, as well as the fig leaf crème caramel and boozy prunes.

If looking for something a little more casual, the team also put together a mix of bar snacks like Black treacle and rye sourdough and butter, hogget sweetbreads and rouille, and Mersea oyster with elderflower vinegar. There's also a selection of sharing dishes on the chalkboard and in the warmer months, a BBQ option over the weekends.

For special occasion dining, it doesn’t get much better than the peerless three Michelin-starred temple of gastronomy that is Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. Any conversation about the world's most decorated chefs must include Ducasse, who holds three Michelin stars in a number of countries. Indeed, he is the second most decorated chef of all time, only being pipped to the post by the late, great Joël Robuchon.

Ducasse’s London restaurant finds its home in the classic, opulent surrounds of The Dorchester. Interiors are suitably elegant with a stunning floor-to-ceiling sculptural chandelier feature taking centre stage. Surrounding this you’ll find a mix of banquette seating and classic dining tables with white tablecloths, which are spaced widely enough for private conversations without losing the convivial buzz of the space.

Guests at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester are offered three menus to choose from - an a la carte menu, a full tasting spread, or a menu jardin, which showcases seven courses of seasonal vegetarian cooking. The a la carte gives diners the choice of three courses for £150, whilst the tasting menu is a selection of seven great Ducasse's dishes, including at the time of writing dishes such as lobster medallion, chicken quenelles, Périgord truffle and homemade semolina pasta, farmhouse veal fillet, green pea and mint condiment, and pineapple, galanga sorbet and kombu condiment. The tasting menu costs £210 and runs through hot and cold starters, a fish and main course, as well as an assortment of French cheeses and an elegant dessert.

World-class wines have been carefully chosen by in-house sommelier Vincenzo Arnese to complement the flavours on the menu and the helpful team are ever-present to make suggestions and pairing recommendations. Indeed, there’s the option to add a wine flight to your meal should you wish to take the element of chance out of things.

As you might expect the service here is top-class, with the team trained to the highest standards which results in personable but professional care throughout your time in the restaurant.

The Boat Inn in Lichfield is an award-winning fine dining restaurant serving modern British cuisine from an open kitchen. Chef and owner Liam Dillon originally opened the gastropub in 2017, having previously worked in renowned kitchens including MARCUS at The Berkeley, where he quickly received high praise for his intelligent and thoughtful cooking. Despite it being located a little off the beaten track on an A-road in Staffordshire, that hasn’t stopped diners flocking to the inn to try Dillon’s menus. It’s currently serving lunch and dinner Thursday through to Sunday, with vegetarian menus available as well. 

If you’re dining for dinner there are only set menus available – choose from either the four-course or six-course offerings. Although the menus change with the seasons, examples of dishes you might enjoy include truffled Cotswold chicken with roasted squash and kombi honey, fish raviolo with apple, leek, Dorset crab and fish sauce and Cotswold fallow deer with beetroot, watercress and pine sauce. For something sweet, you might be treated to a chocolate parfait with white chocolate aero, lapsang and malt ice cream. Do note that there is an optional wine pairing available with its set menus. 

Alternatively, you can opt to choose a bottle of your choice from the wine list. The menu focuses largely on organic and biodynamic wines, in keeping with its sustainable ethos, and includes a selection from all over the world. If you don’t fancy a whole bottle, or want to try a few different wines, there are a number of varieties available by the glass instead. 

The Boat Inn also boasts a stunning alfresco terrace where guests can enjoy a selection of snacks and small plates with drinks. This might include pigs head fritters with burnt apple, charcuterie and cheese, and LFC hot chicken wings.  

A true seafood institution, Bentley’s needs little introduction. Serving up the freshest seafood around for over 100 years will often have that effect. Headed up by Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan for more than a decade, Bentley’s shows no sign of slowing down. This is a restaurant where diners feel relaxed, but every detail has been examined before anything leaves the kitchen. Specialising in not just oysters but all seafood, this is widely considered one of the best places to enjoy the fruits of the sea in the UK.

An essential start to a meal at Bentley’s is, of course, oysters. Here there are over ten varieties to choose from, available individually or by the half dozen. Purists can enjoy theirs as nature intended, while those seeking something more flavoured can opt for theirs dressed or garlic-baked. Oscietra, Cornish and Iranian Beluga caviar is available for those wishing to go all-out for their meal.

From the raw bar, the delights of the sea continue with options like langoustine with ponzu and pink grapefruit or cherry clam with tomato and horseradish. Classic dishes like shellfish cocktails are elevated to new heights here, featuring Cornish crab, Atlantic prawns, lobster and brown shrimp. Starters include further elevated dishes like lobster bisque with brandy and tarragon chantilly or Cornish crab and mussel soup with coconut, ginger and lime.

Those wanting something more relaxed for their main course can enjoy classic fish and chips with tartare sauce and mushy peas or fish pie. However, the decadence continues with options like pan-seared turbot with olive oil mash and langoustine sauce. Meat dishes like a herb-crusted rack of lamb are also available, but seafood is certainly the main event here.

There is an extensive list of wines by the glass as well as bottle so that the ideal accompaniment for each course can be chosen. There are plenty of sparkling options as well as larger bottles for extravagant celebrations.

Bruce Poole was born in Guildford Surrey. After several years in hospitality, he started cooking at Bibendum, followed by The Square then Chez Max and finally his very own Chez Bruce in 1995. Since then, there have been many awards, recognising the culinary prowess of this Wandsworth restaurant. That being said, there is no resting on laurels at Chez Bruce. Poole, along with head chef Matt Christmas' sole focus is the business, and as such rarely appears in the media. It's an old school restaurant in the best of ways, where service is extremely efficient while remaining knowledgable and friendly. Regular staff tastings are key, so that every member of the front of house team knows the menu personally. So much so, in fact, that the staff offer other dining recommendations for London and further afield. 

You'll notice from the menu here that the menu is very much up to date. Starters might include miso-glazed aubergine with ginger, puffed wild rice, sesame, shiso and soy or a lobster ravioli with bisque, pickled fennel, brown shrimp and samphire. You will, however, see more traditional first course options like rabbit rillettes with Armagnac prunes and toast, or deviled lamb's kidney with crisp tongue. Similarly, main courses at Chez Bruce are traditional, featuring the likes of veal rump or stuffed pig's trotters. Unpretentiously, this Michelin-starred restaurant also offers options like steak and chips (admittedly a Chateaubriand with hand-cut chips). 

There are usually around seven dessert options like creme brulee, yoghurt parfait with blood orange and pistachio or Yorkshire rhubarb trifle, not to mention the famous 'grande assiette de fromage Chez Bruce'. There is a huge selection of wine here with plenty by the glass, ranging from affordable half-bottles to a magnum Chateauneuf du Pape. Head sommelier Victor Barre is more than happy to guide your choices. 

Upmarket Muse occupies an intimate 25-cover space in a renovated mews property in one of the most chi-chi corners of Belgravia. It’s the brainchild of chef Tom Aikens - one of Britain's most highly acclaimed chefs. Aikens was famously the youngest chef to ever win two Michelin stars when he achieved the feat at Pied à Terre at just 26 years old.

Muse is split over two floors of a characterful mews house, with each floor boasting a fully open plan kitchen which allows diners to see the kitchen team at work. The space has been designed by Australian interior designer Rebecca Korner, who has combined an eclectic mix of furniture with splashes of jewel-toned marbles and rich woods.

The restaurant primarily serves multi-course tasting menus, with Aikens drawing on his childhood memories and moments in his illustrious career to inspire dishes. The tasting menus evolve with each season and include stripped-back dishes which place an emphasis on one key ingredient or element. Unsurprisingly, the tasting menus come with an appropriate Belgravia price tag, however, a smaller tasting menu is available for under £100 for those on a slightly tighter budget. Muse also serves a three course seasonal lunch menu on Thursdays and Fridays. 

Speaking about the opening of Muse, Aikens said: “Throughout my life, I have been inspired and influenced by many different people, places, time and travels. My new home, Muse, pays homage to all of these and more.”

At Muse, Aikens works with British suppliers and farmers who are as passionate as the restaurant about provenance. These include HG Walter (an independent, family-run butcher), Flying Fish (who supply fish and seafood to the restaurant within 48 hours of being caught) and The London Cloth Company.

Dovetale is the flagship modern British restaurant at 1 Hotel Mayfair, overseen by two Michelin-starred Restaurant Story chef Tom Sellers.

Sustainability, seasonality, and a plethora of nature-inspired finishes are what the 1 Hotel Mayfair is all about. Situated (not by chance) facing Green Park, the venue's spaces, including signature restaurant Dovetale, are carefully crafted with an environmentally friendly approach. The hotel features living walls, which are irrigated by rainwater, sustainable materials used all across the building, and over 1300 plants, trees and shrubs plants across the grounds. 

Sellers works meticulously to embrace zero waste methods and source from eco-minded suppliers at Dovetale too. With a modern European à la carte menu, Dovetale offers dishes from the grill as well as from a raw bar, and there's a real focus on letting outstanding produce shine - emphasised by dishes like English burrata with Amardo Manni 'oil of life' olive oil. Elsewhere there's some celebration of classic French cooking and flavours, with a day boat-caught sole Veronique, where sole is gently cooked in a sauce of vermouth, cream, white grapes and tarragon. 

There are also tributes to old-school puddings in the dessert menu as well, as guests can choose from options including a Grand Marnier souffle with tonka bean creme anglaise, and a Knickerbocker glory, served tableside from a trolley for a bit of extra entertainment and theatre. 

If you fancy al fresco dining, there's Dovetale's outdoor terrace, which features a cozy copper fireplace and pergola, perfect spot for all seasons. And for an even more special occasion, there's a private dining room available.

The hotel also has a cocktail bar - the Dover Yard - perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks. 

Promising to bring the best of Barcelona to Manchester, Tast is a Spanish bar and restaurant in the centre of Manchester serving Catalonian twists on tapas dishes. Décor is modern and minimalistic, and the site is set over three spacious floors. Each floor boasts a slightly different atmosphere: the ground floor houses its buzzy bar and terrace, the first floor is where you'll find the main restaurant, while the top floor houses a beautiful private dining room. The restaurant has got a couple of big names behind it too. The kitchen is led by chef Paco Perez, who's won multiple Michelin stars throughout his career, while the restaurant is backed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

The food at Tast aims to be as authentic as possible, while only using the highest quality ingredients. The restaurant and bar both offer up a broad range of ‘tastets’, a Catalan word meaning ‘tasting plates’, and is intended to offer a Catalonian spin on tapas. Examples of these small and tasty dishes include roasted red pepper croquetas, octopus with potatoes, mojo rojo and mojo verde, and duck egg with fried squid, potato soufflé and tartar sauce.

Larger dishes, meanwhile, include a selection of Catalan-style rice and charcoal options, from lobster rice and coral mayo, to creamy mussel rice with mussel mayo. All of the rice dishes are finished off in a charcoal oven, to create the traditional caramelised glaze at the bottom of the dish.

Tast boasts a large selection of Catalonian wines - in fact, it's one of the largest collections of Catalonian wines in Manchester - which are ideal to accompany your authentic meal. There is also a range of international options if you prefer, plus plenty of cocktails and beers if you’re just stopping by the bar for a drink and a nibble.

Where the river bends past Ravenscourt Park, you’ll find Potli, a laid-back Indian restaurant that has won the hearts of locals, bloggers and anyone else who visits. The space has buckets of charm, with vintage posters on the walls, nicknacks on the shelves and a well-stocked bar of spirits and liqueurs. It’s an ideal spot to catch up with old friends or celebrate with family. The wine list is well thought-out, featuring floral roses, punchy whites and rich reds - the perfect accompaniment to the food. Be sure to try the Soul Tree Sauvignon Blanc from the Nasik Valley in India. If you prefer beer, you can opt for the likes of Cobra or Kingfisher, as well as some smaller-batch IPAs.

At Potli, as with many restaurants of this ilk, you’ll likely start off with something crunchy. Aside from classic poppadoms, the samosa chaat is a great option, served with onions, tomatoes, chickpeas, chutneys and yoghurt. The starters are organised by cooking method, be it fried, grilled or clay oven-baked. Of these sections, highlights include spiced vegetable and paneer dumplings, Karara crab with dynamite sauce and a half tandoori baby chicken respectively.

Meat-eaters, pescetarians, vegetarians and vegans can all enjoy plenty of choice when it comes to the curries at Potli. Those who can handle their spice should try the wild boar vindaloo, while the lamb shank rogan josh is a milder meat option with plenty of flavour. From the sea, the Odia prawn curry is a must, packed with ginger, chilli, coriander and cumin, as is the classic Keralan fish curry. Veggies should try the rattan Manjusha kofta, comprised of nuts, jaggery, paneer and spinach, all simmered in an aromatic, cardamom-laced tomato sauce. Vegans, while they have probably had dal makhani before, should try it here. Cooked for 24 hours, this dal is one of the best in London.

Tucked in amongst the verdant countryside of West Berkshire, The Woodspeen is a restaurant and cookery school, housed inside a lovingly restored 19th century farmhouse. Despite its credentials, this is a relaxed and welcoming space, which makes the most of its lush surroundings with large windows that frame the idyllic countryside views and an open kitchen which adds a touch of theatre to proceedings. Bare tables and pendant lighting add a rustic, countryside feel, while cosy banquettes on one side of the room and verdant greenery add warmth to the space.

The menu at The Woodspeen is a seasonally changing affair which is inspired by homegrown ingredients. Plenty of restaurants wax lyrical about the importance of provenance, but The Woodspeen really means it, often incorporating ingredients that have been plucked from the restaurant’s own garden. Otherwise, high-quality local suppliers are used wherever possible.

The Woodspeen is open for both lunch and dinner, offering an a la carte that showcases the best of what is currently in season. On your visit, you might begin with starters such as Cornish crab and spring vegetable risotto with lemon emulsion, or chicken and black pudding terrine en croute, before moving on to main courses including garden pea and caramelised onion lasagna with roasted morels or roasted lamb rump with white asparagus, local wild garlic salsa verde and rosemary potato rosti. If you still have a bit of room, round off the meal with a rhubarb and custard tart, or a strawberry and lime alaska with warm dark chocolate sauce.

A dedicated children’s menu is also available, as are plentiful vegetarian and vegan options, while on weekends, you can head here for a traditional Sunday lunch. Be sure to explore the illustrious wine list too, home to over 400 varieties.

Wilsons in Bristol is the picture of a perfect neighbourhood restaurant, serving up impressive modern British food made almost entirely from produce grown on its own allotment. Charmingly petite, it is one of just a handful of restaurants in the UK with a green Michelin star. However, despite its sustainability gravitas it retains a friendly local vibe with its chalked-up menu and warm service.

It was set-up back in 2016 by partners Jan Ostle and Mary Wilson whose combined energy and enthusiasm for hospitality is clear. The kitchen is run by Ostle, while Wilson’s experience in the biodynamic agriculture sphere helps to spur on the restaurant’s USP as somewhere which puts high-end produce front and centre. Alongside this, Wilson grew up in her family restaurant, which this iteration of Wilson’s is now named in honour of.

The menu changes regularly, and there’s a short, sharp billing that flexes with the seasons. Much of what makes its way to diner’s plates has been grown in the restaurant’s own small holding, and the restaurant also dry ages its own meat and fish, and makes much of its own charcuterie. Example dishes might include farm tacos, hoggit with aubergine and ewe’s curd, or a plate of dry aged trout with beetroot.

Come the evening, the six-course tasting menu offers you the very best of the kitchen’s inventions, but the restaurant also offers a reduced three-course lunch menu on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. While some tasting menu restaurants can prove restrictive for guests with allergies, Wilson’s is able to cater to all dietary requirements as long as the team is given 48 hours’ notice.

Aside from the food, the drinks at Wilsons are particularly special. They’re interestingly sourced from a range of producers, with wine focused on organic and biodynamic bottles, and there are also some clever bottles made in-house too, such as the restaurant's parsnip vermouth. 

The combination of sleek interiors, a charming team and robustly honest cookery keeps Wilsons busy all week. If you fancy trying the team’s fare, we’d suggest booking well in advance.

There are few restaurants across the country that really live up to the word iconic, but Cliveden House, a country manor in Berkshire with over 350 years of dazzling history, really does. Built in 1666, Cliveden was a gift from the second Duke of Buckingham to his mistress and since then, has been the site of roaring parties held by the likes of Winston Churchill and John Lennon. 

Within this stunning, sprawling Grade I Listed building you'll find The Dining Room, a lavish restaurant serving an a la carte, tasting, Sunday lunch and afternoon tea menus. The Dining Room was originally the house's drawing room and faces south with views overlooking the beautiful gardens. The huge windows fill the space with natural light and the sumptuous decor features impressive chandeliers and ornate ceiling cornicing. 

The food takes its cue from local, seasonal produce and throughout the year chefs take great efforts to ensure that the menus are at least 30% vegetarian and vegan friendly, showing off the work of nearby growers. All menus are available online and to get a flavour of what to expect, check out the a la carte which showcases stand-out dishes like confit lemon sole with brussels sprouts, ponzu and blood orange to start, slow-cooked guinea fowl with glazed wing, pickled grapes and white carrot for mains, and spiced pineapple with passion fruit, coconut sorbet and lemongrass for dessert. 

For a special occasion, it has to be the tasting menu with eight fabulous courses. We won't spoil all the surprises for you, but we love the sound of the seared scallop with pumpkin, rehydrated cranberry and lemongrass, as well as the Earl Grey crémeux with Granny Smith jelly. The team at Cliveden have also put together a brilliant selection of wines to go alongside, with options to go for the classic pairing, or sommeliers’ cellar selection.

The super Summery Lunch offer...choose one of four new mains and a side for just £19.50. Simply select your main: Rump steak with gentleman's relish, clean-and-lean Kames Steelhead trout, chunky Romanesco cauliflower steak or Basque-style charcoal chicken.

Next choose your side to go with it. Go classic with Beef dripping chips, or pick something lighter: Heritage tomatoes, Bitter leaf, Caesar, or English lettuce and herb - your choice.

Available lunchtimes and please check the opening hours and availability on their website.

Since opening originally in 2006, Hawksmoor has built a successful empire on expertly-sourced steaks served alongside more side dishes than you can count on one hand. Obviously, we know there’s more to its unrivalled popularity than that, but you can’t knock the people’s love for steak and chips, a truth that Hawksmoor has capitalised on exponentially. Now, with eight restaurants in London as well as multiple sites across the UK, this steakhouse giant shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.  

Hawksmoor Seven Dials can be found down a quiet street in the old Watney-Coombe brewery. Boasting a well-stocked bar where guests can slurp on signature cocktails (discover multiple twists on a Manhattan, highball and martini) before slouching over to one of its leather banquets to tuck into a meat (and fish) filled feast. The long dining room is decorated in a cosy art-deco style, with wooden parquet flooring, painted wood-paneled walls and a huge skylight above that floods the room with natural light during the day.  

Situated slap bang in the middle of Covent Garden, this branch occupies a prime spot for a quick dinner before heading to the theatre in the West End. Fortunately, an express two or three-course menu is perfect for pre or post-theatre dining.  

The a la carte menu, meanwhile, revolves around a selection of British-bred beef steaks and sustainably-sourced seafood. Go easy on the starters because the main event is guaranteed to be a feast! Kick off with smoked salmon with soda bread, or potted beef and bacon with Yorkshires and onion gravy before choosing your preferred steak. Larger cuts are generally 500g or more, perfect for two people to share, and include chateaubriand, T-bone and bone-in prime rib, while smaller options include fillet, sirloin and rib eye. Serve alongside a mix-and-match of sauces and sides – think tripled-cooked chips, mash and gravy, macaroni cheese and maple bacon.  

The Olive Tree restaurant is Bath's only Michelin-starred restaurant - set inside the magnificent townhouse at the Queensberry Hotel in Bath. This boutique hotel is one of the most popular in the city, and sits just a stone's throw from famous Bath landmarks like The Circle, the Georgian Gardens and the Royal Avenue.

At the time of writing, The Olive Tree is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the city and, with Chris Cleghorn at the helm, it seems likely to retain that award for some time. Chris honed his skills while working with the likes of Michael Caines at Gidleigh Park and James Sommerin. Not to mention spending time at Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck. His cooking is a reflection of each of these experiences - combining the precision of dishes at The Fat Duck with a style that honours local West Country produce. Bath is fortunate to be surrounded by exceptional farmland, and The Olive Tree aims to showcase the best local and seasonal ingredients in a refined and modern manner. 

There's a six-course and a nine-course tasting menu, as well as a smaller four and three-course menu, available at lunch on Fridays and Saturdays, so there's something for every occasion and budget. Dishes include the likes of veal sweetbread, Westcombe ricotta, salted lemon and mint as a starter, Cornish monkfish with sea herbs and vin jaune as a main, and yuzu, Szechuan pepper, meringue and nasturtiums for dessert. There are dedicated vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian and dairy-free alternatives for the nine-course option, so dietary requirements are no problem at all. 

The Olive Tree is also a past winner of The AA’s Overall Best Wine List, so as you'd expect, the wine choice is varied here, with a wealth of new and old world wines as well as biodynamic, organic and vegan options.

Located in the quaint village of Shinfield, just a short drive from junction 11 of the M4, L’Ortolan is a sophisticated operation that is set within a Grade-II listed building. L’Ortolan serves a high-end, well-executed menu of contemporary French dishes and is widely accepted as one of the best restaurants in Reading.

The main dining room here is a smart and intimate space, which features just 11 tables. High back chairs, soft lighting and windows which allow natural light to flow through (as well as offering views of the manicured grounds) set a romantic mood, while extra character is added to the space via the works of well-established artists, such as Richard Rowan and Bob Barker, which hang from the dining room walls. It is hardly a surprise then that L’Ortolan is a popular spot for couples, particularly those with special anniversaries to celebrate.

The kitchen at L’Ortolan has been overseen by a number of Michelin star chefs over the years, but currently heading up the team is James Greatorex. The chef oversees a regularly changing menu of modern French fare, with a focus on getting the best out of good produce and working in harmony with the seasons. The restaurant is also able to accommodate for most dietary requirements if notified in advance and includes vegetarian options as part of its offering.

On your visit, you will be able to choose from an a la carte, or two multi-course tasting menus (‘Gourmand’ and ‘Elegance’). Dishes you might come across include the likes of Orkney scallop with celeriac broth, kohlrabi and radish or guinea fowl with chestnut, wild mushrooms and leeks. To round off your meal, you might tuck into a Mirabelle souffle or a selection of British and French cheeses.

To drink? Expect paired wines or innovative house cocktails.

Nestled in the heart of beautiful Chiswick, you'll find La Trompette quietly minding its own business, and yet serving up some of the best food in London. The team don't feel the need to shout and advertise, but have been happily serving locals, regulars and those with a passion for food, since 2001.

The space itself received a full renovation in 2013 and today is an elegant and sophisticated set-up, with contemporary and yet classic furniture, atmospheric lighting and a calming colour palette of soft, earthy neutrals next to a hint of uplifting yellow. Walls are decorated with expressive artworks and the overall effect is cultured and in-the-know.

La Trompette is open from Wednesday onwards for both lunch and dinner sittings, with options to call the restaurant or book online, with planning ahead advised. If you're hoping to throw your own private little shindig, the La Trompette has a gorgeous private dining space with capacity for 10 to 16 people.

As for the food, the kitchen is helmed by Chef Greg Wellman who previously ran the sister restaurant, The Glasshouse in Kew, and also has experience working in Elystan Street and The Square. As a keen traveller of Australasia and South America, you can find dishes inspired by this time scattered throughout the menu. The menu seeks to uplift the best seasonal produce, meaning that dishes may change from day to day, but online you can find a sample with an idea of what to expect. For example, starters may look like chilled ajo blanco with charentais melon, pickled cucumber, elderflower and extra virgin olive oil, followed by mains like Cornish jumbo plaice with St Austell bay mussels, beurre blanc, baby lou potatoes, asparagus and chives.

As for drinks, the menu offers a playful Trompette Tropical Punch, or the team prefers to serve Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne. And, those with a sweet tooth will love chocolate, peanut and salted caramel delice with milk ice cream.

'Riwaz' meaning ‘tradition’ is Atul Kochhar’s latest Buckinghamshire venture, following the success of Sindhu and Vaasu in Marlow and Hawkyns in Amersham.

Found in Beaconsfield Old Town, it’s located in the heart of the town on the former Zizzi’s site and offers a fresh take on Indian fine dining. The menu takes rustic influences from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Orissa, among others. The unique fine dining menu created by Atul honors his Indian heritage while also allowing for creative contemporary dishes taken from his 30 years of living in the UK. This impressive menu style keeps the flavors and recipes of tradition alive, while presenting them in various modern ways.

Open daily for lunch, dinner and to takeaway, there are a choice of menus to suit the experience you are looking for. Those wanting to drop in for lunch can take advantage of the incredibly affordable set lunch menu, priced at £15 for two courses or £19 for three and includes the likes of crispy fried chicken with tandoori spices, grilled paneer with spinach and coriander potatoes and spiced cauliflower steaks. For the evening, you can experience a taste of Rivaz with a £35 set dinner menu or for the full experience opt for the 5-course or 7-course tasting menu. An A La Carte menu is also available.

When it comes to drinks, the cocktails are where the menu really shines with a host of signature cocktails using spirits from local distilleries and fresh takes on classic cocktails like the cranberry and passionfruit mojito. The wine list is extensive and each bottle is chosen for its outstanding quality and great value. If you would like advice on which wines to pair with your food then the team is happy to help with their unique and personal wine suggestions. 

In the last few years, London diners have witnessed the rise of local, neighbourhood joints that foster a sense of community. In well-heeled Chiswick, The Silver Birch is a local opening that has joined in on the action, setting up shop on the area’s bustling high street.

The Silver Birch serves up a string of modern European dishes as part of a menu which evolves with the seasons, while plates are crafted using ingredients that have been locally sourced where possible. With such an impressive commitment to fastidious pedigree, it should come as no surprise that the chef behind the food here is far from an amateur. Heading up the kitchen is Nathan Cornwell, who has previously worked at big hitters like Geranium in Copenhagen which has three Michelin stars and Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham which has been honoured with two Michelin stars.

Diners can start off with creations such as organic celeriac, Coolea cheese, hazelnut and celeriac broth or Devon smoked eel with Jersey Royals, chive and asparagus. Mains continue with the likes of Shetland cod with Swiss chard and chicken butter sauce, alongside lamb with wild garlic, glazed tongue, pickled cockles and sea herbs, and new season asparagus with pickled leeks.

To finish, guests can opt for a pear and brown sugar tart with gingerbread, brown butter chocolate delice, milk sorbet and caramelised white chocolate, or a summery dish of Gariguette strawberries, cream cheese and strawberry sorbet.

The dining room is a relaxed, pared-back space which exudes calm thanks to a mix of natural materials and unfinished textures. Olive green seating is complemented by the exposed brick and plaster walls, while a stream of dappled sunlight illuminates the room come afternoon. The Silver Birch also boasts a chef’s table which overlooks the open kitchen, if you would prefer a seat close to the action.

It’s hard to imagine a more iconic London dining destination than The Wolseley, a restaurant that feels as though its existence makes up part of the very fabric of the city.

The iconic site of 160 Piccadilly began its story when it was commissioned in 1921 by Wolseley Motors Limited to English architect William Curtis Green, their desire was to create a prestigious car showroom that exuded luxury and grandeur. Marble pillars and archways teamed with Venetian-inspired details left an impressive finish, but alas the cars did not sell quickly enough and in 1926 the company went into bankruptcy. Barclays Bank took over the site in 1927 but it wasn’t until 2003 that the building was sympathetically renovated, throwing open its doors as the grand cafe-restaurant destination that we find today. It turns out that the showroom features work just as well as a backdrop to some of the city’s most ritzy dining, adding a bit of good old-fashioned drama to proceedings.

Breakfast brings iconic dishes to the table by way of eggs any way you can think of, hand-made Viennoiserie, piles of pancakes and signature house dishes like the bubble and squeak with a fried egg or the delicately spiced kedgeree which by now benefits from a legendary status. Lunch and dinner centres around hearty serves like steaks, schnitzels and cheese savouries – including a very good Welsh Rarebit. If you happen to find yourself dining after-hours, the late-night menu does a very good job in quashing any before-bed hunger with a fun line-up of everything from burgers and omelettes through to ice cream coupes and banana splits, for a fittingly nostalgic nod to dessert.

Known for its unique combination of spectacular design, classic food and seamless service, The Wolseley, part of The Wolseley Hospitality Group, remains an iconic and popular choice for both Londoners and tourists alike. 

The latest addition to Farringdon's thriving food scene, Ibai is a Basque-focused steak restaurant headed up by Richard Foster, former head chef of Mayfair’s Chiltern Firehouse. The 80-cover restaurant is located in a converted warehouse between the Barbican and St Paul’s Cathedral with an industrial decor that will transport you straight to Bilbao’s rejuvenated docks, or perhaps the stormy Cantabrian Sea. Of course, you’ll find Gateau Basque and marmitako (Basque fish stew) on the menu.

After the rise of Spanish Basque cuisine in London (the team behind Ibai also founded Lurra and Donostia), Ibai is notable for its focus on French Basque dishes on its menu. Standout dishes include king crab rice, grilled poussin, Ibai's take on the croque monsieur featuring carabinero prawns, black pudding, and Tomme de Brebis (Pyreneean hard cheese), and 'guisante lagrima' teardrop peas, another Basque Country delicacy.

However, the star of the show is undoubtedly the Galician blonde beef steak, since Ibai's owners, Nemanja Borjanovic and William Sheard, are the ones originally responsible for importing this unique Northern Spanish breed to the UK through their beef importing business Txuleta. Importantly, Galician blonde cattle are former dairy cows slaughtered after eight or even 10 years, rather than the usual two or three, so expect a deep texture and high fat content in your Ibai steak. Worry not if you’re often intimidated by overly detailed steak menus - Borjanovic has also expressed a commitment to simplicity in ordering, offering only one size option for each steak (excluding the wagyu, which has three sizes available). 

High end yet also unpretentious, Ibai is the perfect introduction to a side of Basque cuisine somewhat removed from pintxos and bacalao, with a welcome focus on quality ingredients presented in an accessible manner.

Situated in the heart of Chelsea just off the King’s Road, The Five Fields is a Michelin-starred restaurant serving contemporary British food. Originally opened in 2013, this elegant neighbourhood spot has earned a flurry of accolades over the years, including its prized star in 2017. Taylor Bonnyman is the chef patron behind the operation, having previously worked in some of the best kitchens in the world: the now-closed Michelin-starred Roussillon in London, Marcus Wareing, Pierre Gagnaire in Paris and two Michelin-starred Corton in Tribeca to name a few.

Taylor and his team take provenance very seriously and the restaurant sources a huge amount of its plant-based produce from its very own Kitchen Garden in Sussex. Spanning an acre and a half, The Garden provides a host of organic and seasonal produce exclusively for the restaurant, from fruits and vegetables to rare herbs and flowers. It also boasts 10 hives which produce honey and honeycomb for its desserts. In the kitchen, the team follows a low-waste approach to cooking, with any food waste it produces returned to The Garden for composting.

The restaurant serves tasting menus only for lunch and dinner. Dishes are built around the seasons so you can expect the menu to change fairly often. However, examples of things you might expect to try include lobster with pumpkin seed juice, fallow deer with Jerusalem artichoke and sunflower glaze, red cabbage salad with shiso gazpacho and oyster, and baked apples with cider sabayon.

Guests can also elect to include either a classic or prestige wine pairing with their meal, but there is also an extensive wine list which might be better suited to those who know what they like. Here, you'll find a magnificent collection of global wines, English sparkling, vintage Champagnes and more.

A Franco-British restaurant with a Russian tilt, Bob Bob Ricard City is the second London site, offering as much glitz and glamour (if not more!) as the original restaurant in Soho. Just a short walk from Bank and Liverpool Street tube stations, the restaurant resides on the third floor of the Leadenhall building (aka The Cheesegrater) and is dressed in the same decadent style as its sister restaurant, this time, taking inspiration from the Royal Yacht Brittania.

Created by designer Shayne Brady, the interiors set the benchmark for 21st-century nautical chic. Blue booth seating allows parties of all sizes to feel a sense of privacy, while shiny marble floors, a million different light fittings and a wall of mirrors are like an optical illusion designed to arrest and beguile. Perhaps its most famous feature is the ‘press for champagne’ button at every table - push it and receive champers poured from a magnum or methuselah for maximum effect.

It says a lot about a restaurant when the menu boasts dedicated sections for caviar, oysters and vodka shots chilled specifically to 18 degrees. Whet your appetite with one of the above, or opt for the likes of French onion soup, steak tartare, escargots and truffle potato vareniki dumplings, all created by chef director Ben Hobson. For the main course, seemingly straight-forward dishes get a luxurious upgrade: chicken pie is made with a splash of Champagne, while macaroni cheese comes with a whole lobster tail and aged parmesan. Comfort food fit for momentous occasions.

A host of classic French desserts include dark chocolate eclairs with Guernsey cream and a flaming crème brulee flambeed tableside. Like its sister site, Bob Bob Ricard City has capped markups on fine wine at £75, today this price policy remains in place, offering the best value fine wine and Champagne in London.

Tucked away in the heart of Liverpool, Vetch is a modern European restaurant run by head chef and co-owner, Daniel McGeorge, who has returned home to his native Liverpool with this debut solo restaurant. McGeorge has won many plaudits and awards during his career, including the Craft Guild of Chefs Restaurant Chef Award in 2022, and becoming Great British Menu Champion of Champions in 2021, so you know you're in safe hands here.

The restaurant itself is designed to be an intimate, calming space, juxtaposed against busy Hope Street outside. The dining room boasts a neutral palette of whites and creams, with big period sash windows that let in plenty of natural light. Expect a pristine dining space that matches each artfully-plated dish. 

Boasting menus of locally-sourced ingredients, Vetch offers the choice of a five or seven course tasting menu, with the option to add a drink pairing to each course. Taking international influence from all over Asia and Europe, you can expect exquisitely plated dishes such as char siu pork belly with sesame and pickled cabbage, smoked cod's roe with furikake and ponzu trout roe, and cod with kohlrabi, sake and sea beet. Things will be rounded off beautifully with milk chocolate paired with miso, caramel and rice. If that’s not enough, then an additional cheese course is available to add as an extra course to both menus.

If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, then diners have the option of popping in for a lunch, or an early bird set menu, offering a slightly reduced menu and price tag. Enjoy flavours of shokupan milk bread with sweetcorn and miso-cultured butter, and mackerel with turnip, elderflower and dill. Not looking for a full meal? A smaller, snack menu is available in the bar. Here, you'll find a similarly inspired menu, just in bite-size pieces.

Kerridge's Bar & Grill is renowned chef Tom Kerridge’s first London restaurant and finds its home within the Corinthia London hotel in Whitehall. Famous for his pubs of exceptional standards, like The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Kerridge’s love of big, bold flavours are seen in his latest venture too, something akin to pub classics punters know and love. 

Interiors have been created with luxury in mind, so that guests feel calm and comfortable in the cosy space. Rich red leather banquette seating is built in curves to allow for a feeling of privacy around round tables, while a chef’s table is open to a section of kitchen that allows VIP guests an insight into the workings of the skilled professionals making their meals. Elsewhere wooden bookshelves hold cookery tomes and encase wine fridges, while there’s also a generously sized bar for guests to unwind at after a long day of sightseeing or business.

With everything from pre- and post-theatre menus through to vegetarian and vegan sets there is something here for everyone. The classic chef-chosen six course option begins with chicken liver parfait before moving through dishes like mushroom risotto and treacle roasted fillet of beef with chips and béarnaise sauce. The feast is finished off with a tonka bean panna cotta with rhubarb sorbet, honeycomb and ginger. Sundays, as you might expect, bring elevated roast dinners; pork belly with roasted onions and horseradish cream, say, or dry aged rib of beef with Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes.

For guests enjoying drinks at the bar there is also a small snacks menu which includes pub favourites like pork crackling (with Kerridge’s signature twist coming in the form of gherkin ketchup), devils on horseback or Welsh rarebit on toast.

Set in the heart of Staffordshire, Lunar offers a unique culinary experience led by head head chef Carl Riley, with a focus on modern cooking techniques and sustainable practices. It’s inspired by ‘The Lunar Society’, a movement in the 1700s comprised of intellectuals and creatives including Josiah Wedgwood and Erasmus Darwin. As such, Lunar aims to embody the ethos of the movement by creating forward-thinking food focused around sustainable practices and local produce.

Head chef Carl Riley leads the kitchen team and the restaurant’s diverse menu offering. His experience is in classical French cookery, and he spent time working at a wealth of Michelin-accredited and AA Rosette restaurants before moving to Lunar.

Diners can choose from its Sharing Plates menu, a set Plat du Jour, the Lunar Experience tasting menu, and a Sunday Lunch a la carte. For the full experience, the tasting menu can include either seven or nine courses, depending on your appetite, and features dishes like tempura Colchester oysters with trout roe and Champagne gel; Peak District hogget croquette with celeriac purée, pickled oyster mushroom, oats and nettles; and Gressingham duck breast with carrot textures, sweet cicely and pinot noir reduction. Many of the dishes on the menu can also be ordered as small sharing dishes to be enjoyed in a more casual setting.

The cocktail menu is a major part of the dining experience at Lunar, with each one treated like a work of art, both in terms of presentation and flavour profile. Discover a Blood and Passion Margarita, for example, made with tequila, vermouth, dry curacao, blood orange and passionfruit preserve and lemon. There’s also a well-curated wine list which you can choose to browse at your leisure, or opt for a dedicated wine flight to enjoy expertly paired wines with your meal.

One of six restaurants and bars in towering skyscraper The Shard, Oblix is a contemporary restaurant located on the 32nd Floor offering a sophisticated dining experience with much of the menu cooked on the kitchen’s rotisserie and charcoal grill. The restaurant has a double identity and is split between two distinct spaces with Oblix West being home to the main dining room.

Providing a more formal dining experience, enjoy a muted and relaxed atmosphere at Oblix West at The Shard, in a setting that boasts awe-inspiring views of west London and employs a muted colour scheme of tan leather upholstery seating and natural woods which let those views do the talking.

Here, you’ll find a buzzy open kitchen by the entrance and a chic dining room in which you can enjoy lunch, brunch or dinner from a selection of menus celebrating the best of British cuisine with modern day twists. The a la carte menu features a number of highlights such as the barbecued Iberico pork ribs with jalapeno salsa verde or cedar smoked black cod with pickled onion and citrus.

There's also a great selection of dishes intended for sharing, with sharing starters such as tempura crab cakes or beef carpaccio, as well as a seafood platter or a whole grilled turbot which are both designed for two to three people. There is also the option to order from the grill – think a selection of steaks and whole lobster slathered in garlic butter.

On the weekends, Oblix West serves a three-course brunch with the option to add bottomless Prosecco or completely indulge with the Limitless Bruch complete with unlimited Champagne, wine and cocktails. Starters include red tuna tartare and a classic prawn cocktail, while main courses see spicy seafood spaghetti and grilled rotisserie chicken served alongside with lemon, garlic and rosemary mashed potatoes.

An extensive wine list will take your evening to the next level with a selection of wines from all over the world carefully recommended by the restaurant's sommeliers. 

The Pass is an intimate restaurant within the luxury spa South Lodge hotel, West Sussex, headed up by the highly talented chef Ben Wilkinson. Under Ben’s guidance, the restaurant is now the proud holder of a Michelin star, winning the accolade for the first time in 2023. The Pass serves exciting tasting menus which make the most of seasonal produce, and promises each guest a unique and memorable dining experience.

The restaurant is able to cater for up to 28 diners within its historic walls, with guests seated slap bang in the middle of the kitchen in order to immerse themselves in its buzzing atmosphere. Overlooking the brigade of chefs in action, diners can watch them create each innovative dish before finishing them at the pass, for a truly immersive ‘chef’s table’ experience.

Head chef Ben Wilkinson lies at the heart of the kitchen, who moved to The Pass following his success working at Michelin-starred The Cottage in the Wood in the Lake District. His partner Monika Zurawska, meanwhile, manages the front of house team, a seemingly unstoppable duo with the aim of bringing diners an unrivalled dining experience.

There is one seven-course tasting menu available, which changes regularly depending on the seasons and what produce is available that day. However, examples of dishes you’re likely to try include celeriac with beef cheek fillet and celery, wild Newhaven turbot with asparagus, oyster, Ridgeview sparkling and king oyster mushrooms, as well as Fallow venison with beetroot, kale, red wine, peppercorn and lardo. Sweet courses, meanwhile, include Yorkshire rhubarb with ewe’s curd, vanilla and rose.

On the drinks menu there is a wide range of wine from all over the world, including a diverse selection of English sparkling wine, and specially curated wines from France, Austria, New Zealand and Croatia. Diners also have the choice to add on a carefully considered wine flight with each course.

As the name suggests, The American Bar at five-star The Stafford in St James’s pays homage to the illicit speakeasies that became renowned in London and Paris during the 1920s and 30s. To truly immerse diners in prohibition era England, the bar has been designed with a distinctively vintage feel, boasting subtle lamp lighting, a wooden bar, brown leather seating and an all-round cosy ambience. It’s also one of the longest surviving American bars in London, just to add extra gravitas to its aformentioned credentials.  

Both food and drinks are served here, but let's start with the former. Bar director Benoit Provost and director of mixology Salvatore Megna oversee the cocktail menu, which comprises a mix of signatures and classics, both old and new. Sure, there are other drinks too, such as vintage Champagne, premium spirits and a whisky collection to put all others to shame, but cocktails are its ‘thing’. Choose from the Equilibrium menu for a series of perfectly-balanced drinks which are sub-divided by earth, air, water and fire. You might find one called Nimbus for example, which mixes gin, mangosteen, akashi-tai yuzu, citrus, peach and Champagne, or Sonus made with mezcal, cantaloupe melon, grasshopper salt, green yoghurt and fino sherry.  

You can also find a selection of signature, classic and after-dinner cocktails, as well as numerous twists on a negroni for lovers of the punchy drink.  

Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen heads up the food menu, with the bar serving lunch, dinner and light bites throughout the day. Offering a selection of American-inspired dishes, smaller snacks might include BBQ Iberico pork ribs, sticky buffalo wings with hot sauce, sesame and soy, mini sausages with American hot sauce and loaded potato wedges. If you’re after a full meal, you can choose from main dishes such as a lobster thermidor sub, chicken parmigiana, a signature burger made with beef, cheddar and caramelised onions and a pastrami-cured smoked salmon bagel with soured cream and lemon.  

Situated in the village of Aughton in West Lancashire, amid five acres of beautiful gardens, is Moor Hall – a 16th-century, Grade II-listed house, and now, an award-winning restaurant. The building was acquired back in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Andy and Tracey Bell, who brought around a multi-million-pound renovation, transforming it into a destination restaurant with luxury rooms, boasting views of a lake that’s said to be the remains of a medieval moat.

The restaurant is helmed by chef-patron Mark Birchall who has worked hard to create delicate, produce-driven menus inspired by the Hall’s exceptional natural surroundings. Wherever possible, Mark uses produce grown on-site or from local suppliers, and uses his broad culinary experience garnered at top establishments such as Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume to ensure each dish is beautifully-presented and full of flavour.

Since its inception, the restaurant has been awarded a breath-taking number of accolades including two Michelin Stars and a Michelin Green Star, and was voted ‘Best Restaurant in the UK’ at the SquareMeal Top 100 Restaurant Awards in 2019.

Guests can choose to dine from a four- or eight-course menu at lunchtime, while dinner is a set eight-course menu. Naturally, the menu changes to reflect the seasonality of the produce, but the kinds of dishes guests can expect to encounter include Gaisgill Row Farm blue grey beef, barbecued pablo beetroot, mustard and shallot, as well as, Isle of Mull scallop with white asparagus, grains and truffle, and garden apples and gooseberry, woodruff, birch sap and marigold.

Moor Hall says its attitude to wine is simple; it should be fun, interative and within reach of everyone. There are two wine pairings available, one which focuses on leading winemakers - both those who made their mark in the past, and innovating for the future. The second is called the 'Rarity Pairing' and shines a light on the most iconic winemakers and vintages.

The Victoria Oxshott is an award-winning British restaurant and gastropub located on Oxshott High Street, near Leatherhead in Surrey. Open for lunch, dinner and a roast on Sundays, The Victoria is a family friendly pub serving a menu of locally sourced seasonal dishes. 

The Victoria is a spacious modern pub with a large bar area and plenty of cosy seating areas and fireplaces. A green and gold colour palette is visible throughout the restaurant, and the interiors are luxurious but classic, with timber floors, wood-panelled walls as well as cosy rugs everywhere. There is also an expansive terrace and beer garden.

The main a la carte menu changes regularly. However, you may find dishes such as Sladesdown farm breast and leg of duck with hay baked carrot, Scottish girolles and apricot, and slow cooked pork, hispi cabbage, apple and black pudding crumb. Other classic dishes include traditional fish and chips, as well as a selection of steaks from the grill, all of which are served with roasted onion, chips and Bordelaise sauce. 

There's plenty in the way of meat-free options, including at the time of writing a cauliflower steak, torched corn and coriander. Save room for desserts like apricot Bakewell tart, yoghurt ice cream and banoffee pie souffle, or a cheese plate if you prefer. There is a large drinks menu, with an extensive wine list, as well as local beers and spirits. 

If you’re dining with younger guests you will find plenty of good options on the menu, such as cheese crumpets, fish and chips, and a mini Sunday roast. The Victoria is conveniently positioned within reach of Oxshott train station, alongside a number of shops, a delicatessen and a butchers. Keep an eye out for many seasonal specials, including The Victoria boxing day menu, and the New Years Eve menu. 

The Gilpin group spans two five-star hotels in the Lake District, just a mile from one another and both nestled in some of the area's most beautiful scenery with thick woodland and, of course, breathtaking lakes.

The Gilpin Hotel is set in 21 acres of lush countryside and benefits from a Champagne bar, rooms with private hot tubs and en suite spas, as well as two restaurants - Gilpin Spice and SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel.

SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel is headed-up by Executive Chef Ollie Bridgewater (formerly of Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck) and boasts a Michlein star. Here, diners can expect a focus on exquisite produce, distinct flavours, seasonality, sustainability, and precision. Combine all this with exceptional service and you'll find a fun and fine dining experience. 

The restaurant offers two different menus, both with a strong focus on using the very best ingredients. The ‘ORIGIN’ menu offers a shorter dining experience for guests to enjoy, acting as something of an introduction to the restaurant's concept. The ‘SOURCE’ menu, on the other hand, takes diners on the complete, immersive journey. With a sustainable ethos comes a daily changing menu - ensuring to keep it fresh whilst still always encompassing the seasonality and skill as expected from the SOURCE kitchen.

Both menus can be tailored to your tastes with a choice of starter, main course and dessert, allowing you to align these Michelin menus to match your personal tastes and preferences. For those looking for something a bit lighter, a new lunch-tasting menu is available on Fridays and Saturdays.

Located in the Old Town of Amersham in Buckinghamshire, Michelin-starred Artichoke is owned and led by Chef Patron Laurie Gear and his wife Jacqueline. They opened the restaurant originally in 2002 with the aim of offering the very best neighbourhood dining experience. These days a feat undertaken by Chef Patron Laurie and Head Chef Chris Chegwin who oversee the kitchen team whilst Jacqueline with a strong background in hospitality, harmonises the day-to-day management of Artichoke and the dedicated Front of House team, headed by Valentin Le Bouter Bordin Restaurant Manager/Sommelier.

The restaurant is set inside a 16th century Grade II listed building with many of its original features and beams. The style is Scandi-chic with the interiors designed by Fiona Johnston Parke. Drawing on Laurie’s time spent in Scandinavia, expect lots of soft tones of walnut, grey and lilac, with finishing touches including amethyst glass and local hand-crafted pottery.

As to the Michelin starred cooking, the Artichoke offer an eclectic collection of menus including a signature Artichoke Tasting menu as well as a lighter Set lunch, Six Course Lunch Tasting and a three-course dinner menu. Please note Artichoke Tasting Menu only served on Friday and Saturday evenings.

In terms of style, menus are inspired by modern British and European dining and use only top-quality ingredients that are locally sourced and hyper-seasonal. While their seasonality means menus are subject to change, the website offers a taste of what to expect with dishes such as Cornish lobster with scallop mousse, English garden peas, fennel dressing and pork belly crisp to start, followed by roast breast of Adlington English label special reserve chicken with cocoa beans, stuffed courgette flower and courgette puree for mains.

To drink, there is an award-winning wine list listed by region. A selection of wines are available by the glass, and half bottle as well as an exquisite collection of house-made mocktails and soft beverages, perfectly curated to pair with each of the menus.

With stunning views overlooking the tranquility of the Exe Estuary and the famed Jurassic Coast, five star Lymptone Manor might just be one of the most beautiful country retreats anywhere in the UK. This five star hotel boasts 21 stunning guest rooms and suites, six charming shepherd huts, a world-class wine cellar, and 28 acres of ground, including an 11 acre vineyard. Not to mention, of course, the presence of a true legend of British cooking - Michael Caines MBE - in the kitchen.

Michael Caines has become one of the UK's best known and respected chefs over his long career. His distinctive, modern British cooking - honed on classical French technique from the kitchens of legends like Joel Robuchon, Raymond Blanc and Bernard Loiseau - earned him two Michelin stars at nearby Gidleigh Park, an award that he held for eighteen years.

In 2017, Michael left to open Lympstone Manor, and he made an instant impact, winning a Michelin star just six months after opening. The menu is vintage Michael Caines - international influences, smart flavour combinations, all underpinned by old-school technique. Starters on the a la carte at the time of writing include confit salmon with honey and soy vinaigrette, wasabi yoghurt and a salmon consomme, and pan-fried duck liver with braised orange chicory, orange puree and anise-scented duck jus. Mains are a little more classic, like butter-poached Brixham turbot with braised leeks, poached scallops, truffle and chive butter. And who could possibly turn down a pistachio souffle for dessert, cooked by the master?

Aside from the a la carte there are two tasting menus available - the signature, and the 'Taste of the Estuary' that celebrates the best ingredients from the local area. And finally, appreciation of fine wine is also integral to the Lympstone Manor experience. The world-class wine cellar has over 600 bins representing some of the finest wine estates from around the globe.

Turn right when you exit the ear-popping elevator at The Shard and you’ll be greeted with the most spectacular view in London, a jaw-dropping panorama of the ever-evolving skyline of the Square Mile, with famous landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Canary Wharf crowding the edge of your field of vision.

From the two dining options on offer – British-themed Aqua Shard and Szechuan-accented Hutong – we’d go Chinese very time, although no one should come here without first having a drink in Aqua Shard’s bar, which is where you'll find the best views.

That said, the views from Hutong aren’t exactly shabby, stretching westwards up the river from St Paul’s to the Millennium Wheel and Houses of Parliament, with Wembley Stadium and the hilltop villages of Hampstead and Highgate visible on the horizon on a fine day.

Minimally decorated surrounds of dark wood latticing and Chinese lanterns puts the emphasis firmly on the view, though we’ve always felt that the cooking would be worthy of attention even if it weren’t on the 33rd floor of London’s most iconic skyscraper.

The cooking is nominally northern Chinese, though in reality you’ll find many of your favourite high-street dishes done to an exceptionally high standard; Aqua is owned by a restaurant group based in Hong Kong, the spiritual home of Cantonese cooking.

Roast duck carved tableside is a speciality of the house, served in a first course of pancakes and then stir fried. Otherwise, expect vegetable spring rolls, sautéed crispy shredded beef and chilli and some terrific seafood dishes such as king crab and chilled tofu or ma la crispy eel.

Dim sum is served at lunchtime, often made from luxury ingredients: Iberico pork or lobster xiao long bao, pan-fried Wagyu beef buns or baked Wagyu beef puffs – as well as more classic pan-fried chicken dumplings or scallop siu mai. Prices match the sky-high location, but so too does the top-drawer service.

Farlam Hall has been a country manor for nearly 500 years, and for much of that time owned by the local gentry, the Thompson family. Created as a space to entertain family and friends, the current team are passionate about continuing its hospitable legacy with sumptious interiors, cosy fires and fantastic food and drink. 

The Cedar Tree Restaurant is the jewel in the hotel's culinary crown, boasting a Michelin star and hosting guests in a beautifully elegant space, overlooking the gardens with delicate, floral wallpaper and white tablecloths. Here, the team offer a fine-dining experience which seeks to highlight the very best of local produce and seasonal ingredients, with its heart firmly planted in Cumbria. 

Helmed by Chef Patron Hrishikesh Desai, the sample menu takes diners on a seven-course journey, starting with cod tartar in a crispy puff ball, with soya and honey dressing, carrot and cumin purée with garden cress, alongside an aubergine ‘Cornetto’ with smoked aubergine pickle and cheese mousse.

Across the main courses, enjoy dishes like fried fillet of cured hake with roasted pineapple and smoked sweet and sour sauce, as well as Aglionby Longhorn Beef tandoori ‘Wellington’ with tandoori spiced marinated beef fillet wrapped in classic mushroom duxelles, potato cream,  seasonal garden vegetables and tandoori jus.

For afters, enjoy Thompson’s farm rhubarb with vanilla pannacotta, rhubarb textures and orange cake, as well as dark chocolate delice with banana bread, caramelised hazelnuts and milk ice cream, and coffee and tea with petit fours. 

The restaurant is available to book for both overnight guests of the restaurant and visitors just for the day. For those making a Sunday booking, try the five-course Sunday lunch with dishes like poached Loch Duart salmon, crab dumpling and keta caviar beurre blanc, followed by sticky toffee pudding with dark chocolate and cardamom ganache with salted caramel ice cream.

The Pem is the flagship fine-dining restaurant at the Conrad London St James hotel, run by chef Sally Abe - one of London's most acclaimed young chefs. Abe acts as consultant chef for the hotel and also oversees its in-house pub, The Blue Boar.

Having previously been head chef of Michelin-starred The Harwood Arms in Fulham, Abe now brings her culinary knowledge to The Pem, which serves a dinner menu that champions top-quality British produce and reworks classic dishes with innovative new spins. The menu changes seasonally, but on your visit, you can expect to find dishes that are underpinned by fresh produce from trusted suppliers - think poached native lobster with shellfish cream, heritage tomatoes and sweet olive or roasted John Dory with brassicas, lemon and sauce Choron. Desserts meanwhile, include the classic likes of black forest gateau topped with chocolate curls and served alongside English cherry ripple ice cream.

The Pem takes its name from suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, whose family used the pet name ‘Pem’ for her, and a commitment to showcasing female talent is reflected in Abe’s exclusively female senior team. The restaurant’s look is also distinctly feminine - the dining room boasts an art deco inspired design, including soft lighting and comfy banquettes and tub chairs, all decked out in romantic rosy hues. The main dining room seats up to 70 guests, while a private dining space has room for 24.

The Pem’s wine list combines highly sought-after fine wines with lesser known bottles from independent producers and has been curated from sommelier and wine consultant Emily Harman.

Speaking about the opening, Abe said: “I have the freedom to serve the food I’ve always wanted to cook. It’s me on a plate. I’m taking classic combinations and really making them my own, like steak and oyster, cheese and onion – I won’t be messing with the framework but trying to put a new spin on them without creating challenging or modernist dishes. I want to bring a sense of familiarity and transfer those flavours to high-end restaurant dining.”

Norma celebrates the coming together of flavours from the south of Italy and north Africa, a pairing that pays homage to the history of Sicily. This Italian-inspired restaurant was originally overseen by Ben Tish, but now rests in the hands of executive chef Giovann Attard.

Despite the definite foodie credentials, a visit to the restaurant is as much about the interiors and hospitality as it is the menu. The three-floor townhouse space looks to recreate the grand café culture found throughout Sicily, while staff are warm and charming in their manners, reminiscent of that signature Italian service. A crudo bar greets guests at the entrance, made up of striking marble colours, while the dining room is awash with intricate mosaic walls, hanging pendant lighting, booth seating and cosy seating nooks found in carved-out arch spaces. Low lighting adds to the ambiance.

On the first floor you’ll find the cocktail bar where you can enjoy drinks and snacks, while the top floor hosts a private dining space. Here guests can work with the kitchen team to perfect their party menu from a selection of family-style sharing platters and will enjoy their meal in the warm and intimate surrounds of the mirrored-ceiling space.

Back in the main restaurant and the menu features Sicilian-inspired dishes made using seasonal Italian and British produce. While the menu might change from day-to-day, you can always expect sparklingly fresh seafood from the bar, dressed with high-quality olive oil or other deftly handled garnishes, while the antipasti options might throw up combinations like burrata with chicory, blood orange and coriander seeds. Homemade pastas are the kitchen’s signature serves, while mains like grilled salt marsh lamb or pan-fried stone bass feature as large plates. There is also a full vegan menu for plant-based eaters and a selection of tempting dessert for a sweet finish to your experience at Norma.

Moor Hall is a beautiful, grade II-listed country house with a surrounding estate of five acres and views out to the lake, set in the heart of West Lancashire. The property and grounds were taken over in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Andy and Tracey Bell, who oversaw a multi-million-pound renovation and transformation into the award-winning restaurant and rooms it is today.

While the Moor Hall Restaurant is the gem in the estate's crown, having been awarded two Michelin Stars, a Michelin Green Star, and 5 AA Rosettes, the Barn restaurant also sits on site and boasts a Michelin Star of its own, as well as a historic setting and gorgeous views. 

Just moments from the main house, the Barn was once a business man's carriages and horse's stables, and today flush with period features such as exposed brick walls and wooden beams overhead. It is helmed by patron-chef of Moor Hall, Mark Birchall, who describes this as a neighbourhood restaurant offering a seasonal menu and the best Sunday lunch of your life. 

It's important to the team that as much of the ingredients and produce are sourced as locally as possible, growing many of their own vegetables and herbs on site. Highlights from the menu include 60 day aged grass-fed ex dairy Jersey beef tartare with Jerusalem artichoke and nasturtium; Cornish cod, smoked onion, charred leek, bacon crumb and stem ginger panna cotta, blood orange, granola. And, as for those unmissable Sunday lunches, they say the roasted 40 day aged Longhorn sirloin with all the trimmings is the dish to try.

Guests are invited to enjoy either a set three-course menu for lunch from Thursday to Saturday, or for dinner on Wednesdays and Thursdays. An a la carte menu is also available, allowing you to pick your favourite dishes from the curated selection.

Set within beautiful, well-tended parkland, 17th-century Grantley Hall exudes luxury, from the polite, plaid-uniformed staff to the lavish decor and furnishings within. Widely regarded as one of the best hotels in the country, Grantley Hall possesses everything you’d expect from an upscale country house hotel, and then some. Three restaurants, several bars, and a state-of-the-art gym and spa are just some of the draws for the well-heeled seeking a gold-standard stay, but it’s the partnership with critically acclaimed chef Shaun Rankin that undoubtedly takes top billing.

Rankin is Yorkshire born and bred but left the surrounds of the countryside to pursue his ambitions of becoming one of the country’s top chefs. Ambitions achieved via a handful of Michelin stars, he returned to open his eponymous restaurant in 2019 where he's since added another star to his collection. 

Rankin’s fine-dining restaurant is situated at the front of the hall in a plush room that’s as warm and inviting as it is beautiful. The original ornate ceiling sports twinkling chandeliers which come together with the rich drapes and heavy, scalloped chairs to create an air of hushed serenity.

A dedication to sustainability and quality means all meat (organic, naturally), cheese and seafood is sourced from local suppliers and, like the discernibly fresh fruit and vegetables, comes through in the superb flavours. It’s a tasting only affair here, with an optional – but advised wine or non-alcoholic drinks pairing. While dishes flex with the seasons, guests can expect the usual run of bread and butter into fish, meat and sweet plates that span ten courses and finish with a trolly of petite fours enjoyed at your table or in the next door lounge.