Back in the ‘silent’ days, this was Cheltenham’s first picture house, and its glamorous art-deco interior has been fabulously renovated with giant projectors and old film reels on display, ‘kissing seats’ in the mosaic foyer and a sweeping staircase leading up to the mezzanine bar. An open kitchen now provides the visual thrills, with the Josper grill playing a starring role when it comes to slabs of native-breed beef. Home-grown flavours old and new spring up everywhere, from potted Cornish crab or warm pheasant salad to oxtail pudding and beef fillet with swede purée or an involved take on kedgeree involving roast cod with a soft-boiled egg, cauliflower, salt cod, rice and curry sauce. Sharing dishes such as whole monkfish on the bone are in demand, while desserts including lemon meringue crunch close the show. Regular live jazz too.