(15 - 17 Chapel Walks in Manchester, United Kingdom)

At Bacchanalia restaurant in Manchester’s peaceful Chapel Walks, there’s no actual drunken nudity or... worshipping of pagan gods. But there is always a gathering of diners and drinkers enjoying the al fresco tables, the buzzing modern bar with its world-class mixologists, and the brilliant, sophisticated first floor dining room. With its open kitchen, sunlit or candlelit tables, and cool minimalism, Bacchanalia is choice for business, shopping break or pleasure. Freshness is key – everything on the Mediterranean/British inflected menu is made on site, with dishes like deconstructed moussaka and daily-changing stuffed panfried chicken with flavoured mash. Wines and service are known to be excellent and the beers are double-chilled so the second half is just and cool as the first half. Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 9am - 12amThurs: 9am - 1amFri & Sat: 9am - 3amSun: 9am - 12am [moreless]

(Parklands Hotel & Bentley's Restaurant in Ogbourne St George, United Kingdom)

Please note, Bentley's is currently undergoing refurbishment and is not taking bookings.Bentleys mig...ht be only five minutes off the M4 near Swindon, but you’d never know from its tranquil village setting in Wiltshire’s beautiful Marlborough Downs. The restaurant is part of the Parklands Hotel, a small, family-run hotel converted from a 200-year-old inn. Begin with the homemade fishcake, pepped up with roquette salad with sweet chilli sauce, then motor into a whole braised lamb shank on creamed potato. Vegetarians are taken good care of with oven-roasted pepper, red onion, sweet potato and goat’s cheese with butter chive sauce. The ice-creams are a cut above the ordinary – you’ll be hard-pressed to choose between blackberry, peppermint choc chip, organic strawberry, toffee fudge or white chocolate with honeycomb pieces – or if you’re feeling virtuous, there’s always the lighter mango sorbet. Next time you’re on the M4, don’t settle for the next service station: get some proper cooking, character and comfort at Bentleys. Opening hours: Mon - Fri: Breakfast 7.30am - 9amLunch 12pm - 2pmDinner 7pm - 9pmSat Breakfast: 8am - 9amLunch: 12pm - 2pmDinner: 7pm - 9pmSun Breakfast: 8.30am - 10amLunch: 12pm - 2pmDinner: 7pm - 8pm [moreless]

(Brandshatch Place Hotel and Spa, Brands Hatch Road in Fawkham Green, United Kingdom)

Set inside a beautiful Georgian mansion in Kent, the four star Brandshatch Place Hotel is home to an... equally impressive restaurant which was recently awarded an AA rosette. The elegant but unpretentious dining room is a relaxed setting for intimate dinners, low-key business lunches and special occasions. Brandshatch Place uses top quality produce, sourced from local suppliers wherever possible, and their wine is made from grapes grown in their personal vineyards. Head Chef Stephen Redpath’s seasonal menus feature classic dishes like green pea cappuccino with crisp pancetta; roast fillet of Sussex beef with cauliflower puree; and pan-fried fillet of stone bass with potato gnocchi. The restaurant is also renowned for its traditional Sunday lunch and afternoon teas. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 7am – 9:30am, 12:30 pm – 2pm & 7pm – 9:30Sat & Sun 8am – 10am, 12:30pm – 2pm & 7pm – 9:30pm [moreless]

(The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, 35 Charles Street in London, United Kingdom)

Listed in Tattlers restaurant guide 2007 under the Best of British section, Butlers Restaurant is pa...rt of the Chesterfield Hotel just off Berkley Square in the heart of Mayfair. The décor of rich reds and greens with English oil paintings is perfect for romantic dinners as well as being superb for discreet business meetings. The Sunday lunch in Butler’s restaurant is still a firm favourite, where you can enjoy succulent rib of beef from the carving trolley or a delightful trio of crème brulée. Staff are friendly in a relaxed yet formal atmosphere. What’s cooking? Modern British fare such as calves liver and bacon with caramelised shallots and mash potato or whole Dover sole grilled and served with sauce hollandaise, witch is famed for being the best in London. Some real old time tempters for desert such as sticky toffee pudding, honeycomb ice cream, butterscotch cheese cake, all made by their own pastry chef. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 12:30pm - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10pmSat 5:30pm - 10:30pmSun 12:30pm - 2:30 pm & 5:30pm - 10pm For the second consecutive year the Butler's has been awarded an award for 'Excellence for afternoon tea' from the Tea Guild [moreless]

(Boxmoor Lodge Hotel & Restaurant,, London Road in Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom)

The Conservatory restaurant, at the delightful Boxmoor Lodge in Hemel Hempstead, is a friendly, fam...ily-owned business with an exceptional modern British menu. The light-filled dining room has crisp linens, garden views and fresh flowers, and the service is faultless. The Head Chef at Boxmoor Lodge, Stuart Ambury, oversees a kitchen that prides itself on high-quality GM free ingredients and creative presentation. Our favourite dishes include the smoked rump of lamb with sauteed baby new potatoes, broad beans, wild mushrooms and mint froth, the duck with plum sauce served with green beans and gratin dauphnoise, and the deep fried battered cod with minted pea purée, pont neuf potatoes and homemade tartare sauce. The restaurant also has a wonderful wine list, selected by Lilyane Weston. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 7pm - 11pmSun 12pm - 3pm Boxmoor Lodge was originally built as the gatehouse to Boxmoor House, a wedding gift from Lady Alicia Blackwood to Henry Bowen in 1685. [moreless]

(Mudhurst Lane, Higher Disley, Greater Manchester in Stockport, United Kingdom)

Pounding around the Peak District? Refuel at the civilised Courtyard restaurant in Moorside, with g...enerous helpings of wholesome regional English food - imaginatively conceived, meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. Start with rich Brussels pâté, brilliantly set off with tangy fruit chutney. Follow with meltingly tender roast beef with crisp, light Yorkshire pudding and thyme-scented gravy, or get some environmentally-responsible Brownie points with the delicious poached hoki fillet, jazzed up with a vibrant lemon and herb sauce. Vegetarians get a nice change from the veggie standards with battered aubergines served with mango chutney dip. The restaurant’s atmosphere is cheerful and relaxed, with a lively buzz of conversation, and the surrounding moorland scenery is stunning. Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 10am & 7pm - 10pmSat & Sun: 8am - 10am & 7pm-10pm [moreless]

(Eggesford in Chulmleigh, United Kingdom)

The Fox and Hounds restaurant and hotel in Eggesford, Chulmleigh, is set in grounds bordering the Ri...ver Taw in the heart of the Devon countryside. This family-owned hotel and restaurant is a delightful and unpretentious spot for meals and riverside walks before or after. The dining room, decorated in tones of cream and chocolate with fresh flowers and white table linens, has a smart, relaxed ambience. The menu features the freshest, most seasonal local produce imaginable, with special emphasis on three choices of superb Devon steaks as well as game in season. Sunday lunch features live jazz monthly and it’s a local favourite. Opening hours: Mon - Sun 12pm - 3pm & 6:30pm - 9pm [moreless]

(1 Fleet Place, Holborn Viaduct in London, United Kingdom)

Located in the Holborn viaduct, Jamie’s is well worth that bit of exploration. An interior both cla...ssic and contemporary, possessing both up to date style and timeless elegance is your surrounding in which to enjoy all kinds of modern European cuisine. Pick from the menu safe in the knowledge that the restaurant’s menu will always reflect seasons and be constructed from produce sourced only from local suppliers. Summers at the restaurant are best spent unwinding on the terrace, sampling the wine list Jamie’s prides itself on. Please note - maximum booking size at this restaurant is 6 diners.Diners booking through toptable will be unable to eat on the alfresco terrace. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 9pm [moreless]

(107 - 112 Leadenhall street in London, United Kingdom)

Even though it’s sat opposite the famous Lloyds building, given that Jamie’s is mostly tucked downst...airs in to a small wine bar with a restaurant subtly placed on its top floor, it maintains a hidden gem feel. Said restaurant is available for intimate dining on modern European cuisine – everything from sandwiches and platters to three course meals – during the daytime, and also available for functions both formal and informal in the evening. Engage the staff in the bar in a chat about wine and you’ll perhaps be as impressed with their knowledge and passion for the topic as you could be with the delights on offer amidst the constantly changing, seasonal menu. Please note - no food is served in the evenings. Opening hours: Mon - Fri 10am - 11pm Though their seasonally adjusted wine selection is held with particular pride, there are also many quirky beers on offer at Jamie’s – the Warsteiner, imported from Germany, is know in its home as 'Das Einzig Wahre' or 'The Only One.' [moreless]

( Off Ross Street in Darwen, United Kingdom)

Part of a Victorian manor in rural Lancashire, MJs is a distinctive, modern and airy space that open...s on to a decked patio, verdant garden and sandstone hotel beyond. A distinctly modern décor features blue striped carpets, silver chairs, beige banquet seating and a long aquarium along one side. The majority of dishes are made from the county’s wealth of local produce, the pick of which are chicken livers in a fiery jus, and chargrilled sirloin steak from the Ribble Valley you decide the cut, the cooking and the sauce. First class service. Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 12pm - 2pm & 6pm - 9:30pm Sun: 12pm - 8pm Matthew Clark and Remy Martin helped compile the whiskie, cognac, bourbon and brandy list. [moreless]