Thornbury Castle, Thornbury

Thornbury Castle is stylishly presented but the menu was over ambitious and lacking in quality. The addition of some traditional English items influenced by the history of the castle would have been appreciated.

Situated twelve miles north of Bristol, Thornbury castle offers some of the finest food in the region and just about the best surroundings history has to offer. With a choice of three elegant dining rooms and a small army of staff trained to be attentive but not intrusive I cannot think of a more delightful place to eat.

The castle, once visited by Henry the Eighth in the company of his second wife Anne Boleyn also offers splendid accommodation, each room having been carefully restored for an authentic but comfortable feel.

The menu never ceases to be interesting and it's a personal preference to wash the food down with a bottle of Thornbury Castle's own wine. Produced from the 'Muller Thurgau' grape grown in their own vineyard it is very reasonably priced at £15 a bottle.

I also like to take coffee in the library afterwards rather than at the table as one is not charged extra for the wonderful ambience (unless one opts for the after-dinner drinks where any loss I am sure is recouped).

Expect to pay around £45 per head, not including drinks.