Bunny, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

An “excellent special occasion” is recommended by fans of this well-established venue, which also has two rooms available for staying guests, set in a smartly modernised old building in a village in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire. Chef Danny Jimminson and his wife Sandra offer an array of menus including a three course selection of £65 for three courses (available Tuesday-Friday), while on Saturday night they serve a seven-course meal for £95 per person. Its superior cooking as acknowledged by its hard-to-achieve award of three AA rosettes.

“A truly world-class restaurant at the top of its game” – Sat & Amanda Bains create a “wonderful and truly memorable experience” for most visitors to their remarkable city-fringe hideaway, which is improbably located down a lane amidst the jumble of pylons, small industrial units, flyovers and concrete banks that announce your near-arrival at this converted motel, by the River Trent, on the outer fringes of Nottingham. In the evening, the choice is between the ‘Prelude’ or ‘Overture’ menus for £199 or £249 per person respectively for a multi-course tasting experience that’s “innovative and complex but richly fulfilling and not faddish”. That’s not to say that absolutely everyone loves it, and this year saw ratings dented a bit by a few more complaints than usual (e.g. “overly rich saucing…”, “unbelievable prices for the style…”). Still more common, however, are converts, such as a repeat visitor who noted “the second visit was even better than the first… if that’s possible… the food was perfection and the service pure class”. Top Tips – “the potato is always a standout”; “the winter offer complete with a stay in one of their rooms is an incredible bargain”.