Nottingham, International Restaurant Guide

Near the castle – and with a courtyard garden – this locally famous venue owes its “quite formal but elegant” premises to ‘The Nottingham Club’ which it partly inhabits (a private members’ club for men and women of the local professional and business community). The food has tended to split opinion in the past but this year was deemed “very inventive” to “exceptional” (albeit “quite expensive”).

“London-quality tapas in a really atmospheric setting” makes this buzzy and well-priced Lace Market cellar “a real gem” when you’re in the market for a “creative, inventive” meal. The more casual Carlton Street spin-off is also lauded for its “great value” and (appropriately) speedy ‘Menu Rapido’.

2021 Review: An “extensive” and “interesting tapas menu” (plus a “very good-value lunch”) is the formula behind this relaxed but reliably busy spot.

Chef-owner Nick Gillespie’s “exceptional” modern British cuisine has won considerable acclaim for his “lovely gem” of a restaurant over the past ten years. Set in an unusual location off the M1, its bare oak tables and brick walls combine with black granite and antler candelabras for a striking interior.