Stoke Place, The Garden Room - Stoke Poges

A seventeenth-century Buckinghamshire mansion of some repute, Stoke Place has been transformed into a contemporary boutique hotel just 30 minutes' drive from the bustle of the capital. The house stands in 25 acres of glorious gardens, grounds and parkland designed by Capability Brown and it remains a well-protected local landmark, (the red-brick wall that surrounds the whole estate was originally put up to protect the place from 'marauders and vagabonds'.

The light and airy Garden Room restaurant is now one of its focal points, and it comes complete with superb views. Chef Craig Van Der Meer has devised a modern British menu based on carefully sourced produce (the hotel's Victorian walled garden is being brought back to life for the growing of herbs and salad leaves).

Proceedings might start with pan seared pigeon breast, papino panacotta with port glace or inventive dishes such as warm salmon, grapefruit geleé and shellfish meringue before mains of fillet mignon, grilled vegetables, pearl barley and pine nut emulsion. As a finale indulge in pomegranate and ginger parfait with lemongrass anglaise or chestnut cake, cherry sorbet with spiced red wine jelly.