Barnsdale Lodge Hotel - Oakham

Standing amid graceful gardens on the north shore of Rutland Water, Barnsdale Lodge started life as a seventeenth-century stone farmhouse on the Exton Estate (home of the locally renowned Noel family). It is now reckoned to be 'one of England's hidden treasures'.

The kitchen is a hive of activity, producing everything from home-baked breads and pastries to spiced pears and sloe gin. Rutland trout often puts in an appearance – perhaps simply grilled or given more elaborate treatment with fish velouté – while roast chump of Leicestershire lamb is served on a bed of ratatouille.

Starters might range from warm leek and onion tart with tomato chutney and herb salad to chicken Caesar salad, while desserts could feature summer fruit cheesecake or white and dark chocolate terrine with raspberry compote. Barnsdale Lodge is justly famous for its traditional Sunday lunches, with roast locally reared beef served from a silver trolley.