If you fancy venturing out of the city, this celebrated, awardnominated restaurant overlooking Bradgate Park is simply quite stunning in every way. As my partner and I settled into our seats by the window overlooking the village church, a mix of 40s blues and haunting Celtic ballads accompanied the hum of friends and couples catching up on the latest news.

The crisp, contemporary décor is stylishly understated, and the smiling staff meet your every need with flair and self-assurance. Customer service is a priority – diners can reserve a table, read reviews and buy gift vouchers online.

One might expect a restaurant of this quality to be rather expensive, but chef and owner Jason Crocket is a master of his art and provides an impressive range of top rate cuisine at excellent value, with starters all under £6.50 and main courses under £19. My glass of rich and fruity rosé perfectly complemented my luscious starter of French goat’s cheese, vine tomato and fresh basil tart with smoked paprika dressing. And the toasted walnuts added an extra zing to my partner’s warm salad of Gressingham duck.

For our mains, we chose the succulent loin of Highland venison and the vegetarian option of wild mushroom tagliatelle – both served with creative flair and in surprisingly generous portions.

The baked Belgian chocolate tart with Baileys ice cream in a brandy snap basket was irresistibly naughty, and drinking after-dinner coffee on a fireside sofa finished off our evening just perfectly. This is the sort of place that’ll make you want dress up, spend time with your loved ones and let the rest of the world go by.