Housed in a unique three-storey Grade II-listed building in the centre of the historic village of Market Bosworth, Softleys Restaurant offers its guests a truly intimate dining experience. For the last six years James Davis has been at the helm of this service-focused, friendly fine dining venue, which achieves a rare combination of high quality cuisine in an atmosphere that everyone should find inviting. The interior’s rich decor and sympathetic furnishings cater for approximately 30 covers on the ground floor – which boasts an enormous open fireplace – and an additional 16 to 25 in the first floor function room.

The à la carte menu is innovative in its contemporary twists on traditional dishes, incorporating exciting, complementary flavours, one example being chicory Parma ham with hazelnuts and dolcelatte on a bed of greens with a hazelnut sherry vinegar and orange oil dressing.

Main dishes include seasonal favourites like guinea fowl and a fantastic selection of fish, which is delivered daily. There are also daily specials and a separate vegetarian menu that successfully avoids reliable clichéd formulae. Softleys is keen to promote the use of fresh, locally sourced and non-GM ingredients, evidenced by the especially clean and clear flavours in the dishes.

The desserts are a must; the raspberry ripple cheesecake rendered me speechless for several minutes – definitely worth abandoning the diet for.

The wine list is extensive, ranging from the good to the excellent, and obvious care has been taken in the selection of wines served by the glass.

Softleys also has three double bedrooms, so should the temptation to travel far from home to dine here prove rather hard to resist, guests can reserve a room from £65 a night, including breakfast.