Hermitage Hotel

The Hermitage sits centre-stage in Bournemouth, opposite the splendid pier and the promenade running alongside the town's celebrated golden beaches, and lies a handily short stroll from the Pavilion Theatre and whatever is going down in the Bournemouth International Centre. The old girl has been smartly refurbished and still has a sense of majesty in the high-ceilinged dining room with its grand decorative fireplaces. The cooking here ploughs a crowd-pleasing furrow, delivering uncomplicated ideas along the lines of a retro prawn and crayfish cocktail with Marie Rose sauce to start, then classic steaks or braised lamb shank with creamed potato, crispy pancetta, green beans and rosemary and redcurrant sauce. End with dark chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.