Best Western Valley Hotel & Chez Maw

The Maws family, manufacturers of glorious Victorian tiles, once owned this lovely Georgian building on the banks of the River Severn. The world of the industrial revolution is long gone from Ironbridge: these days the tinkle of teacups is about as loud as things get, and the hotel is a great base for exploring the Coalbrookdale World Heritage area. The restaurant is a clean-cut contemporary space, done out in warm peach and toffee tones, with bare wooden floors and tables, and modern art on the walls. The kitchen takes a modern route with well-sourced local materials, turning out a wide-ranging repertoire of European-influenced dishes, starting, perhaps, with seared scallops with spiced parsnip velouté, black pudding and Cox's apple. Mains could offer up braised local pork belly with a maple rosemary glaze, fondant potato, roast root vegetables, and apple compôte. End with iced vanilla parfait with red wine and star anise poached pear, and mulled wine syrup.