Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes

Located accurately in the fictional Edwardian sleuth's postcode, this slick Baker Street operation eschews the period theme in favour of a chic contemporary boutique hotel look. Polished wood floors and cream leather seats at black quartz inlaid tables set a smart, modern, city-slicker tone in the open-plan space of Sherlock's Bar & Grill. Holding centre stage is the kitchen team, hard at work over charcoal grills and a wood-burning oven in the open-to-view kitchen. From a broadly European menu comes a generous serving of pan-fried king scallops with butternut squash purée and crispy bacon to set the ball rolling, then hot off the charcoal grill there might be veal escalope in breadcrumbs with roasted plum tomato and rocket, or from the wood-fired oven, Gressingham duck breast with caramelised plums and Swiss chard. For pudding, how about a good honest and homely version of apple and sultana crumble with cinnamon ice cream?