Oak Room @ Woodlands Park Hotel

Dating back to the 1880s, the Woodlands Park Hotel was one of the first houses in the UK to have electric light. English industrialist William Bryant (of matches fame) commissioned the red-brick mansion, and he chose a nice spot - lovely landscaped gardens and grounds surround the house. As the name suggests, the intimate Oak Room is ornately decorated with beautiful oak-panelled walls and an intricate oak-beamed ceiling. The setting is formal and rather soothing - deep purple table skirts, white linen cloths, top-quality glassware, crockery and cutlery, and equally formal (and well-informed) service. Follow pigeon, cooked pink, served with a mulled wine poached pear, chicory and olive oil, with fillet of beef with wild garlic cake, salsify and brussel sprouts. To finish, how about an inventive chocolate samosa with orange, white chocolate and Cointreau ice cream?>