In a great location just a couple of minutes from the wide open spaces of Richmond Park, The Victoria is a friendly, welcoming place, with everything you might look for in a restaurant with rooms. There are comfortable bedrooms and a bright and airy conservatory dining room, plus a sunny courtyard and a leafy garden with a safe children’s play area. And of course, as it’s run by TV chef Paul Merrett and restaurateur Greg Bellamy, you can expect award-winning culinary delights. The modern menu strikes just the right note, with a thoughtful selection of dishes, from comforting classics to something a bit more inventive. Have a pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord or Orchard Pig Reveller cider in the bar – or maybe one of the interesting non-boozy drinks – rhubarb lemonade, for example – to kick off a meal that might start with the artisan charcuterie board with pickles and focaccia, maybe, or buratta with fennel, blood orange pistachio and basil oil; or crispy pork head and hock terrine, smoked apple purée, quince and bitter leaves. You might move on to a steak – the 28-day aged 7oz South Devon rib-eye, maybe, with triple-cooked chips; or Jerusalem artichoke ravioli with artichoke crisps, wild mushrooms and Granny Smith. Desserts might range from vanilla buttermilk pannacotta with poached Yorkshire rhubarb and almond tozzetti biscuit; to warm banana bread with caramelised banana, toffee sauce and puffed wild rice. If you can’t quite squeeze in a full-sized dessert they offer a mini version – perhaps sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream; or the cheese board, complete with fruit and nut bread and quince paste, is worth a look.