We spent the weekend here The Old Rectory in Torver Nr Coniston staying with Elizabeth & Mitchell the best hosts in the whole world....we had an amazing weekend. There was 16 in our party and the first night we had dinner in the Old Rectory. On Saturday night we ate at a restaurant in near by Cartmell...but more about that another time.

The menu on Friday night was absolute perfect...now I'm a fussy diner, things that other diners wouldn't even notice puts me off the whole experience!!! But everything was amazing!!

The starter was a wonderful spinach and watercress soup, served piping hot. A1

The main course was a very tender braised lamb served with celeriac souffle (the absolute best!) and a trio of green vegetables which consisted of the greenest spring cabbage with just the right amount of crunch, buttered leeks that melted in the mouth and baked baby courgettes with thyme. We scoffed the lot deee-lish-us!! Portions were perfect!

I didn't really want a dessert, as I was so full up. I opted for a small taste of the rhubarb & Mascarpone dessert, it was very tasty with poached fruit topped with a mascarpone cream and sprinkled with crystallized ginger. It was a refreshing dessert but unfortunately it didn't go with my red wine, which by the way, was just the house red but a brilliant bottle of wine! so I opted to finish the wine instead of the dessert (now there's a first!!!) The cheese LOOKED amazing...3 pieces of very good quality cheese with celery sticks. It was the talk of the meal as over half of the diners had chosen this...that's what I'm having next time!!!

A choice of coffees and squares of dark dark chocolate were served in the lounge...I couldn't fault anything...the staff were lovely, dinning room was comfortable, everything was just right!

Elizabeth & Paul Mitchell are very special hosts, if you are looking for somewhere to stay in the lakes, I'd defiantly recommend staying with them, nothing was too much trouble.

Sunday lunch time saw 6 of us here at the Edgemoor Inn. This has undergone a complete makeover lately.

The Edgemoor Inn is in the Village of Edge, overlooking the beautiful, picturesque Painswick Valley.The late 19th century Inn, constructed from Cotswold stone, has picture style windows and is well known for its pretty panoramic views. It also boasts an extensive terraced patio overlooking Painswick & surrounding countryside unfortunatly it wasn't the best day for views but we'll be back in the summer and hope to get a window seat or even better one of those outside tables overlooking the amazing view!

Great food, good service fab value for money...only niggle was the table was too high for the chairs...I know bieng 5ft nothing doesn't help but I felt like goldilocks at Daddy bears table. Maybe the tables in the restaruatn may be a better height for the chairs...who knows, I'll try it next time and let you know!

Borge in Stockton was one of the restaurant we visited while in the north east. They do the worlds best parmo, you can choose from pizza, pasta, burger or vegetarian from the full Italian sounding menu!

There was 6 of us in our party and they had put us on two round tables...not the best when trying to hold a conversation but the atmosphere in the place was great! Lighting suited a romantic meal for two more than a friendly get together but that was our fault rather than the restaurant. The staff were very friendly, helpful and added to the overall atmosphere. It has a great reputation and reviews I found before I went were very flattering. Voted 4 stars by Evening Gazette, Voted number 1 for the best parmo served!

The menu looked very Italian and the dishes that turned up had an Italian theme, but I was a bit disappointed. You get what you pay for and this place is cheap. The world famous parmo looked and tasted like a heart attack on a plate. Too fatty and too cheesy for my taste but is a favourite of one of my guests, so it all depends on your taste buds I suppose.

The company I was in was brilliant so that helped to take away the bad taste the food left in my mouth. Next time I visit I will be commandeering Sonia's kitchen and cooking up my own Italian themed menu.

Another good night out!

The Polash in Abbeymead!

Great food, good service..lurverleeeeey Indian beer what more can I say....brilliant!!!

The Whittle

Been here a couple of times, always ok...great place for a cheap tea on the hoof. Its the type of place where you have to order at the bar, but that's ok, you get what you pay for...except for this time.

The king prawns weren't even jumbo prawns....naughty naughty...they took them off the bill but my guest would have much prefer to have his Thai curry with them and pay the full price but oh well! The other 3 meals hit the spot! My fish pie was full of fish and had a good amount of creamy mash potato, the sausage and mash was spot on ....great sausages!!!! Chicken Kiev wasn't as good as my homemade ones but I'd have killed her if she's had said they were... lol

All the meals were served hot with a smile from the young waitress. A great little place for a cheap tea type meal! Definitely recommend it!

The King Teddy

I ate chicken with a Stilton sauce...it could have been a mask of a multitude of sins...it tasted ok... but I spent the next 3 days being violently sick....! Not sure if it was connected but its put me off...I won't be back. The manager assured me that their storage, cooking and holding policies are top notch, when questioned about her staffs personal hygiene she said she'd have a word with them!!!!! urgh!!!!

Now repeat after me...."The best place to eat is... at home!!!)

Thankfully my run of bad places to eat comes to an end!

The Cross in Aylburton, Nr Lydney

I rang to see if they were open and if it was necessary to book, a very freindly lady told me that I didn't need to book, just come on down. We arrive and were told that a round table in a secluded corner and been reserved for us. We caused a little bit of confusion with our drinks order...when oldest daughter tried to recreated a cocktail that she'd had at the weekend...no harm done though it just meant I ended up with an extra drink...port and lemon....one of my favourites!

Napkins were paper but thick luxurious ones

Cutlery - heavy quality comfortable....lets face it, if you go out to eat you want to have things better than you would have at home....this did it for me, it was the attention to detail that really stuck out.

Waiter was helpful, friendly and nothing was too much trouble.

Food...

Gammon - huge, well cooked even the eggs were still soft and edible after DD #2 had left them and I decided to try them...

Steak and ale pie - big pieces of lean meat, great flavoured gravy, buttery tender pastry

Scampi - succulent...light batter, great accompanyments

Faggots - looked homemade, very meaty, rich gravy,

Sausage mash onion gravy - very nice gravy, good quality sausages

Gooey ginger torte - to die for

Sorbet - I always think this dessert is a bit of a cop out but not here, 3 flavours all spectacular arranged and tasted wonderful...very fruity

Plum crumble - good enough to rival mine at home!!!!

Ice cream - 3 scoops, good quality, nicely presented

Love the dishes, loved the food on them!

Toilets were very clean and despite one wall being very bad with damp (its a really old building) the clean fresh smell was the over poweriing smell.

Thanked us when we left, will definatly go back again....so thank you for a great night!