Black Burn Lodge

Named after the ancient tree that stands in front of it, this restaurant sits inside the Farlam Hall Hotel. A historic Cumbrian country house, its refurbishment transformed it into an elegant retreat that deftly mixes the antique with the contemporary. The restaurant offers Indian-influenced cooking in the form of a generous tasting menu showcasing British produce – including plenty of ingredients from the kitchen garden – enhanced by subtle spicing. The service team are on the ball and ensure you are well looked after.

There’s plenty of rustic character to this appealing pub in a beautiful North Pennine hamlet. A warm welcome gets things off to a great start, before you tuck into dishes founded on produce that all comes from within 50 miles of the kitchen. This is shooting country, so that includes plenty of game – such as roasted grouse or partridge ballotine. Keep an eye out for the raspberry soufflé too, which is a cut above your typical pub pudding. Four bedrooms make this a great base for exploring the gorgeous surrounding countryside.

Melrose is certainly one of the more attractive towns in the Scottish Borders and Provender, situated down a passageway just off the main street, has become a part of its fabric now. If you're celebrating, then be sure to kick off with some Cumbrae oysters, before choosing from the selection of straightforward dishes that put prime Scottish produce front and centre. Look out, in particular, for the great use of ingredients from the local estates and producers, be it fish from the North Sea or crab and scallops caught off the coast of Orkney.

This welcoming former inn represents a return home for its self-taught Chef-Owner, who grew up in this Scottish Borders village and even worked in this place as a youngster. After a stint in New York City, he and his partner are back to run The Hoebridge as a simple, stylish restaurant serving flavour-packed, internationally influenced dishes. Quality local ingredients form the basis of the dishes, which are carefully prepared with an ambitious touch. Ebullient service adds to the welcoming feel of it all.