紫藤苑

A red-brick former pub provides the new home for this restaurant, which has long been a feature of the local dining scene. A large array of menus is available and the fixed price lunch is a steal. The experienced chef knows how to get the best out of his ingredients and dishes burst with flavour from the effective combinations. They even run regular cookery classes for kids.

From the wooden beams to the antique furniture, there’s a huge amount of character to this spacious pub that sits inside four former cottages. The welcoming feel of the inglenook fireplace is matched by the warmth and pride of the service team as they serve a menu offering something for everyone, from a few pub classics to more inventive dishes. Great care in the cooking allows strong, complementary flavours to shine through, as in a lemon posset dessert with pistachio cream and a great bergamot gel. On a summer’s day, make sure you head straight for the terrace.

A stone’s throw from the coast, this spacious modernised pub is a bright, colourful spot featuring a parquet floor, a maritime mural and bright blue chairs. The wide-ranging menu offers confidently executed dishes with bold, punchy flavours and the occasional modern twist – exemplified by options such as roast pigeon with a creative blackberry and black pudding sauce. If the weather is good, head for the sunny courtyard terrace; it’s also well worth staying over in one of the comfy bedrooms.

Down a narrow city centre street, you'll find this attractive 18th-century building; a restaurant sits upstairs, while below is a trendy bar serving cocktails and light bites. The extensive menu ranges from bruschetta to quesadillas – plus a roast dinner on Sundays, of course – and the kitchen team ensure the dishes are as colourful and joyous as the décor and the atmosphere. The super-friendly, attentive service will really make you feel at home, as will bringing your own bottle on Wednesdays to take advantage of half-price corkage.

Tucked away in a city centre courtyard, this likeable restaurant occupies a Grade II-listed former barn, with stylish contemporary décor and an open kitchen allowing guests to get a good view of the chefs as they work. Well-crafted and eye-catching modern dishes populate the multi-course tasting menus, which have a seasonal British element running through them. Look out for dishes that put a modern spin on classic flavour combinations, such as lamb with mint, feta and broccoli. A friendly service team add to the experience.

Chef-Owner Tom Clarke built up an impressive resume before returning to his Essex roots to open this lovely village inn with his partner. After a charming welcome from Nancy into the characterful interior, where a small bar still serves some local drinkers, it’s time to enjoy the hearty yet refined cooking. Classical flavour and texture combinations run throughout a menu served well by quality produce, with desserts like dark chocolate crémeux proving a real highlight.