RUTH'S FOOD & DRINK SECTION

Woodhey Hall has the best of both town and country at its door. This is keenly reflected in the wide variety of tea rooms, cafes, restaurants and pubs within a short drive. Listed below is a small sample of some of the places the owners would recommend. Guests are also more than welcome to add any write-ups of places they would particularly endorse.

The Chester Grosvenor, Eastgate, Chester CH1 1LT

Tel: 01244 324024 Website: www.chestergrosvenor.com

This luxurious 5 star hotel contains some of the best restaurants and cafes in Chester, and indeed perhaps in all of the North West. Listed below is a summary of their main features.

The Brasserie

This cafe and restaurant has boldy been recreated in to a turn of the century Parisian-style bistro. The hard-wood fittings, black leather upholestry and solid granite tables only add to its striking interior and charm.

An award-winning restaurant in its own right, the menu caters for light diners or those who want more of a comprehensive affair.

Typical light snacks include a Scottish smoked salmon crumpet with scrambled egg and chives, vanilla mille feuille or banana and walnut muffins.

The Library and Afternoon Tea

The luxurious Library looks like it has been lifted straight from an almanac of a Victorian gentleman's club. With dramatically plush armchairs, this area, next to the famed Arkle, is renowned for its light snacks and delicious cream teas.

A tempting array of cakes, finger sandwiches and scones with cream are typical menu fayre.

The Arkle

This gourmet and more up-scale restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star for the past 18 years.

Named after a racehorse from the stable of Anne, the late Duchess of Westminster, the Arkle's prices start at £55.00 per head.

Executive chef, Simon Radley, is said to source the best local and international produce to give an inventive menu that appeals to all tastes.

A typical meal might be slow braised veal, with Scottish langoustines, creamed polenta and shaved truffle, and a pudding might be caramelised pineapple croustard, vanilla sabayon or yoghurt sorbet. Children under 12 are not permitted in the Library or Arkle, and all restaurants operate a no-smoking policy.

Panama Hatty's

Tarporley:

Whitchurch Road, Spurstow, Tarporley Cheshire

Tel: 01829 260 068

Manchester:

43a Brown Street (off King Street), Manchester

Tel: 0161 832 8688

Website: www.panama-hatties.co.uk

This colourful and vibrant restaurant offers a contemporary menu that has strong Mexican and New Orleans-style themes.

Typical dishes include chilli beef tostadas (tortillas with red snort chilli), blue bayou bake (mushrooms and Blue Stilton bake) and Pasadena state goujons (fried chicken strips in southern spice coating).

The nearest of the restaurants at Tarporley, is but a short drive from Nantwich.

Simply Heathcotes

Jacksons Row, Deansgate, Manchester M2

Tel: 0161 835 3536

Website: www.heathcotes.co.uk

Run by celebrated chef, Paul Heathcote, this busy city centre restaurant is renowned for its excellent, contemporary-style menu.

With another branch recently opened in The Strand, Liverpool (0151) 236 3536, it is well worth trying either one of these restaurants for an exciting dining experience - with a clear difference.

The Coffee Mill

49 Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1NG

This excellent coffee shop serves a superb range of fresh coffee and teas in addition to a delicious array of freshly baked cakes. It's well worth visiting for a short pit-stop in between sight-seeing or shopping in this part of town.

The Snooty Fox and Snooty Fox Bar

McDonalds New Blossoms Hotel, St John's Street, Chester

Tel: 0844 879 9113 Website: www.mcdonaldhotels.co.uk/blossoms/

The owners of this elegant city centre restaurant promise to offer an exceptional choice of traditional British meals. And for excellent cakes and teas, this bistro rightly deserves pride of place on anyone's holiday itinerary.

Snugburys Ice Cream

Park Farm, Hurleston, Nantwich

Tel: 01270 624830 Website: www.snugburys.co.uk

This popular ice cream bar started out quite by accident, and has grown from a part-time hobby in to a successful business over the last 20 years.

The multiple flavours of this Jersey ice cream were first developed in the owners' kitchen for family and friends. But now over 100,000 people are reported to visit this site each and every year.

With Death by Chocolate and the original Vanilla said to be among the top flavours, visitors should call in to decide which one is their own.