
Nottinghamshire is a county of outstanding natural beauty peppered with lively market towns and wonderful historic buildings. It is of course home to the world's favourite outlaw, Robin Hood. Nottingham itself offers much more than legends with vibrant nightlife, shopping, sports, arts and culture; this is (infamously) the stag night capital of the UK. With over 300 places to eat and drink in the city centre alone, all tastes are satisfied but some restaurants stand head and shoulders above the others.
The Library Bar KitchenA full review will be published shortly.
61 Wollaton Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern
Victoria HotelOriginally the railway hotel serving Beeston station, this Victorian inn a few miles out of the city centre has recently taken on a new lease of life.
85 Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Eclectic
Yeung Sing Hotel & RestaurantAn unusual combination of high-quality hotel and authentic Chinese restaurant, Yeung Sing has been independently run by the same family for more than two decades.
15 Market Street, Bingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Chinese
The Lord NelsonThis refurbished and revitalised local boozer aims to bring some deliberate 'shabby chic', retro style and metropolitan food to the leafy village of Burton Joyce.
Chestnut Grove, Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Martins Arms InnOnce the squire's residence on the Colston Bassett Estate, and turned into an alehouse by the Martin family in 1690, this splendid white-painted village hostelry is now one of the most stylish pub/restaurants in the Shires.
School Lane, Colston Bassett, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
Tom Browns BrasserieSet in a converted Victorian schoolhouse and named after the eponymous hero of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays', this family-run brasserie is situated in a prime site overlooking the River Trent (the best views are from the mezzanine floor of the dining room).
The Old Schoolhouse, Gunthorpe, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
Waggon & HorsesWaggon & Horses Halam, guide entry suspended.
The Turnpike, Halam, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Pub Food
Langar HallInhabiting a world of its own, overlooking acres of gardens and medieval ponds stocked with carp, Langar Hall is a highly idiosyncratic Georgian mansion awash with crystal chandeliers, gilt mirrors, statues and marble pillars.
, Langar, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
Il Rosso'Wonderful food and a marvellous atmosphere,' commented one UK Restaurant Guide user about this lively Mansfield venue Il Rosso, not far from the centre of town.
180 Nottingham Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Italian
No 4 Wood Street RestaurantLocal boy Michael Sindall returned to his Nottinghamshire home patch to open this restaurant in a historic eighteenth-century building that once served as a maltings.
4 Wood Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
Cafe BleuEye-catching canvases by celebrated artist Nikki McKay line the walls of this colourful and enduring fixture of the Newark scene.
14 Castlegate, Newark, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern European
Caunton BeckHaving made a great success of The Wig & Mitre in Lincoln, the Hopes decided to repeat the formula in a country pub: their chosen spot was a sixteenth-century Nottinghamshire village hostelry by a 'beck'.
Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Gastro pub
Farndon BoathouseOut of the same stable as Tom Brown's Brasserie in Gunthorpe, this extensive conversion of an old boathouse site recently re-launched as a contemporary 'gastro bar & kitchen' in a delightful setting by the banks of the River Trent - the place has its own private moorings, so you can arrive by boat and tie up for the night if you wish.
The Riverside, Newark, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
The Grange Hotel, Cutler's RestaurantA rather charming, privately run hotel in the heart of the Newark, the Grange is a popular haunt for business and celebrations, with its excellent facilities and secret garden, plus a paved patio for floodlit evening soirées.
73 London Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: International
4550 Miles from DelhiA traditional 'tum tum' vehicle stands proud on the outside of this ambitious Nottingham Indian - a swish, grandiose and exceedingly spacious venue complete with a three-storey glazed atrium, a sleek swanky bar and a big open 'theatre' kitchen ensuring that the sounds and aromas of spicy cooking are never far away.
41 Mount Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Indian
Benton's BrasserieRelated to Tom Brown's Brasserie in Gunthorpe, this well-established venue sits on the edge of trendy Hockley close to Nottingham's fashionable Lace Market, and has been doing good business since it opened in 1998.
36-38 Heathcote Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern European
CASTImpressively fashioned from a Grade-II listed building in Nottingham Playhouse, CAST is one of the most upcoming restaurants in the Nottingham area.
Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
Chino LatinoImaginatively blending the best of Far Eastern and Japanese culinary delights with a Latin-styled bar, Chino Latino is a classy cosmopolitan venue with a growing list of awards and accolades.
Park Plaza Hotel, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Pan Asian
Crème Restaurant'Elegant tranquillity' is the design theme behind this fashionable modern restaurant on the outskirts of Nottingham. One UK Restaurant Guide reporter thought Crème was 'excellent in every way', and the place has picked up several awards since opening its doors in 2004.
12 Toton Lane, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern European
Curry Lounge'I'd been here before Gordon Ramsay came and it was good, but now it's sublime,' noted one UK Restaurant Guide user - referring to Curry Lounge's appearance on TV's 'Kitchen Nightmares'.
110 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Indian
French LivingFrench Living comprises a shop/café stocking groceries and provisions, where you can refuel with a cup of 'grand crème' coffee in between browsing the shelves.
27 King Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: French
GeorgetownThe Nottingham branch of the Georgetown chain is regally situated in the exquisite front dining room of the Colwick Hall Hotel, with its stunning ceiling depicting Venus and the cherubs.
Colwick Hall Hotel, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Malaysian
Hart'sHart's is the sort of place that manages to do everything well. Set up in 1997 by Tim and Stefa Hart (of Hambleton Hall fame) it occupies part of a former hospital in a sedate Regency quarter of the city and has garnered a fistful of awards, accolades and goodwill along the way.
1 Standard Court, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
Ibérico World TapasThe team behind the award-winning World Service recently gave the Nottingham restaurant scene an extra hit with their casual new venture in the Lace Market.
The Shire Hall, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Global
Larwood & VoceFans of Test Match Special will no doubt recognise Larwood and Voce as the Nottinghamshire fast bowlers who skittled out the Aussies in the 1932-33 Ashes series.
Fox Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Gastro pub
MemSaabWhen Naj Aziz opened MemSaab it was a ground-breaking restaurant that redefined Indian food in Nottingham and it still scores heavily with its stylish ambience, impeccable service and refined food.
12-14 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Indian
Mr Man'sSituated not far from the centre of Nottingham by the entrance to leafy Wollaton Park, Mr Man's is approached along a short driveway leading to what appears to be a modern detached house.
Wollaton Park, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Chinese
OpiumSpread over three floors of a listed building in Nottingham's trendy Lace Market, Opium bar and restaurant is driven by style and fashion.
25 Warser Gate, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Chinese
Oriental PearlOpened as The Pearl in 2000, this popular restaurant in West Bridgford recently underwent a major transformation with the aim of putting back some of its the 'oriental' style.
42-44 Bridgford Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Chinese
Petit Paris RestaurantIn the centre of Nottingham lies a little bit of Paris. This amenable Gallic restaurant is now an institution on the Kings Walk, and the locals keep on coming back for more, each time seduced by the authentic cuisine and equally authentic ambience.
2 Kings Walk, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: French
Pretty OrchidIdeally situated in the centre of Nottingham, close to the shops and the theatre, the family-run Pretty Orchid also boasts a miniature oriental garden in addition to two floors of comfortable seating.
12 Pepper Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Thai
Restaurant 1877The date 1877 is writ large above the clock that graces the frontage of this grand old Victorian building (once the home of Ben Bowers): it's a prime site, just out of the city and close to the 'des res' trendiness of the swish Park Avenue estate.
128 Derby Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms'Sat Bains rewrites the definition of good food for those of us who enjoy eating and cooking. Eating there for the first time was an experience that changed what we thought was possible in the world of gastronomy and nothing has ever matched up to it since.
Old Lenton Lane, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern European
Royal Thai RestaurantRoyal Thai is something of an institution on Nottingham's Mansfield Road main drag, and has been a popular dining destination since opening in 1987.
189 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Thai
Saltwater RestaurantFamed for its stunning rooftop bar - the only one of its kind in Nottingham - Saltwater makes the most of amazing panoramic views of the Theatre Royal and the rest of the city spreading out in the distance.
Corner House, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
Sinatra'sSinatra's is located in the heart of Chapel Quarter, a stylish and vibrant new addition to Nottingham. The sister establishment of Nottingham's Fashion Lounge, Bar & Restaurant, Sinatra's is a similarly popular destination that includes a cocktail bar that is ideal for a pre-dinner drink, an al fresco patio for summer dining and a restaurant that is open for brunch, lunch, pre theatre meals and dinner.
8-16 Chapel Bar, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: European
The Larder on GoosegateJesse Boot's original chemists shop (circa 1850) is the unlikely setting for this bright new venture that promises to fly the flag and deliver 'honest British food using local produce'.
First Floor, 16-22 Goosegate, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
The Lobster PotA bright, maritime-blue frontage marks out the The Lobster Pot, an unassuming restaurant on the Mansfield Road just out of Nottingham city centre.
199 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Seafood
The Welbeck Hotel, Rooftop RestaurantSpectacular views of the Nottingham skyline are a big plus at this bright, airy Rooftop Restaurant on the fifth floor of the purpose-built Welbeck Hotel.
Talbot Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: International
TonicThis is a big, bold project, comprising a deli at ground level, a bar on the middle floor and – above it – a restaurant plus a private mezzanine lounge bar complete with video art projections and a floating Avonite cocktail bar.
6 Chapel Quarter, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
World ServiceIn a narrow street below Nottingham Castle, this gracious Georgian house was once the home of the local United Services Club – which explains part of the current name.
Newdigate House, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Fusion
PerkinsThere's something rather nostalgic about this casual restaurant in a converted Victorian railway station. Visitors can look out over the rusty rails from the windows of the conservatory dining room (trains do occasionally run when the track is being used as a test line); you can also eat al fresco on the 'platform patio'.
Old Railway Station, Plumtree, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Modern British
The Mussel & CrabBruce and Allison Elliott-Bateman took over the Mussel & Crab in 1998, and have worked hard to bring a true taste of seafood to landlocked Nottinghamshire.
Sibthorpe Hill, Tuxford, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Seafood
The Hemlock StoneFollowing a major refit, this pub/restaurant a few miles west of Nottingham has re-surfaced as a contemporary venue with a menu that showcases top-notch, carefully sourced local produce.
Bramcote Lane, Wollaton, Nottinghamshire - Cuisine: Gastro pub