Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The market town of
Newark-on-Trent
is good for a wander, with historic
buildings lining its main square, a local-history museum, and a ruined castle holding
scenic sway over the River Trent; a heritage center on the grounds of the latter traces
this town's role in the English Civil War, when, a major supporter of the Royalist
cause, it was besieged three times. But Newark's main draw is its antiques emporia
and shops and famous bi-monthly antiques fairs (see “Shopping,” below).
Where to Eat
VERY EXPENSIVE
Restaurant Sat Bains
MODERN EUROPEAN Nottingham's only
Michelin-starred restaurant is named after its TV celebrity chef, born in Derby and
with experience of working with Raymond Blanc and at L'Escargot in London. The
location—southwest of the center, near an industrial estate and motorway flyover—is
uninspiring, but once inside the low-slung building by the River Trent, with its dining
room, conservatory, and handful of guest rooms set around a courtyard, you'll forget
all that as you embark on a journey of culinary revelation. Dinners are tasting menus
of 5 (Tues-Thurs only), 7, or 10 courses, or you can go for broke with a bespoke ver-
sion. You can also book the Chef 's Table in order to watch Bains at work. There's also
a new development kitchen hosting lunches and demonstrations. Locally foraged
wild foods are used in abundance here; the menu changes seasonally but might
include braised mutton with pickled onions and elder capers, leeks with thyme cream
and hazelnuts, and sea buckthorn tart with pistachio and marshmallow. The attractive
rooms and suites
start at £90 for a double; midweek packages include a room,
7-course tasting menu, and breakfast at £120 to £140.
Lenton Lane, Nottingham.
&
0115/986-6566.
www.restaurantsatbains.com. Reservations required.
Fixed-price dinner £55-£150. AE, DC, MC, V. Tues-Sat 7-9:30pm, lunch by arrangement.
EXPENSIVE
Launay's
MODERN EUROPEAN/INTERNATIONAL A few min-
utes' walk from the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre (p. 544) and also handy for
Center Parcs (p. 550), this much-lauded restaurant and bar in a 16th-century build-
ing overlooks the church where Robin Hood is said to have married Maid Marian. It
comes into its own in summer, when you can sit out on the terrace and play boules.
Seasonal local ingredients go into the English and French dishes tinged with modern
global influences—think oysters with cauliflower pannacotta, smoked Avruga caviar,
and crispy kale, or roast salmon with scallops, scallion mash, minted pea purée, broc-
coli, and Sauvignon Blanc sauce, plus the odd north African or Asian dish. If you have
a sweet tooth, leave room for the fun Assiette de Friandises of retro candy-store
treats, including a white chocolate mouse, candy floss (cotton candy), and a ginger-
bread man. Lunch is more down-to-earth, with sandwiches, pasta, fish and chips, and
the like, plus good kids' dishes (£4-£4.95).
Church St., Edwinstowe.
&
01623/822266.
www.launaysrestaurant.co.uk. Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses £12-£25. MC, V. Mon-Sat noon-3pm and 6:30-10pm, Sun noon-4pm.
MODERATE
Nottingham can be a good place for Indian food; try
The Cumin
at 62-64 Maid
Marian Way (
&
0115/941-9941;
www.thecumin.co.uk), where the dishes are often
inflected by the Punjabi family's background in Kenya.
Iberico World Tapas
SPANISH/INTERNATIONAL In a historic building
in the heart of Nottingham's history-drenched Lace Market, Iberico takes you to
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