King Charles II

FROM the moment you walk into this ramshackle looking, slightly leaning black and white framed building you get a sense of its history.

The 15th century building is famously from where a defeated Charles II escaped after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

Our waitress, whose friendly, service deserves a special mention, showed us upstairs to some comfy seats for pre-dinner drinks and a look through the menu.

The oak panelled restaurant’s, old-fashioned decor is part and parcel of its charm, although the clutter in one corner does little for the ambience.

For starters I chose pâté (£4.75) and my companions melon and sorbet (£4.25), scallops (£5.95) and sweet and sour prawns (£5.95).

Anyone with a hearty appetite will be delighted with the enormous amounts of food that are served – all of which is quite delicious on equally large plates I’m afraid none of us managed to clear our dishes but it certainly ensured value for money.

My pâté was rich, smooth and incredibly satisfying – not least because it came with plenty of toast, something many restaurants fail to supply.

My companions were all equally as impressed with their choices. The prawns were a particular hit, smothered in an impressively light batter and accompanied by a spicy, moreish sweet and sour sauce.

For main course I opted for sea bass (£15.75), while my companions went for rack of lamb (£18.45), steak diane (£20.45), and chicken coupole – a pan fried chicken breast in a ham mushroom, spring onion and cream sauce (£14). The dishes came with a selection of vegetables and two potato accompaniments.

My meal – consisting of not one but three fillets of sea bass – was perfectly cooked and appeared on a bed of shredded leek and bacon with a lemon butter sauce. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The fish melted in the mouth and the sauce, though rich, was not overbearing.

My companions all enthused about their choices, too. The meat dishes were incredibly hearty, tender and perfectly cooked and the sauces delicious.

Having asked for dessert, the waitress wheeled over a sweet trolley.

We chose from a selection of cheesecakes, roulades, profiteroles, tarts and cakes and I was delighted to see that the option of ‘a little bit of both’ still exists for those of us who can’t decide. A choice from the sweet trolley cost £3.95.

We accompanied our meal with a bottle of house red –- which at £12.95 was very good.

All in all I would highly recommend the King Charles II Restaurant. We were never hurried, the setting – albeit dated – is rich in history and our meals were all delicious.

HOW IT RATED Food: 5
Service: 5
Value for money: 5
Ambience: 3