This was our second trip to the “Canteen”, underneath the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank. Regrettably the restaurant is situated to the rear and thus has no view of the Thames, a pity but not a problem. Our visit on a busy Saturday lunchtime in July was a pleasure. Despite the provision of outside heaters, it was a little too blustery for us. Instead we were given a large banquet type table for two at the rear, inside, which enabled us to have a good view of everything and everyone.

A stalwart of local dining, this charming 17th century pub has seen some recent changes, not just with the owners but the menu also. With vast views over the fields of Suffolk, The Buxhall Crown is well known in the local area for hearty pub grub alongside more contemporary British cooking. It boasts of seasonal cooking from local produce, a point which new owner Wayne Felgate was quick to mention on our arrival. "We've bought four lambs this week - I can see them from my window. I haven't the heart to name them. Besides, I've got dibs on one of the racks!" he says. At least the lamb is more local than the beef, which is sourced from Scotland...Still, mustn't grumble...

I’ve reviewed Riddle & Finns Brighton establishment before but they’ve recently opened a branch in Hove so I popped in. I’ll keep this review short since the general feel is similar to their Brighton place, but smaller.

We sat down and ordered a drink. ‘Does your Guinness come in bottles?,’ I asked the waitress. ‘Yes, I’m afraid so,’ she replied. Well, since I like bottle Guinness and not draught, this was good. It arrived already in a glass. ‘Did this come out of a bottle?,’ I asked the (different) waitress. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Then why has it got an inch and a half of head on it?’ I wanted to know. ‘We pour it so well,’ she said. I frowned. ‘Oh, and there’s a widget in the bottle.’ I smelt a rat and took a sip. It was out of a can or I’m a Dutchman. I returned it and ordered a Budvar, which – interestingly – arrived at the table in its bottle, just like all the other beer I saw that night. If it’s in a can, chaps, why not admit it, or better actually get a few bottles in. Some of us know the difference.

If you ever look at the Restaurant Spy messageboard (see top of home page for a link) you will be acquainted with a quantity called Mark White. He helpfully suggested Fred’s chippy when I was looking for one in Littlehampton in November. Well, I finally took him up on his suggestion during a bitterly cold March Easter.

‘Situated by the banks of the picturesque River Arun,’ says Fred’s website, ‘in the old town of Littlehampton in West Sussex, Fred’s Fish and Chip Shop is a traditional family owned English Fish and Chip shop… Fish and Chip Shop of the Year for 2002 and in SIX previous years, Fred’s has been serving high quality fish and chips for two generations.’