Located shrewdly on the outskirts of York, The Tanglewood had been much refurbished, not only in the customary fashion but with some major theatrical input. The result is somewhere that glistens and beckons as you chug along the ever busy A64. No matter, The Tanglewood is open every day to ease the pain, lunch from 12pm and dinner from 5.30pm with modern British food on offer.

In the restaurant and bar the walls and ceiling are covered in theatre memorabilia of stage and screen from the 1950s onwards and there's plenty of red and gold drapes around to give a constant reminder of the gift of drama in all its manifestations.

The talented team of chefs work mainly from an à la carte and lunch menus that introduce a strong feeling of the brasserie, entirely appropriate in a restaurant so devoted to the stage, and paying attention to the seasons and rich choice of ingredients to be had regionally. Slow roast pork belly is served with sage and onion stuffing, thyme jus, caramelised apple puree and mashed potatoes while crispy roasted duck served with a zesty orange sauce and roast potatoes never fails to please.

Our choice of food has increased so dramatically that few non-specialist menus nowadays dare to show themselves without a hint of Asian influence; vegetable spring rolls are served with a plum dipping sauce, whilst steak and ale pie slowly braised and topped with homemade short crust pastry moves closer to home.

The burger, that culinary pariah of the '70s, now treated with respect, especially when homemade as they are here, arrives in the traditional bun topped with cheddar cheese and bacon, served in toasted ciabatta with relish, accompanied by chips and coleslaw. Somehow the steak sandwich has never seemed the same since the burger went upmarket.

A sensible and diverse wine list offers well over a dozen by the glass with an assembly of choices that has a direct connection with the menus, and for celebration after a good day at Wetherby Races there is Laurent-Perrier Brut.

Positioned as it is The Tanglewood makes an excellent venue to which to bring a function, with seating for 160, plenty of parking and staff who are accustomed dealing with the special requirements of family celebrations, corporate functions or a wedding 'breakfast'.

Their Website, as colourful as any stage set might wish to be, will tell you more about The Tanglewood, its changing menus, latest news and special offers. They have a gluten free menu and large free car park.