Louise Harrison-Holland is a garden designer from Wilmslow who created a Gold medal winning garden at RHS Tatton 2013 for the Alzheimer’s Society. She reveals her favourite dining venues

The Botanist

15 London Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7JT

01625 865631

www.thebotanist.uk.com

An appropriately named restaurant for a garden designer, attractively decorated with a posh garden shed vibe. It has quickly become a firm favourite with the locals and has the advantage of a lovely covered outdoor space at the back. One of my favourites and a speciality are the hanging kebabs that come with especially delicious fries. It has a fun retro style menu, a great selection of drinks including botanically inspired cocktails. Try the Raspberry and Thyme Martini.

The Brasserie at The Alderley Edge Hotel

Alderley Edge Hotel, Macclefield Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, SK9 7BY

01625 583033

www.thebrasseriealderleyedge.com

This is a welcome addition to the excellent award-winning fine dining restaurant within the Hotel where we particularly enjoy the posh Sunday lunch offering; the Brasserie is another restaurant serving retro themed classics (must be showing my age!), with a modern twist. With a more informal feel than its sister restaurant it still retains the high standard of food from their innovative chef. And it makes a great ‘date’ restaurant.

Belle Epoque

60 King Street, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6DT

01565 632661

www.thebelleepoque.com

We ate here several years ago and were so impressed that we married here and have celebrated our wedding anniversary here every year since! Belle Epoque has been owned and operated by the Mooney family for 40 years and been a ‘beacon’ of the North West dining scene. The food is top notch French inspired, the décor inspired by the Art Nouveau era so there’s a quirky and eclectic interior in every room.

The Drunken Duck Inn

Barngates, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0NG

015394 36347

www.thedrunkenduckinn.co.uk

We visit the Lakes at least once a year and after a long day of hill walking it’s a real treat to eat here. Set high above Ambleside with dramatic views of the Lake District fells, they also have rooms and its well worth the stay. There is a brewery on site, with their ‘Red Bull Terrier’ recently being awarded Gold Status by Taste Cumbria. Jonny Watson, a homegrown Cumbrian chef, heads the kitchen team, and aims to produce food that is ethically produced and wherever possible, ingredients are locally sourced within their season

The Gramercy Tavern

42 East 20th Street, New York, NY10003, 212 4770777

www.gramercytavern.com

We visited on hubby’s 40th birthday on the recommendation of a friend and it certainly lived up to its billing. It has a great ambience and even better food plus friendly, attentive (but not too attentive) and knowledgeable staff helped to make it an occasion one to remember. We felt like true New Yorkers! On their website they describe their offering as ‘refined, contemporary American cuisine, warm hospitality in a historical landmark building’. If you’re celebrating in New York, reserve a table