A true taste of the tropics in the heart of Cheltenham, Marinades is in a unique position as Gloucestershire’s only fully licensed Caribbean restaurant, offering authentic, stylish cuisine and genuinely friendly service in a relaxed atmosphere. The ambience, the sounds and aromas from the bustling open kitchen, coupled with the excellent and informal service, all heighten the senses and have established the restaurant as a real regional favourite over the past five years. A quick look at the customer comments book or the press reviews on display bear testament to this.

The restaurant is widely recommended and patronised by those with dietary restrictions, and the menus are clearly marked with veggie, vegan and gluten-free options. In fact, we noted that the majority of dishes are suitable for coeliacs too. The cleverly devised menus work well for groups with differing tastes and feature traditional and modern Caribbean dishes along with choices for more conservative palates.

Enjoy classics including ackee and saltfish, sautéed plantain, callaloo soup, jerk chicken, curry goat and jambalaya. Regular veggie selections include yam bubble and squeak and Tobago vegetable parcels, and there are always several choices available for fish and seafood fans. We had an excellent meal of jerk chicken roti and garlic potatoes to start, followed by guava-glazed pork and escovitch sea bass with rice and peas and fried dumplings – finishing with sweet potato pudding and pineapple upside-down cake (both homemade).

The à la carte menu is available both at lunchtime and in the evening. With a great bar and wine selection (featuring Caribbean beers, rums and cocktails), a quick, great-value, fixed-price lunch menu (two courses for £7.95), light lunches and regular Caribbean tasting evenings, owners Clive and Wendy have created something very special here. A secluded rear terrace for outside dining is an added bonus. Booking is always a good idea – especially at weekends. Pop along and enjoy a dining experience different to anything else offered in the area.