The County Hotel and Restaurants, situated in the heart of the Scottish Borders, dates back to the mid 1700s. The hotel started life as a famous hostelry, often visited by the Duke of Wellington and Scottish legends such as Sir Walter Scott and explorer Mungo Park. Over the past six years it has been refurbished and modernised by current owners Will and Trond, and is now a central meeting place with a choice of three places to wine and dine - The Willow Brasserie, The Lounge and the latest addition, La Contea.

The Willow Brasserie within the hotel provides excellent rustic food and award-winning service, in a modern yet comfortable environment. Open for lunch and dinner, diners can enjoy unfussy modern Scottish-inspired dishes with an international twist, prepared using the best of local produce. The menu is updated frequently, reflecting the change in seasons, and great care is taken to ensure there's something for everyone; an excellent selection of gluten-free and vegetarian dishes are also available.

Chef proprietor Trond has his own favourite ingredients - namely wild mushrooms and tiger prawns - and his soups are very popular. Beef and lamb are sourced from neighbouring farms, fresh fish comes from Eyemouth and, of course, there are juicy and tender Aberdeen Angus steaks on offer. To round off a perfect meal, the desserts just beg to be tried. The sticky toffee pudding is packed with dates and darkroasted coffee, and drizzled with decadent butterscotch sauce; for a lighter option, try an iced medley of fruits of the forest, slowly melting under a blanket of warm white chocolate sauce. Finish with coffee, or perhaps port, and retire to The Lounge, relax and soak up the atmosphere - just as Sir Walter Scott did long ago. For a less formal night out, The Lounge serves traditional bar meals throughout the evening, and La Contea Ristorante is a new addition offering traditional stone-baked pizzas, pastas and salads.