Bouchon Bistrot in the market town of Hexham, in Northumberland, was voted the best local french restaurant in the UK on Channels 4’s the F word.

Inside the grade II listed building, Bouchon boasts a wooden bar, beautiful padded door, red carpets and fancy curtains. It’s a very comfortable place to sit. There are three floors. I have been twice with lyra and sat downstairs – which is small and cosy, and on the first floor – which feels posher. One of the rooms has a black padded ceiling and there are some great French pictures on the walls

My husband and I have been to The Snowy Owl many times as it is so close to where we live. It’s part of the Vintage Inns chain, so is done out in a vintage inn style – dark walls, dark wooden furniture, chairs that don’t match and real fires in the winter. The pub is split up into sections by big stonewalls and fire places and railings, so what may have been a huge open space is divided up into more cosy areas. The pub itself is right on the edge of Cramlington with views across the country side – it’s like being in the middle of nowhere without having to travel that far

No one makes burgers like they do in the States. At least that’s what my husband thought before we went to the newly opened Byron, Proper Hamburgers in Canary Wharf.

It was a spur of the moment decision, inspired by a tweet by @manne. His photos of the restaurant’s retro diner-style banquettes and tables, cool central bar eating area were what originally drew us. We were, however, unprepared for the tables with a panoramic view of the DLR station. Jack was overcome with excitement