JUST in time for the warmer and longer days, Hotel du Vin Poole has launched a new Al Fresco menu that boasts the best tastes of summer.

Fresh, seasonal ingredients – plus new colourful cocktails – can be enjoyed on a sunny day in the hotel’s new outdoor courtyard.

Michelle Henry said: “We wanted to create a lighter menu that can be enjoyed at anytime during the day or evening with more seafood, cocktails and punches specifically designed for summer.

Hotel’s chef Darren Rockett, just won Hotel du Vin’s chef of the year. The new menu includes interpretations of bistro classics such as Watermelon, Feta and Red Onion Salad or Ouef Meurette, a twist on the poached egg, done in wine with pancetta, button mushrooms and baby onions.

For main courses there's a Chargrilled Corn-Fed Chicken with Citrus and Watercress Salad or a hearty Steak Frites with a choice of sauces. Puddings include indulgences such as Baked Vanilla Cheesecake, Scottish Strawberries with Crème Chantilly and an Artisan Cheese Selection.

I tried the poached Scottish salmon which was served with heritage purple potatoes and served with a jug of buttery hollandaise sauce while my friend tucked into the tuna nicoise salad with large slivers of tender tuna steak nestled between colourful salad leaves, green beans, slices of boiled egg, new potatoes and tomatoes, which tasted of summer.

Afterwards we shared a baked cheesecake, which was very rich but was counter balanced by the sharpness of the blueberry compote.

As part of the Al Fresco Affair the hotel is also running events.

Highlights include wine or cocktail tasting on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm with the hotel’s head sommelier, half a lobster special with salad for £18.50 on Fridays and barbecue on the terrace on Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm for £11.95 per person. There is also live music on the last Sunday of every month.

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