May offers a feast of gastronomic delights with two whole weeks dedicated to special gourmet events, National Vegetarian Week (23-29 May 2005, www.vegsoc.org/nvw) and English Wine Week (28 May - 5 June 2005). Treat yourself to dinner at a vegetarian restaurant and sample innovatively created meals or head off on a short break to one of England�s many vegetarian hot spots, and whilst there kick back and relax with a glass of home-grown English wine.

For more inspiration and information visit www.visitengland.com/taste or call 0845 330 3663 (dial FOOD) for your free copy of the Taste England brochure

Very veggie on the South Coast

Brighton has recently been named Best Vegetarian Destination by the Vegetarian Society. Many of the city�s 400 restaurants are either exclusively vegetarian or offer a variety of dishes, and some of the city�s hotels and guesthouses also offer great vegetarian options. Leading vegetarian restaurants include Terre � Terre, Food for Friends and The Sanctuary Caf� and as if that wasn�t enough, how about calling in for a beer at Brighton�s first vegetarian pub, The George? There�s even a vegetarian shoe shop in the North Laines www.visitbrighton.com

A taste of Asia in the East Midlands

Tantalise your taste buds at Sayonara, a fantastic vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Leicester�s Hindu community, Belgrave Road. Sayonara specialises in �thali� meals, where different dishes are served together on traditional steel plates. Call 0116 266 5888 or visit www.enjoyeastmidlands.com/taste

Vegetarian delights in England�s North West

Book a break at the Cordon Vert School, located at the home of the British Vegetarian Society near Manchester. The school offers delightful day, week and longer residential courses for people interested in learning more about the diversity of vegetarian food www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert or indulge yourself with a stay at Lancrigg Country House Hotel in the Lake District and enjoy international vegetarian cooking using fresh wholefood ingredients and a variety of organically produced wines and beers www.lancrigg.co.uk

Pied-a-Terroir in the East of England

Responsible tourism can start close to home: try Terroir, a restaurant with contemporary boutique-style accommodation in Cley next the sea, on the wild and wonderful north Norfolk coast serving ecologically sound, home grown or locally-sourced vegetarian food. The people behind Terroir are passionate about ecology and have a full �green� manifesto on their website www.terroir.org.uk

Vin-spiration in Hampshire, Kent and Northamptonshire

Many vineyards are opening their doors and holding a number of special events for visitors during English Wine Week, Saturday 28 May. Danebury Vineyard in Hampshire (www.danebury.com) is not normally open to the public so this is a great opportunity to see the vineyard and taste their wines at a tour, tasting and barbeque on Friday 3 June. On Saturday 4 June, the Chapel Down Winery, Kent will be holding an informative four-course dinner party and wine tasting with Richard Bampfield MW, one of only 240 Masters of Wine in the world. The Windmill Vineyard in Daventry, Northamptonshire is launching a new book �Cooking with Wines� with food and wine tastings and guided tours of the vineyard. Call 01327 262023 for details or visit www.englishwineweek.co.uk

The Cotswolds get gastro-tastic

The Priory Inn in Tetbury, Gloucestershire launches Summer Gastrotours inviting foodies to come and learn about food, eat, drink and be merry. The Priory Inn is offering the packages mid-week throughout June and July from �360 for two people for two nights (including tours, wine tasting/tutoring, dinner, bed and breakfast at The Priory) www.theprioryinn.co.uk Send off for a free copy of the Taste England brochure, which includes information on local producers and recommendations of places to dine, as well as tips and advice from a selection of celebrity chefs and the odd recipe or two. For your free copy call 0845 330 3663 (dial FOOD) or visit www.visitengland.com/taste

-ENDS-

For further information please contact: Rae White / Tess Sullivan VisitBritain Press Office Tel: 020 8563 3378 / 020 8563 3351

Email:rae.white@visitbritain.org tess.sullivan@visitbritain.org

Notes to editors: VisitBritain produces a monthly electronic newsletter for UK media entitled AngloFILE. To register for, or to view previous editions go to www.visitengland.com/presscentre

Tess Sullivan Publicity Executive - England VisitBritain Direct line: 020 8563 3351 Email: tess.sullivan@visitbritain.org www.visitbritain.com www.visitengland.com