New casual lunch still feels special at hotel and restaurant to the stars

It's a sign of the times that Hart's has transformed its menu from a la carte fine dining to less formal ‘substantial snacks’, but the celebrity hotspot has lost none of the quality - and they still take your coat

- LYNETTE PINCHESS

THERE'S not many restaurants in Nottingham that take your coat these days. As eating out gravitates to a more casual scene, such formalities are disregarded.

One or two establishments still uphold the tradition - Hart's being one of them.

The name has been synonymous with fine dining in the city for more than 27 years - starting with an 80-seater restaurant on the old General Hospital site, before downsizing to a more intimate setting within the boutique hotel, rebranding itself Hart's Kitchen.

Now the restaurant has metamorphosed again, changing the menu from a la carte to ‘substantial snacks’.

It's always a pleasure to visit Hart’s, where the service is top-notch and the surroundings are now cosier with around 24 seats.

Plus, at the top of Standard Hill, it's tucked out of the way of the city centre throng, Deliveroo cyclists and undesirables, which no doubt appeals to many of Hart's target audience.

It’s probably the reason why Hart's has over the years attracted so many celebrities, whose tours have brought them to Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena, the Royal Centre or Theatre Royal.

The restaurant walls are taken up with the photos of the stars and their personalised signed messages.

‘Thanks so much, great hotel,’ wrote comedian and presenter Romesh Ranganathan; ‘Go Hart's,’ said the Pet Shop Boys, while comic Jack Whitehall signed his picture with the words: “Thanks very much for having me!” Such a polite chap.