The Brasenose Arms, Cropredy, Oxfordshire

Sue and Roy Tydeman took over the Brasenose Arms in August 2005 and immediately set about transforming it into a destination food pub.

The refurbished restaurant area boasts regularly-changing menus, plus speciality food nights, which have included curry nights, "rumps and ribs" and "pudding and pie" evenings.

On Wednesday lunchtimes, the Brasenose offers a senior citizens' deal. A special menu offers a choice of five main courses and three desserts, for £5 per head. It coincides with senior citizens' day in the local town, which maximises the pub's customer numbers.

"It makes sense to have the offer on the same day," says Sue. "Our older customers like more traditional food, so we do deep-filled pies with a proper old-fashioned shortcrust pastry lid, cottage pie with fluffy mashed-potato and traditional fish & chips. We also offer a salad option and a vegetarian alternative. Then there's a choice of two or three hot and cold desserts.

"The meal deal is very popular and allows people to eat out fairly regularly without paying through the nose for it. That popularity tends to increase again during the winter."

Sue adds: "We do special deals for senior-citizen coach parties, offering a reduction for 20 or more. We've had quite a few of those and they've been a big hit. Plus, we cater for local residential homes. They take their residents out for the day and stop off here for lunch. We provide hot meals or a hot and cold buffet for a set price per head. It also means that the carers get a day out, too."