Well, I went to Rules last Thursday night with my family and we had a magnificent meal. My brother and I both enjoyed young roast grouse, cooked medium rare, with game chips and bread sauce. Delicious.

Meanwhile my father's saddle of rabbit with foie gras and truffle risotto actually looked and tasted even better than the grouse. Our friend, who had not eaten much venison before, was bowled over by the red deer loin and my girlfriend Charlotte loved the rack of lamb.

The atmosphere in the very busy restaurant was spot on and the silver tankard of London Pride on arrival set the tone perfectly. Having read Michael Winner's less than complimentary review in the Sunday Times recently I was ready to cast a critical eye, but the truth is I love this place and couldn't find fault with it. Although our friend thought the celery with the cheese was a bit limp! Hardly a major stumbling block.

I'm not really a pudding man and, my starter and main course were so good I didn't have any room left, but the ladies were delighted by their respective options of raspberry blancmange (nothing like the horrific dish of school memory) with candy floss and macaroons and treacle sponge.

A wonderful experience and thoroughly recommended, even if you do have to raid the piggy bank.

Rules restaurant

Tonight I am going to Rules restaurant in the West End to celebrate a family birthday.

Rules is the oldest restaurant in London and is on Maiden Lane in the busy tourist area that is Covent Garden, not a part of London I enjoy unless I have a very good reason for being there. I have visited the restaurant a number of times in recent years and have never been disappointed. As soon as you step in, the bustling world of tourists and street entertainers outside is immediately forgotten.

The ambience is created by innumerable items of memorabilia which cover the walls and pay testament to the rich history of the restaurant. Those who accuse Rules of being old fashioned are absolutely right and if that is not what you are after then I wouldn't recommend it. Old-fashioned is part of the charm.

The place is owned by John Mayhew, who also owns Lartington estate near Darlington in the High Pennines. This gives the restaurant an enviably direct link to the source of many of its meat and game, which it is quick to exploit. And, in part, it is John's belief in this visible link between field and table which gives Rules that little bit extra.

Michael Winner recently visited Rules for his infamous Sunday Times restaurant review slot and I would have to accuse him of deliberately missing the point. While he could not find fault with the food, he did only order a cottage pie - surely he could have been more adventurous in a restaurant dedicated to game?

The whole point of Rules is that it should let you drift back a few generations to the time when the magnificent steam trains would transport the first grouse of the season from the moors straight to London on the day they had been shot. Perhaps nostalgia masks the truth of days gone by but there is surely nothing wrong in revelling in it from time to time.

Anyway, as you can probably tell I'm looking forward to it and will give a full report next week.

As Shooting Gazette's newest gun and resident clotheshorse, that is, the only one in the office stupid enough to gladly spend more than £80 on a tie, I'm really looking forward to smartening up for my first day's shooting.

The problem I've got is I'm not sure what I should be purchasing to make up my 'essential shooting kit'.

Obviously I have some idea of where to start (Wellingtons - check; cap - check; gun - check..etc), but what I lack is the knowledge more experienced guns have gathered over the years as to what goes into making up a sturdy shooting wardrobe - a list of must have's if you will.

And this is where you come in. What should I be buying?

Is there a particular jumper you swear by to keep the frost out on those cold winter mornings?

Can you recommend an 'old faithful' that has stood the test of time and one worthy of hefty investment?

Are designer labels the way to go when looking into waterproofs or should I opt for something I can get down the market for half the price? Is it all just a case of common sense?

Ultimately, I'm not naive enough to turn up at a partridge day wearing wingtips and a top hat in a desperate attempt to impress the shoot captain, but like any debutant, I want to make a good impression by putting a bit of thought into my outfit.

Hopefully people will be more willing to complement me on my shooting rather than my attire as a result, but your suggestions would be most welcome! And by the way, I only wore that tie once.

Martin Puddifer
Staff Writer