Doncaster - Where's nice to eat/drink?

I only live about 20 mins from Doncaster and had a fantastic night at the races last weekend for an 80's night, the restaurant in the county enclosure of the races is very nice although you do have to book in advance.

What sort of food/bars do you like and i'll try and point you in the right direction along with anyone else

Actually, I've just remembered we're eating at the racecourse so more drinking places as opposed to eating, although we might go for a curry later if there are any nice ones around.

We are all early 40's except me who's clinging on at 39 ? and prefer more sophisticated places (if that doesn't sound too snobby) where we could possibly sit down (I know it will be extremely busy) as opposed to your Weatherspoons and such places. I do remember we ended up in a club last year and we went upstairs and I was dancing to lots of 80's music - couldn't tell you where it was though ?

To be honest there is very little choice of good food here.

There's a good indian, and an Iranian resturant as well as a tex mex. Other than that it's not that inspiring. Stay away from La Bistro it looks posh but I used to work there and you don't want to know what went on there.

In all honesty you should have booked to stay in the crown at Bawtry (large village on the outskirts of Doncaster) and got a taxi to and from the races as there is much more choice of nice places to eat and drink there, the centre of town is quite chavvy

Hmm sophistication and Doncaster not two words i would put together ?, the upstairs 80's bar sounds very much like Reflex to me which is the place to go if you want to stick to the floor and dance in amongst people that are far to young to have ever heard the music the first time around, but always good for end of night entertainment when your too drunkled to care.

Priory walk is where you will find walkabout and weathspoons etc, some of the bars down there have undergone refurbishment and are quite big inside with seating, we sometimes venture down there after racing and we are all early 30's to mid 40's.

I am just off to cook dinner so i will get my thinking cap on and will try and come up with some places for you later on this evening as i can't think straight at the mo as my stomach is growling at me ?

Love the Crown at Bawtry, and def agree with the chavvy comment

Tinsley - do you in live in Tinsley?

The crown is lovely, we stopped there last year for my OH's birthday after eating at the china rose! ? My parents live about 15 mins from doncaster so i thought i'd wave at this thread as i know where it is!! x

Once you've had a few glasses of vino with your dinner the bar that you attend after will be undoubedly lovely! ?

I was trying not to be too scathing with my original post but last year's little forray into the realms of deepest Doncaster was a bit of an eye opener and I am a Manc and thought I'd seen it all ?

Thanks for all the suggestions - maybe we'll stay in Bawtry next year - I've stayed at the Earl a few times now - more for convenience for the racecourse than anything, although the Sunday morning cricket opposite is quite pleasant to watch when you've got a stinking hangover ?

No i live on the North Lincs/South Yorkshire border, Tinsley is my childhood nickname but i am right in thinking Tinsley is in Sheffield? So not massively far away from where i live

Sorry for not getting back on before now ended up going out for food as Mr Tinsley couldn't decide what he wanted to eat, The Earl is nice now they have refurbished it i am at a wedding there in August and your right about it being central it is very handy for racecourse.

Your also right about deepest darkest Doncaster unfortunately i live in the sticks so it is our nearest large town, we don't go out in Doncaster that much other than to the races quite frequently, they have started doing some race nights followed by evening concerts, as i said earlier went to an 80's night last week with Midge Ure, Belinda Carlisle, Kim Wilde, Paul Young, Curiosity killed the cat and Kid Creole and the coconuts that was brilliant so worth looking out for future ones (somehow ended up agreeing to see Status Quo there next month ?

I have been trying to think of some bars for you but struggling a lot to think of anywhere suitable, i would suggest going down Priory walk and surronding streets and i am sure there will be somewhere around there to suit you all.

Hope you manage to find somewhere and have a good night wherever you end up with hopefully not too much drama, if i get any sudden flashes of inspiration i will get back to you.

Thanks again everyone.