I REALLY do hope that diners are not put off from visiting Bedford Place because of its reputation in some quarters as a noisy student hang-out.

Hidden amongst its sprawl of take-aways and pubs are some of the best restaurants in Southampton.

The Wine Bar is a fairly new addition to the scene but it has already won itself a well-deserved reputation for good quality food and a relaxed atmosphere. I must admit I had my doubts when it first set up shop, boasting an open frontage in an area where the loudmouth drunken passer-by is not a rarity.

But everything about The Wine Bar just seems to have clicked - and I'm always a big fan of any restaurant that is able to meet the demands of my vegan partner with less than a day's warning.

Its motto is "Call in for a drink...stay for a meal" and it has that laid-back feel that makes it an ideal choice for either a light lunch or a night out with friends.

The food itself is a mix of English and foreign speciality dishes. I went for a haloumi cheese and roast pepper salad for starters and the Thai-style green chicken curry served with coconut rice for the main course.

Both were excellent, not least because the freshness of the ingredients really came through in every mouthful.

My partner enjoyed an equally fresh-tasting roast pepper and cherry tomato salad and, for the main course, mushroom forestire with herb-scented rice, which was as tasty as it sounds.

With drinks, the meal came to around £25. If restaurants opening up in Bedford Place continue to be of this quality, the area will soon be rivalling Oxford Street as Southampton's top place to dine. MP

29 Bedford Place, Southampton. Reservations: 023 8033 8898.