The food court at Westfield is brave, bold and different. It's easy to be critical of detail and finishing, but the offer overall is superb. The seating area is much more like the latest designs in Western Europe and Asia Pacific, using quality 'real' furniture that Coverpoint and others have created. The layout has a market or food hall feel about it, with the inevitable hustle and bustle that goes with it.

Some 800 seats and 12 offers make Eat Central a substantial and broad offer to the people of Derby. Healthy and fresh figure high on the agenda and there's plenty of cooking on display.

I was eating alone, which didn't matter, as I had met, or was about to meet, half the shopping centre industry, keen to see what Westfield has produced. I chose Pieminister and ordered a Thai chook pie at £3.40, made up of free range chicken, Thai green curry, sweet potato and lime. I added mash at £1.50 and peas at £1.20, all washed down with a bottle of Fentimans Dandelion & Burdock at £1.60. I was first introduced to this drink when we moved to Derby in the 1970s and it brought back strong memories of the area. However, I was brought sharply back to reality by the near £8 that it cost for my lunch.

The food arrived in a box, with wooden disposable cutlery - a nice touch. There was a slight delay as mash and peas were not readily available. My first choice of pie wasn't either, but I would guess the level of business was much greater than anticipated. I also couldn't get a receipt as they had run out of paper rolls!

However, the food was good, hot and tasty and a welcome change from standard 'food court' fayre. I enjoyed eating the meal sitting on 'real' furniture in good quality surroundings, with attentive table clearing staff.

So there you have it. A quality, fast, fresh food experience that I can recommend highly.

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