Would you say that Collioure is rather like St. Ives but with better food?

I will say that it's improved by not being in Cornwall for starters (bear in mind I am part Cornish).

TBH, I haven't been to Cornwall at all for decades, so am not in a position to make such a comparison.

in very generalised terms, I'd say that, comparing food between the UK and France, France has much better local, small eateries (still some dismal ones – usually those aimed specifically at tourists), but I think there's a wider tradition of better food in general.

In terms of top-end restaurants, we've certainly improved in the last 20-30 years, but I do think you can struggle to find real quality at the sort of bistro end of the market. Just as a sort of anecdotal expression of this: I used to love going away for work, because it meant I had to eat out and I could find new places. Over the years though, I've been disappointed far more often than I've been delighted.

In terms of those work-related travels, the best place I've stayed (four days, IIRC, with a variety of eateries tried) was Glasgow a couple of years ago.

Having just come back from St Ives, I'd say that food on offer across Cornwall was on the whole fantastic, we never had a bad meal in the two weeks we were there, nothing "high end" just your average bistro style eateries.

I'm guessing with so much competition the bad ones go out of business and quickly.

I wasn't meaning to diss Cornwall.
Indeed, not many years ago, we started at Bath and toured Somerset, Devon and Cornwall with the express intent of eating at middle-to-high-end all the way, booking accommodation that would be near to where we planned to eat.
i.e. Food was definitely the theme.

It went very well, except once in the middle of the trip when we were totally poshed-out and needed a break in the form of something basic such as a pizza or fish and chips to avoid the hushed-waiter-and-menu ritual for an evening.
The pizza I had that night was bloody awful. Hey-ho.

In Glasgow, I loved an Indian "tapas" style place near Kelvingrove Museum.
Also tried [iThe Ubiquitous Chip[/i which was disappointing, nowhere near as good as it thought it was.

Not thinking of St Ives (for reasons mentioned earlier), but I've eaten in some distinctly sub-standard places, and not cheap, in Bournemouth in particular (I'm thinking in particular of an Italian restaurant that has been there for years and is no better now than it ever was, but is still open).

There are chains too – Piccolino in Bristol was dire, twice. I was not particularly impressed with Browns in Sheffield, yet people rave about it. Can't remember the name of the South American place in Cardiff, but it wasn't anything special – and the most memorable thing was the noise. Best chain I've got dragged to was in Brighton last year, Zizzi. I've had Chinese of dubious level in Brighton (although Al Fresco is good, as is The Regency Fish and Chip Restaurant).

That's just an illustration. And add to that a number of pretty dismal meals I've had (usually at Christmas) in London eateries – places that are supposed to be decent and are not cheap – and it's not particularly good.

On Glasgow: Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery was excellent (and very good value). Rogano was good – the smoked salmon was heavenly. Rab Ha's was good – great Cullen Skink – and I had a wonderful meat pie standing outside a bakery one afternoon. On a previous trip, Cafe Andaluz had been good too. Glasgow absolutely remains the stand-out in terms of dining on a work trip.

I first tried Zizzi in Taunton and, when I realised it was a chain, I thought that Pizza Express needed to pull its rather-dated socks up sharpish.
Pizza Express was, let's be frank, never that good but at least you knew it was dependable and had a nice ambience.
Now, given the choice between the two chains, Zizzi is way, way ahead on every aspect, especially quality and flavour.

I'd agree with that.

I go to Pizza Express on occasions simply because you know what you're going to get.

More generally, and since it's now autumn.

So Zizzi's in Harrogate would be a good choice for my birthday meal out tonight ?

And second question - why am I apparently having to pay the bill for six people when its MY birthday ?

It's because you're taking the bread knife and nippers, who've clearly also found a couple of people to accompany them and further empty your wallet.

Let's hope the shops have closed by the time you get there...

Because you're a lovely big old cuddly softie who's about to be even older.

BTW - Bee in bonnet time - It's Zizzi not Zizzi's, ... as in Tesco rather than Tesco's.
Aye thang ewe.

I was tempted to be somewhat less polite.

I'm just gonna be nice although it's a challenge for me
Happy Birrhday McChicken.
Enjoy ones fodder.

Why thank you everyone - and its decided, the winner of the "where shall we go for my birthday dinner" combined with the "where shall we also go for our 30th wedding anniversary" competition is ... Cattlemens in Harrogate.

The question is do I go for the 72oz steak or shall I leave a little room for a pudding ?

Wow, I hadn't realised it was still there.
I was last in there in about 1991 and there was a hugely rotund chap at an adjacent table who looked to me convincingly like a big eater, who was having a go at the 72 ouncer with chips and salad, all free gratis if you ate it in all in an hour.

Anyway, the steak arrived, it was the size of a breeze block.
Long story short, he paced himself and ploughed on and on and on like a true Yorkshireman in dogged pursuit of a free meal ... but could not manage the last half-kilo or so ... and, with tears in his eyes, had to put down his eatin' irons and pay for it.

I went for a 24oz (I think) T-bone, figuring that the bone would weigh a few ounces and I'd stand a chance of not needing a doggy bag.
Long story short again, nae problem.

For a multi-multi-banoffee pie man like you though, the T-bone would be little more than a mere snack-ette, an amuse-bouche, if you will.

Happy Birthday, by the way.
Hope you have a good 'un.

30 years?
Blimey, how did you break four mirrors?