Peter and Maureen Caulfield like to eat out. And why not? After years of catering to other people's culinary requirements, it's about time they treated themselves.

The couple, who now live in Crosthwaite, ran a 50-bedroom hotel in Otley, near Leeds, for 15 years. The Chevin Lodge hosted many a famous name - the England cricket team and Victoria Wood, not to mention David Jason and Catherine Zeta Jones when they were filming for Yorkshire TV's Darling Buds of May.

Both Maureen and Peter have strong links with the Lake District Peter was born at Newby Bridge; his family used to run the former post office. Maureen, meanwhile, first came to the area as a young girl when her parents were appointed caretakers at Witherslack Hall.

It was in Clitheroe, in Lancashire, where the couple met, however.

Maureen's elder sister had a hotel in the town and, as soon as she left school, Maureen started work there.

Peter arrived in 1975 having trained in hotel management and catering his first job had been at the Windermere Hotel.

After they married, the Caulfields went on to run a prestigious gentleman's club in Manchester for seven years before buying the Chevin Lodge where they oversaw a massive upgrade of the hotel including the addition of leisure and conference facilities.

The couple maintained their links with the Lake District throughout their 15 years in Otley spending what little spare time they did have walking the fells.

Having sold the hotel four years ago, what was their holiday home has now become their only home. It's also become a cottage industry' too the hub of Let's Dine Out.

"As former hoteliers we are very aware of how people don't always think of booking a meal in a hotel restaurant even though so many of them are open to non-residents," explained Peter.

"I just started thinking one day that there must be lots of them who would like to attract new customers."

Peter took on the happy task of recruiting hotels for the new club, extending his search to other restaurateurs who might like to join the scheme which now embraces restaurants and pubs as well as hotel restaurants.

The discount dining scheme works on the premise that everyone likes a bargain even foodies. For £25 members receive a book of vouchers which entitles people to a two for the price of one offer. There are 13 establishments from which to choose including the AA red star and English Tourism Council gold award-winner Lindeth Fell Hotel, at Bowness, and The Boathouse pub-restaurant, at Lakeside, famed for its huge helpings of hospitality'.

"We have tried to concentrate on places that are privately-owned," said Peter, who hopes to bring more establishments on board by the end of the year.

"They were also places recommended to us by friends who enjoy dining out."

The books of vouchers are available from tourist information centres and local newsagents, and from Peter and Maureen's neighbours the Harrisons who run Crosthwaite Post Office.

Or you can e-mail the Caulfields at letsdineout@msn.com or call 0771-4661719.

Peter added: "We are hoping that people might think of the vouchers as presents for family and friends as well as for themselves."