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If the lure of the English countryside beckons but you also want to eat well when you're out of town, use our guide to find the best places to stay where the food is a real draw.
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The Suffolk, Aldeburgh
Arriving on the east coast with impeccable foodie credentials, having headed up the front of house at L'escargot for years, George Pell turned this old restaurant on the high street into the buzziest place to be in this seaside town. From the art-lined walls to a pitch-perfect pre-dinner martini, everything's clearly had thought paid to it and love lavished on it. Running the restaurant is Tom Payne, a local, whose food makes the most of the daily catch to be found in the fisherman's huts on the beach here. There's also a fabulous roof terrace restaurant to make the most of the sunshine when it's around.
Rooms: The Suffolk has six lovely bedrooms, all beautifully refurbished, and when we visited we particularly enjoyed the honesty bar and fridge in the hall complete with charcuterie, cheese and the means to knock up a negroni or G&T.
Coworth Park, Ascot
The country outpost of The Dorchester group, this luxurious manor house just a stone's throw from the racecourse is a glamorous and easy place to staycation being less than an hour by train from town. It's a large estate, complete with a polo field, affording guests plenty of opportunity to walk or picnic in the grounds. There's also an impressive spa complete with a massive indoor pool. The hotel's restaurant Woven was recently given a major makeover, winning it a Michelin star just months after it reopened. Adam Smith is the chef here and his team work hard to deliver a polished but warm fine dining service celebrating the best of British food. If you're staying longer there's also The Barn restaurant for more casual dining and the spa has its own 'spatisserie'.
Rooms: There are 70 in total with quite the selection. We've stayed in both a Stable junior suite set across two floors in the grounds (with their own working fireplaces) and a signature suite which was extremely impressive - and large.
Lime Wood, Hampshire
Set in the heart of the New Forest, this beautiful hotel lavishes as much attention on its food offering as it does its tremendous spa. Angela Hartnett, along with Head Chef, Luke Holder is responsible for the restaurant here and often invites her chef friends over for special events. Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant is a destination spot, serving up locally-sourced, and seasonally adjusted menus with an Italian influence. For a real insight into the food here book the Kitchen Table which is in the heart of the kitchen action. Elsewhere there are lovely walks to go on, and the spa is wonderful - particularly the outside hot pool.
Rooms: Bedrooms range from the cosy - tucked in under the eaves of the main house - to lavish forest suites in the grounds with open fires, and decks opening out over the New Forest.
Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire
One of the biggest hotel openings in the UK in recent years, this super luxurious country retreat is owned by Sharan Pasricha, the hotelier behind the Hoxton and Gleneagles. Here in the Cotswolds, you’ll find an extensive estate with a range of restaurants from over-fire cooking by the kitchen garden to a Chinese feast in the Billiards Room. There’s also a fabulous outdoor pool, gym and an ambitious spa and bathhouse still to come.
Rooms: There are 108 bedrooms currently split across the Manor House and Walled Garden with further larger houses in the grounds. All are beautifully decorated with bespoke vintage and antique furniture.
The Fife Arms, Ballater
This boutique hotel in the Scottish highlands is part of the Artfarm portfolio (who also own Mount Street Restaurant among others). There are strong connections to royalty being so close to Balmoral - Queen Victoria opened the Inn back in 1856 and the then Prince Charles presided over its reopening in 2019. Dining options include wood-fired cooking in The Clunie dining room, more casual fare in the Flying Stag or you can walk into Ballater to The Fish Shop. If you fancy sitting back with a glass of excellent Scotch pick one of several well-stocked bars.
Rooms: There are 46 guest rooms and suites, all of which come with amazing artwork as standard and many have four posters too.
Whatley Manor, Wiltshire
This 19th-century manor house has two restaurants run by Executive Chef Ricki Weston with both a normal Michelin star and also a Michelin green star for sustainability, won partly due to a menu that uses 98% British ingredients. Choose between the more formal Dining Room with its tasting menu delights or opt for the casual Grey's Brasserie with an a la carte menu. The gardens here are lovely, and the spa does a good job of destressing frazzled urban folk.
Rooms: There are 23 rooms ranging from classic up to Grand Suite. We stayed in a suite which, frankly, was bigger than our flat in London and much better appointed.
Birch - Hertfordshire and Surrey
Two of the closest countryside hotels to London, the Birch hotels combine somewhere to stay with coworking spaces, gym/yoga facilities and both have great outdoor pools. Birch Cheshunt sits just outside the M25, having taken over Theobalds House, a Georgian mansion with royal connections. In charge of the food throughout the hotel is Robin Gill (Darby's) and there's a big emphasis on low waste and sustainability throughout (they even rear their own pigs and chickens). At Birch Selsdon, chef Lee Westcott runs the food side of things with two restaurants - the signature restaurant Elodie and an all-day dining spot Vervain. There are also two bars - the Meadow bar and late-night spot Angelica.
Rooms: There are a variety of room options at both hotels and at Birch Cheshunt you can opt to stay either in the main house or one of the rooms surrounding the Zebra House Riding Club restaurant's courtyard.
Book Birch Cheshunt / Book Birch Selsdon
Thyme, Cotswolds
Less of a hotel and more of a small village, Thyme is actually a group of small properties a few miles from Burford. As such it really has a getting-away-from-it-all feel. There's a cookery school on site as well as a spa and a spa space called The Botanical Bothy. On the food side Charlie Hibbert, ex Quo Vadis chef (and son of owner Caryn Hibbert), is in charge. The main event is in the Ox Barn with much of the produce grown on-site. There's also a separate bar, the option to enjoy salads and drinks by their spring water swimming pool, and a walk down the road takes you to their pub, The Swan.
Rooms: Their 31 rooms are described as "botanically inspired" spread across several of the houses. They range from "teeny cosy" rooms to the Tallet house which has four bedrooms and its own private courtyard.
Chewton Glen, Hampshire
Situated on the edge of the New Forest, this grand country house has extensive grounds which run down to the sea. However, if you don't fancy a bracing sea dip you could always opt for Europe's biggest hydrotherapy pool instead. Food and wine have always been key to the hotel's regular appearance on World's Best Hotels lists. The main dining room aims to be fine dining without the fuss and you should be able to find wine to go with it - there are more than 1900 wines on the list. Alternatively, the Kitchen restaurant has wood-fired pizzas and BBQ platters on the menu. There's also a cookery school with a syllabus created by the hotel's alumnus James Martin (he worked in the kitchens here in his 20s).
Rooms: Larger suites look out over the perfectly manicured croquet lawn or you could opt for one with your own hot tub out on the terrace. But the real pearls are the treehouse suites set 35 feet off the ground.
Forest Side, Cumbria
Set in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Forest Side has emerged, literally and figuratively, as a beacon of excellence in the area. Turning this dark Victorian villa into a light bright hotel complete with restored Victorian-walled kitchen garden has clearly been a labour of love for the team here. Heading the kitchen is Paul Leonard, who has worked under both Marcus Wareing and Andrew Farlie. Much is made in-house, from their own hams and salamis to pickles from food either grown in their own kitchen garden or foraged nearby. If it's not made here, it's not from far away. The fruits of foraging can even be found in the cocktails served up in the bar here.
Rooms: They range from cosy, through to huge master suites and are designed with a light, modern touch. There are also some set aside that are particularly dog-friendly.
Gleneagles, Perth and Kinross
One of those marvellous grande dame hotels, Gleneagles was built by the General Manager of the Caledonian Railway Company and opened in 1924 so folk could enjoy the best hunting, fishing and shooting this part of Scotland could offer. Today it still offers most of that (shooting is now clay pigeon) but one of the big reasons people head up here is for the food. There are several restaurants in the hotel but the one you really need to book is Scotland's only two Michelin-starred restaurant, Andrew Fairlie. If you're looking for something a little less fine dining, then check out the main dining room The Strathearn, where there's a lot of tableside trolley action going on.
Rooms: This is a huge place. There are 232 luxury bedrooms, including 27 suites and that's before we get to the lodges in the grounds. Even the compact bedrooms are a generous size but if you're after something special the Glenmor Lodges - which come with free golf thrown in - are amazing.
The Grove at Narberth, Pembrokeshire
Anyone searching for a place to soothe the soul will find this Pembrokeshire hotel's setting quite magical (and it's also near to plenty of beaches if you're planning any seaside trips while you're here). They have a large kitchen garden which minimises food miles, as does the foraging in the local hedgerows and woods. Chef Douglas Balish says his team here are really "pushing to the next level". Dishes in the fine dining Fernery may be starkly described but they look wonderful. There's also more casual food on offer in the Artisan Brasserie. If you're planning on heading out on one of their walking trails, get the kitchen to make up a hamper of local treats.
Rooms: Choose between rooms and suites in the house itself which are a little more traditional in design or the more modern cottages and suites in the grounds, some of which have their own private terraces.
More about The Grove at Narberth
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
What does a partnership between a billionaire (with great taste) and one of the UK's best chefs look like? Well, Heckfield Place is the answer. Gerald Chan, who also owns Skye's Gyngell's London restaurant Spring, brought her in as Culinary Director of this beautiful Georgian estate in Hampshire. There are two main restaurants - Marle and the more casual Hearth. There's also a seasonal place to eat, The Glass House in the hotel's glasshouse where, in the summer, you can enjoy afternoon tea plus there's also the Moon Bar for great cocktails.
When you're not enjoying the super-seasonal fare, you can be wild swimming in the lake, getting hydrotherapy treatments in The Bothy By Wildsmith or playing lawn badminton.
Rooms: There are 45 rooms including the Long Room suite, with many offering views over the gardens and some with their own living areas.
Lympstone Manor, Devon
Chef Michael Caines' actual manor is in a beautiful neck of the woods on the banks of the Exe estuary. In an ideal world, you’ll be staying here when the weather’s clement, allowing you to have a pre-dinner cocktail out on the veranda. Wine is a big deal here - the vineyard Caines planted has just released its first Classic Cuvee - and there’s a state-of-the-art Wine Emotion dispense system allowing you to try great wines by the glass. Food in the main restaurant is of the fine-dining variety - this would be a great place to come for a special occasion - but there's also a casual option in the Pool House beside the outdoor pool area.
Rooms: 21 bedrooms and suites. The biggest have outdoor soak tubs and fire pits. If you can afford it, spring for one with a balcony or terrace so you can enjoy a G&T, from your complimentary gin tray, outside overlooking the amazing views of the River Exe. There are also six Shepherds Huts in the grounds complete with fire pits, walk-in showers and private terraces.
Idle Rocks, St Mawes
Perched right on the harbour in St Mawes this seafront hotel makes the most of its proximity to the water with seafood an integral part of the menu, along with local meat and produce. Chef Dorian Janmaat spent eight years at Le Manoir before returning to his home in Cornwall and prides himself on having strong relationships with local farmers and fishermen. The hotel also goes big on Cornish cream teas to which you can also add glasses of sparkling wine from nearby vineyard Knightor.
Rooms: There are 19 luxurious bedrooms in the hotel with seaview rooms so close you can hear the waves at night.
Hotel Meudon, Falmouth
With sub-tropical gardens running down to its own cove, Hotel Meudon couldn’t be a more perfect spot to enjoy a bit of Cornish R&R. Head chef David Waters (ex Nathan Outlaw) and his team prepare a menu with a strong focus on seafood for the main restaurant. There’s also a lovely cafe right beside the South West coastal path which goes through the hotel’s grounds, The Bream Box while the hotel’s bar Freddies does a nice line in cocktails made with locally-sourced spirits. Walk off any extra calories along the coast, or enjoy a bit of wild swimming whatever the weather.
Rooms: Rooms are bright and modern with a mix of sea-facing and those with inland views. There’s also a self-catering cottage with two bedrooms which used to be the head gardener’s residence.
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Oxfordshire
Raymond Blanc’s vision for his 15th-century Cotswolds manor house has taken over 30 years to come to fruition and he’s still innovating. The kitchen gardens here are wholly organic and have been so way before it was popular, helping to direct the seasonality of the menu. It’s been the proud possessor of two Michelin stars ever since it opened and dining here you can see why. Throw yourself into the gourmet experience and go for one of the tasting menus of a six-course lunch or seven-course dinner. Either before or after your meal here, make time to enjoy a walk in the exquisite water gardens, created by the monks who were here in the 16th century. If you fancy learning something while you're here there are both gardening and cookery schools on-site with state-of-the-art equipment.
Rooms: There are 32 rooms and suites the best of which are the one-bedroom garden suites.
More about Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
The Rose, Deal
Pretty as a picture, the coastal coaching inn The Rose is by a country mile the best place to eat and stay in Deal. Just yards from the seafront it’s a great place to pop in for a cocktail in the bar or to enjoy a more leisurely meal. Top chef Nuno Mendes is behind the menus which change seasonally and the breakfasts, which are served out in the rose-covered terrace on sunny days, are particularly good.
Rooms: There are eight bedrooms, beautifully decorated, all of which enjoy access to an amenity area with a Nespresso machine, jar of shortbread biscuits and, best of all, a decanter of brandy.
Morston Hall, Norfolk
This 17th-century country house is in a beautiful spot, set just off the North Norfolk coast road. Owners Galton and Tracy Blackiston have been running things here since the Nineties and the restaurant's held a Michelin star for more than 20 consecutive years now. Join fellow diners for canapes before dinner, which is served in one sitting, with a seven-course menu that changes daily. They make full use of local produce with plenty sourced from the sea and fields nearby. Breakfasts are full-on with kidneys and fried bread on the full English or opt for the hall's own smoked salmon with scrambled eggs.
Rooms: There are 13 bedrooms in total. You'll find seven in the main house and six garden suites in the grounds. Some have separate lounges and private patios, surrounded by lavender. A lot can be made up as twins, making this a useful place to come if you're travelling with friends, not partners.
The Newt in Somerset, Somerset
The Newt is what happens when a South African billionaire and his former Elle Deco Editor wife lavish an eye-watering amount of money on an English estate. Local and sustainable are the prevailing ethos at this working estate - they have acres of gardens supplying the hotel with food, a working cyder press, plus a bakery, butchery and cheese room. The main restaurant, The Botanical Rooms, serves a menu packed with local produce. But there's also a Garden Cafe with a menu dictated by what's being grown on the estate.
Rooms: There are 23 rooms in either the main house or stable block and each come with fully stocked larders. They're beautifully designed - so much so, you may return to London life determined to give your own home a makeover. There are also 17 rooms in the farmyard now, some with their own steam pods.
Number One Bruton, Somerset
This medieval building used to be a coaching inn, so its revival as a hotel and restaurant seems perfectly apt. The thoughtful makeover is extremely stylish and the arrival of chef Merlin Labron-Johnson to run the restaurant here, Osip, cemented its place as a foodie destination. Come with a sense of adventure, as there are no menus.
Rooms: There are 12 rooms spread across a townhouse, cottage and forge. Expect lots of thoughtful touches, including the care package every guest gets on arrival - a foodie treasure trove including Westcombe cheddar, cider and apple juice by Oliver Dowding/The Newt and Peter’s Yard crackers along with tea from Canton Teas and coffee from Cru Kafe and milk from Bruton Dairy.
The Pig, Hampshire
There are now eight hotels in the Pig group (with two more coming) but this is the original, opened in 2011 by Robin Hutson, fresh from having sold off his Hotel du Vin chain. In keeping with the group's ethos menus here are ultra-seasonal and locally sourced within 25 miles of the hotel. At this Pig the menu is split into dishes derived from food grown in the hotel’s kitchen garden or polytunnel, or from local ‘Forest & Solent’ produce. If you’re after something more casual grab a flatbread from the wood-fired oven out on the hotel’s terrace.
Rooms: The 31 rooms range from snug to the spacious Bert’s Box cabin in the hotel grounds. Minibars/larders serve a strong game with local beers, snacking salamis and retro sweets.
Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Here, as the name suggests, the focus is firmly on wine. Owner Sir Peter Michael and his family have built up a cellar of 30,000 bottles from all over the world, including their own Californian winery. But food is a big deal too - head chef Tom Scade trained under John Williams at The Ritz and the large airy restaurant serves up a modern fine dining menu.
Rooms: There are 49 bedrooms in total. All are stacked with goodies like minibars filled with drinks and snacks and the larger bedrooms have four posters too.
L’enclume , Kendal
Simon Rogan’s flagship restaurant entered rarefied territory in 2022 when it got a much-coveted third Michelin star. It also enjoys, at the time of writing, the top spot in the Good Food Guide. With its own farm providing the produce, the menu is resolutely centred around what’s in season. A multi-course tasting affair, dining here is going to be a major occasion for any self-professing foodie.
Rooms: There are 16 bedrooms and suites located around the village of Cartmel and booking a room guarantees a table at the restaurant and breakfast at Rogan & Co. All come with Nespresso machines and Bose sound systems.
Glebe House, Devon
For owners Hugo and Olive Guest, the opening of Glebe House guesthouse, restaurant and smallholding really is a homecoming - Hugo grew up here with his parents running it as a B&B. Based on a hilltop, it's a three-mile walk from the house to the Jurassic Coast and an ideal base for a walking holiday. Hugo trained as a chef at Sorella and The Marksman in London, and here you can expect all the produce to be either home or local-grown with a Tuscan accent to the menu. There's a regularly changing fixed menu and they also prepare picnics, which sound like a must.
Rooms: There are just six bedrooms, one of which is a self-contained annexe, along with a wood cabin in the grounds with its own firepit and outdoor bath.
The Black Swan, Yorkshire
If you haven't heard of Tommy Banks and this Yorkshire restaurant with rooms, where exactly have you been? Liberally festooned with awards including a Michelin star, it's very much a family affair. The Banks have farmed these here parts for years and Tommy's brother James is head of front of house. As for the food, it's a real field-to-plate operation - they grow loads of their own. There's just one tasting menu on offer and the best thing about staying over is that you can enjoy some of the really inventive cocktails on their list using foraged ingredients they've then distilled, frozen or dried. Breakfasts are also a highlight.
Rooms: All nine rooms are out of the main building and have been designed by Tommy's mother Anne. Expect cosy interiors, the odd four-poster bed and copper baths.
Coombeshead Farm, Cornwall
This Cornish farmhouse combines a restaurant and bakery with a guesthouse. The folk behind it are chefs Tom Adams (Pitt Cue) and NYC chef April Bloomfield and it’s one of our favourite places to be. Spend the day, wellies on, roaming the 66 acres before heading back to dinner in their converted barn where you’re likely to find meat from their own Mangalitza pigs on the menu in some form. Afterwards, hit up the marvellously stocked honesty bar. Breakfasts are legendary and there's a farm shop in the courtyard along with a courtyard cafe, so you can take loads of lovely produce home with you.
Rooms: 11 - a mixture of twins and doubles in both the farmhouse itself and adjacent grain store along with a self-contained cottage with two bedrooms that sleeps four. Bedrooms are comfortable and homely - on our second visit, the one we were in (Room 5) had beech leaf gin and fudge waiting for us.
Inver, Argyll & Bute
Could there be a prettier spot than this Scottish restaurant on the shores of Loch Fyne? Looking out over the lake and with a ruined medieval castle in the background, it's the perfect - dare we say it - Insta-friendly getaway. Luckily the food more than lives up to its setting - Chef Pam Brunton is ex-The Greenhouse. There is an a-la-carte menu if you're hiking past here and want to pop in for a glass of great wine and oysters, but what you really want to do is book in for the full tasting menu.. We also love their kids' menu complete with bento boxes. Make sure to spend time in their lovely bar - where you can try their own beer, brewed in partnership with local brewery Fyne Ales.
Rooms: Overnight accommodation is in four luxury bothies next to the restaurant. The best thing is that you'll be brought a picnic breakfast basket in the morning with their homemade sourdough bread, fresh local eggs, and juices from the fruit and veg they grow themselves.
Moor Hall, Lancashire
Moor Hall is so old they think it pre-dates the Norman Conquest. But while the building is ancient, its transformation into one of the UK's top restaurants with rooms is very much of the moment. Chef Mark Birchall was formerly Executive Chef at L’Enclume and since his arrival, the main restaurant has picked up no fewer than two Michelin stars and 5 AA Rosettes. The main 50-seat restaurant serves up modern British cuisine, wherever possible using produce grown on the five-acre Moor Hall site, or from local suppliers. The Barn is their 65-seat informal dining room and got its first Michelin star in 2022. You'll also find a children's menu here too. There's also a small dairy, bakery, meat-ageing and curing room and a mini brewery on site.
Rooms: They have seven bedrooms - five located in the main Hall with a further two in the gatehouse by the lake. They're beautifully decorated - cosy up in one of their window seats while you gaze across the lake - and have all the mod cons like a Nespresso machine too.
Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 and Padstow Townhouse, Cornwall
Paul Ainsworth is synonymous with Cornwall seaside town Padstow (as well as a certain Rick Stein), where he has three places to eat. His main restaurant is Paul Ainsworth at No 6 - the Michelin-starred restaurant in a Georgian townhouse that focuses on British cuisine while using all the local produce that Cornwall produces. Alternatively, he also runs Caffè Rojano serving up seasonal small plates and, just across the bay, is his pub The Mariners. While these places don't have rooms themselves Ainsworth also owns the nearby Padstow Townhouse. There's no full restaurant on the site (although breakfast is served) but there is a stocked kitchen with an honesty box system, and you're delivered a flask of hot chocolate in the evening. It's only a short 5-minute walk to No 6 from the Townhouse, they'll take you there in an electric BMW if you fancy.
Rooms: There are six suites in the Townhouse, with each room given an individual theme - and each room has a huge TV with an Apple TV if you need a lie-in.
The Peat Inn, St Andrews
This Scottish spot is relaxed, but also Michelin-starred, and big on local produce but Chef Proprietor Geoffrey Smeddle also takes a modern approach to dishes. You can lunch at this countryside restaurant with rooms incredibly well on a set dinner menu but if you've come all this way you might as well push the boat out with their tasting menu.
Rooms: There are eight suites, all light and bright and most with sitting areas. Best of all you're met with a decanter of sherry and chocolate brownies. Breakfast is served in your room and it's a continental affair which is a good job as you'll probably still be full from the night before.
Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham
If there's one thing that's always mentioned in pieces on Sat Bains, it's the unprepossessing location for the chef's Nottingham-based restaurant. But while it might have views of electricity pylons rather than rolling hills, a visit here is a must for any UK restaurant obsessive. With two Michelin stars under their belts, Sat and his Head Chef John Freeman curate an amazing food experience. There is just a single 10-course tasting menu option. If you really want to get in on the action, book either the Chefs Table or Kitchen Bench. The first is a private dining room style looking onto the Savoury Kitchen, the other is a high bench actually in the pastry kitchen. If the weather's good, you might have time to have pre or post-dinner drinks in the restaurant's courtyard garden - ask to see their kitchen garden which, even in this tiny urban space produces almost half of the salad and herbs they use here.
Rooms: There are eight bedrooms. Some are upstairs from the restaurant, others are accessed through the garden. You'll find homemade biscuits waiting for you and Aesop toiletries in the bathroom.
The Seafood Restaurant, Cornwall
The opening of The Seafood Restaurant back in 1975 was the start of the transformation of this fishing port into Padstein - a place of pilgrimage for foodies who worshipped at the altar of TV chef Rick Stein. Kick off a meal here with some freshly shucked Oysters Charentaise before moving onto lobster thermidor or maybe Singapore Chilli Crab. If you prefer to see a bit of food as theatre - there are walk-in spaces at the seafood bar for a spot of counter dining and the rooftop terrace is super in the sunshine.
Rooms: There are 16 rooms upstairs from the restaurant. Some have private rooftop terraces, many have glorious Estuary views and all are stocked with Jill Stein's own-label toiletries and homemade biscuits. If there's no room at the inn/restaurant, the Steins have seven other locations around the village to choose from, some of which are self-catering. It's dog and family-friendly and if you fancy going crabbing yourself, they'll provide you with lines and buckets.
More about The Seafood Restaurant
The Three Chimneys, Skye
For more than 30 years, the team at this magical Scottish restaurant with rooms has been serving exceptional food in extraordinary surroundings. And what a setting it is, overlooking Loch Dunvegan. Running the kitchen is Head Chef Scott Davies who serves up Nordic inspired dishes using local produce. For the full immersive experience, book yourself a seat at the Chef's Table.
Rooms: There are six large suites in the separate House Over-By next door to the restaurant. Guests enjoy loads of lovely touches, like afternoon tea trays in the room, binoculars for seal spotting and a full Scottish breakfast.
The Whitebrook, Monmouth
Chef Chris Harrod came to Wales from Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons and was rewarded for his work here with a Michelin star not quite a year after opening. Here, the commitment to cooking locally embraces foraging, with ingredients found in the nearby countryside in every dish. It’s a handy place to stay if you’re planning on coming to the Abergavenny Food Festival, but don’t want to be right in the madness. Don’t forget to pop into Trealy Farm’s shop just down the road for some top charcuterie too.
Rooms: There are eight rooms (staying here includes a table reservation for dinner) and you can expect to receive a tray of warm Welsh teacakes and tea in your room on check-in.
Ynyshir, Powys
Ingredient Led, Flavour Driven, Fat Fuelled, Meat Obsessed. That's how Ynyshir sets out its stall. Chef Patron Gareth Ward wants his restaurant with rooms out in the heart of the Welsh countryside, to be somewhere all foodies have on their to-do lists. Now he has two Michelin stars and five AA rosettes to show for his efforts as well as topping the National Restaurant Awards list for the past two years. The intimate dining room has room for just 20, or you could opt for the kitchen table set within the pastry section or book the bench table right in the heart of the kitchen. Expect a multi-course dining experience and we really mean multi-course - 30 at the last count.
Rooms: There are 10 bedrooms, seven in the main house and three out in the garden. All are beautifully decorated - the bathrooms are given particular attention - and some even have log-burning stoves in them. They also have three tipis in the grounds, complete with log burners and hot tubs.
The Bull, Charlbury
There’s been an Inn on this spot since the 1500s but the current hostelry has a fresh feel due to its new landlords - the team behind popular Notting Hill pub The Pelican. There are a warren of rooms to get lost in, this is still very much a pub for drinking as well as eating, and there’s a capacious pub garden to enjoy too when the weather’s good. The food is directly linked to what’s in season and Sunday lunches are apparently stellar.
Rooms: There are 10 rooms in total split between the pub and the barn in the garden. They’re beautifully decorated and kitted out with walking maps, while the kitchen will also provide you with picnics if you’re inspired by the maps.
The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe
It’s a long way from Shoreditch to the Somerset village of Batcombe, but this 18th-century village pub has a degree of East London cool now that Rochelle Canteen’s Margot Henderson is in charge. Inside it's all wooden benches and stone floors, outside there’s a lovely terraced pub garden. Expect exemplary bar snacks and a main menu that speaks to the seasons, but will probably always include a good pie.
Rooms: The five bedrooms upstairs in the pub are all decent sizes, some with roll top baths, all with a strong sense of style.
More about The Three Horseshoes
The Angel at Hetton, Hetton
This already-famous inn got a big boost (and a Michelin star) when chef Michael Wignall bought the place with his wife. Wignall, who was previously at Pennyhill Park and then Gidleigh Park has been running two Michelin-starred restaurants for over two decades. There's a variety of tasting menus on offer including one which focuses on the season. Breakfast has also been given an overhaul and if you're a vegetarian who wants a full English, you can here with a platter that includes a beetroot black pudding.
Rooms: There are now 15 bedrooms here, spread across the main house, an adjoining barn and cottage. There are also family suites too and a children's menu is available in the restaurant.
More about The Angel at Hetton
The Bull Inn, Devon
The Bull Inn is the fourth organic pub to be opened by Geetie Singh-Watson, who you may know from being responsible for London’s first organic pub, the Duke of Cambridge in Islington. Here, as you might expect, the food is all about what's local, season and ethical. Of course, it doesn't hurt when it comes to finding those great suppliers, that Geetie’s husband is Guy Watson of Riverford Farms. The menu is a mix of small plates and larger veg-led dishes.
Rooms: There are nine rooms in total, some big enough for families. They're simply furnished, but very comfortable. The Albatross is their four bedroom apartment across the road with a private terrace.
The Compasses Inn, Wiltshire
Given owner Ben Maschler's background, it should come as no surprise that this Cotswolds pub is worth a trek for foodies. Maschler was part of the team that reinvigorated The Drapers Arms in Islington, his mum Fay was The Standard's food critic for decades and even his Aunt, Beth runs an award-winning pub - The Wells in Hampstead. Hospitality and a keen sense of what people want to eat runs in the blood. The menu changes daily, so you're always sure of something new to try. If there’s a scotch egg on the bar snacks menu, make sure you order it. The wine list is similarly impressive - and it's nice to see so much available by the glass and carafe.
Rooms: There are four rooms above the pub - three doubles and a family room - along with a separate cottage next to the pub which sleeps four. All are simply but beautifully decorated - think sisal floors, old beams and wool blankets on the beds.
Pig & Truffle, Essex
Chef Paul Croasdale is in charge of the kitchen at this historic country pub, previously known as The Flitch of Bacon. The former head chef of Alyn Williams at the Westbury is serving up a local, seasonal menu in an informal setting. The set lunch is an absolute bargain, but you'll get the really good stuff if you go for the tasting menu.
Rooms: Each of the three rooms at the inn is named after a rare breed of pig. Choose from Oxford Sandy & Black, Gloucester Old Spot or British Saddleback. They all have Nespresso machines and flat-screen TVs.
Freemasons at Wiswell, Lancashire
This Lancashire hostelry dubs itself a pub with rooms and sometimes a restropub. Unlike many other gussied-up inns, it's still very much a place where someone can sit down with a pint and a bag of crisps if they choose. But if they do decide to opt for chef-patron Steven Smith's food, they'll be glad they did. There's a reason why this has been in the top 10 of the UK's Top 50 Gastropubs list for a while now. Smith takes locally sourced ingredients but isn't afraid to go further for produce or influences. There's also a thoughtful children's menu on offer as well. The Mr Smith's interactive kitchen space also offers two ways to experience the heart of the action with a kitchen table and a kitchen bench open for bookings. You can even try your hand at being a chef for the day.
Rooms: There are four rooms at the inn - all include an epic breakfast the next day.
The Hardwick, Monmouthshire
Chef and owner Stephen Terry trained up under Marco Pierre White at the legendary Harvey's and used to own the nearby Walnut Tree here in Abergavenny before taking on The Hardwick. Here he turns out modern Welsh food that's unfussy but very well executed. There's also maybe the best children's menu we've ever seen. If you overindulge, and it's easily done, there are plenty of epic walks and hikes in the nearby Brecon Beacons to keep you active.
Rooms: There are eight double rooms - one of which can be made into a twin - set in a modern extension to the pub. They're fresh and modern, with views over the countryside and the biggest have walk-in showers. And yes you get, what they describe as "a tidy full Welsh breakfast".
The Star Inn, Yorkshire
Now reopened after a terrible fire, this medieval thatched roof pub matches Michelin-starred food with a distinct sense of place. Right on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, its Chef/Patron, Andrew Pern focuses on modern Yorkshire food and lets "the seasons write our menus". A glimpse at the pub 'snacks' menu gives you an insight into what to expect. They had us at toasted ‘baby’ crumpet with baron bigod and black truffle. For beer lovers, they even offer a beer-matching service for the dishes. Don’t forget to take a proper look at the bar itself - it was made by the famous craftsman Robert Thompson, the ‘Mouse Man’ of Kilburn. And, if you prefer dining outside, there's loads of areas to choose from, including their vegetable garden.
Rooms: Cross House Lodge plays hotel to the pub and is just across the road. They have 13 bedrooms, all of which are quite different. If you're into quirky interiors, this will be right up your street. One has a bed hanging from the ceiling with ropes, another has a full-sized snooker table. There's a lounge here complete with a wood-burning stove and if the weather's good, breakfast can be taken out on the terrace.
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