Hop Pole Inn

Saved from conversion into residential accommodation during 2022, this Grade II-listed, 16th-century pub in a stunningly pretty West Country valley is now owned by the local community who are understandably enthusiastic about it. Visitors are greeted by friendly staff, the warm glow of a roaring fire and wooden beams garlanded with dried hops, while the dining room’s lime-plastered walls are painted calming hues of sage green and cream, with plain wood tables and a wooden floor completing the simple but elegant vibe. However, if the weather’s good enough, it's worth bagging a spot in the delightful back garden, which boasts a skittle alley, raised kitchen garden beds and gorgeous views. Head chef and local farm boy Charlie Rawlings’ farm-to-table menu is a love song to British cooking and local producers. Whether you pop in for the excellent-value ‘working lunch’ of say, generous slices of rare roast beef on a bed of egg salad with dripping toast and a pint of real ale, or go the whole three courses for dinner, the cooking is refined but hearty and completely flavour-driven. Pub-grub enthusiasts will enjoy the inventive burger combinations sandwiched between milk buns from Bradford-on-Avon’s Pipit Bakery or the pie of the day with mash and seasonal greens, while veggies could home in on sharing plates of braised Puy lentils with roast squash and goat's cheese. Pudding could be Lacock dairy ice cream, or perhaps a beautifully presented caramelised milk chocolate mousse with candied walnuts and boozy prunes. The short wine menu plays second fiddle to the excellent selection of local ales and ciders on tap at this free house.