This popular hotel and restaurant in a former smithy, shop and barns overlooking the village duck pond might have changed ownership, but it is 'as good as ever', reports a returning guest. Others agree that since the Rockliffe Hall Group bought The Pheasant 'things were just as we remembered from our previous visits'. They found 'lovely staff, great, comfy lounges with log fires' as well as books, comfy armchairs, piano, antiques and bric-a-brac. Bedrooms have playful mix-and-match patterns, a fridge, milk, sloe gin, Cowshed toiletries. If you're sensitive to noise, pick your room accordingly; one reader's room overlooked the car park, while another was above the convivial dining terrace. 'Hodge' was 'peaceful as it overlooked the garden' and was 'spacious, with a big bed and comfy settee as well as a desk and chair'. In the restaurant, a reader enjoyed Vincenzo Raffone's chalk-stream trout with celeriac purée, followed by 'very tender' guinea fowl, noting that 'the food is good but a bit nouvelle for my liking'. At breakfast there are 'really interesting options – a delicious mushroom and spinach choice'. (Peter Anderson, Peter and Anne Davies)