When they bought this failing 17th-century pub facing the village green back in 2015, Amelia Nicholson and Marcus Seaman had no idea that Marcus’s great-great-grandfather once ran it. That Victorian landlord would be astonished to see it today, with the beautiful garden they have created, the ground-floor bedrooms in a flint barn, the book-lined restaurant… Still a lively social hub, it gets a big thumbs up from readers. ‘We loved this place. Yes, it was in the middle of nowhere, but it was totally unpretentious and served fantastic food,’ writes one. Each bedroom has its own style. Dual-aspect, rustic-chic Stewkey has a stable door entrance, a copper roll-top bath and walk-in shower. ‘Hunny was spacious, beautifully decorated, with an extremely comfortable bed and a roll-top bath.’ Each has a Roberts radio, Marcus's sloe gin, shortbread and eco-friendly toiletries. Herve Stouvenel uses locally sourced ingredients in dishes such as venison rump, roasted plums and jus, ‘delightful scallops on a pea purée, perfectly crispy crackling on a massive slice of melt-in-the-mouth belly pork – yum!’ On Tuesday steak nights there is a fish and veggie option. ‘Staff were friendly and attentive.’ 'They have the friendliest dogs too.' (Tom Lawley, Susan Mason, and others)