Since the arrival of chef Gareth Rayner in 2023 at this gastropub just inland from Hunstanton on the North Norfolk Coast, this dog-friendly gastropub with character bedrooms has been garnering awards for creative cooking. Whether you plan to eat in the atmospheric pub, with its wonky floors, beams, wood burner and gilt-framed portraits, or outside, in the Mediterranean-inspired garden, you should start with a G&T; there are more than 100 to choose from. The bar menu includes treats such as French onion soup with Gruyère Welsh rarebit; smoked haddock fishcake, curry velouté, sea herbs. There is more formal dining in the conservatory, where you might enjoy Cyril's Brancaster rock oysters, pickled cucumber, chilled gin and tonic; aged sirloin steak, maitake mushroom, bone marrow sauce and fries. Bedrooms, in the inn and stables annexe, have plenty of period features. The Warren has a small garden terrace, The Gallery a sitting room hung with works collated from The Garage Studio nearby, stairs to a bedroom with free-standing cast-iron bath and separate shower. All have good fabrics, artisan ground coffee. Come for a breakfast kipper from Staithe Smokehouse, Sunday roasts, summer barbecues and bonhomie (just don’t plan to drive if you're sampling the gin!).