The ancient stone-built Bath Arms in woodlands on the Longleat estate 'is a welcome sight after a long journey', and doesn't disappoint within, with 'appealing menus', 'attentive and pleasant staff', and great-value, well-decorated rooms. A fourth venture for the Beckford group (see The Beckford Arms, Tisbury), this pub with rooms has just added a Bramley spa treatment cabin in its gardens. A buzzy but relaxed vibe reigns inside amid the flagstone and wood floors, assorted brown furniture, walls hung with vintage maps and Vanity Fair caricatures. A maze of corridors leads to rooms in the group's signature style – pastel walls, seagrass flooring, no wardrobe, bathrooms with Bramley toiletries. Numbers 6 and 7 are attic rooms with low ceilings so avoid them if you are tall, our inspectors advise. Trusted readers stayed in the stable block and loved their room with its 'spacious, well-designed shower room'. Food, served in the dining room or snug, or under canvas on the terrace, is locally sourced. 'We enjoyed fresh hake with crevettes, samphire and sweet potato purée'. There is 'no stinting' at breakfast, with home-baked breads and homemade marmalade. (Patricia and Michael Blanchard, and others)