The Manor House, Curry Mallet

An experienced chef and a bright, breezy team run this welcoming little bistro. Sit in the cosy, intimate dining room or the bright conservatory with sliding glass doors and a retractable roof. Hearty, unfussy cooking mixes French-influenced dishes with updated British classics.

Situated within a charming village, there's something special about this former bank, which has been impressively converted into a spacious restaurant with eye-catching architecture. Sit in the chic dining room with its distressed designer style, bag a spot at the kitchen counter or head to the lovely rear terrace when the sun is shining. Choose from a range of menus, all of which are underpinned by a commitment to seasonal ingredients. If you want to explore more of the Somerset countryside, there are seven bedrooms available to stay the night.

Despite being just a 10 minute drive from the centre of Chard, there’s a wonderfully rural feeling that accompanies a visit to this former 17C farmhouse. The inn is nestled in a lush green valley overlooking the Blackdown Hills, with its converted outbuildings turned into bedrooms. The cooking offers dashes of creativity while still delivering satisfying pub dishes like slow-roasted pork belly. They take a local, seasonal and nose-to-tail approach to their ingredients, with animals reared on site and produce grown in the kitchen garden.